Simon asked if there is any way to retain the wildlife habitats of the Brownfield sites when these sites are “doomed”. New housing estates and apartment blocks, new industry, new offices, recreation facilities: wine bars, restaurants, gyms, health centres, shopping complexes – the welcomed Regeneration of a city
Innovative architecture and planning can contribute greatly towards the preservation and conservation of wildlife. And one of the most exiting ways to do this is with green roofs – not with monocultures of sedum matting or grass turf roofs, but with roofs created by taking the ground from the footprint of the new buildings – the local soil and substrates containing the local plants and seeds - the beginnings of the food chain for the local wildlife communities. The wildlife that belongs here, the flora and fauna of the Mersey Estuary can be given the opportunity to continue to thrive and survive.
Ok, we might not be able to access these wildlife sanctuaries any more than we can access the barricaded Brownfield - but knowing that the habitats are still there and protected, and litter free, is very much a reassuring prospect…
This is not a romantic vision; it is a reality – evidenced in Switzerland and Germany. In the U.K. too Green Roof research and Biodiversity research has influenced architecture and planning, mainly in London and Sheffield. Through Green Roof implementation – even on the bus shelters - Sheffield is now regarded our greenest city. Sheffield and London are leading the way. And Liverpool is smack bang in the process of a major regeneration programme…

But perhaps I digress too much – I am only supposed to be mapping the Brownfield sites. What happens with the information I gather is the next chapter in the Tale of “Natural Succession”. And Chapter 2 will not be a solo ‘perfomative happening’ – but (if all goes according to plan) a Trans-disciplinary event, different people with different expertise – including local knowledge – coming together to discuss, to motivate, to be innovative…