Local school celebrates city's first Little Green Roof

Children at a primary school in Longsight returned this week to an unusual sight - a new haven for wildlife on top of their toy shed.

The roof at Stanley Grove Community Primary School has been transformed into an eye-catching mini garden which will host wildflowers, herbs and will be a hotspot for wildlife.

The roof is the first to be built as part of the new Little Green Roofs project from Red Rose Forest's Green Streets Team, who work with local communities to create beautiful green roofs on small, uninhabited, communal buildings and structures around Manchester.

The project is part funded by Manchester City Council's Carbon Innovation Fund. It aims to improve greenery and biodiversity whilst helping to reduce the impact of climate change.

Gerry Constant, Head Teacher said "This project is fantastic. Not only does our Little Green Roof brighten the place up, it also helps local nature and our environment.

"Children will get involved with looking after the garden. They will learn important practical lessons about wildlife, biodiversity and the impacts of climate change."

The roof at the school is the first planned as part of the Little Green Roofs project and is the latest initiative to brighten up Manchester's sky lines. In a separate project in July, St Peter's RC High School in Gorton installed a much larger grass covered roof as part of their £3.1m extension.

Kevin Wigley from Red Rose Forest says "These roofs really bring a community together. They become the talk of the neighbourhood, as well as providing a range of important benefits to wildlife and our environment. Plus, having a green roof installed on a shed or container is much easier than you may think.  

"And this is just the beginning. We are looking for more small, uninhabited buildings where the roofs can be transformed into eye catching new habitats. Community centres, places of worship, colleges, schools, Surestart centres, health centres - they are all eligible for the roofs."

If you know of a small roof on a communal building in Manchester suitable for this project, or if you want to get involved in building a green roof, email or visit http://www.redroseforest.co.uk//.

Red Rose Forest is a leading environmental regeneration initiative and the Community Forest for central and western Greater Manchester.