Birmingham’s Skyline To Be Greened To Attract Rare Wildlife
The creation of a network of green roofs will provide habitat for rare birds on major buildings including The ICC.
A pioneering project to create wildlife habitats on the top of some of Birmingham’s best-known buildings has been given the go-ahead following a funding award of £175,000 from the SITA Trust.
The project will involve the creation of green roofs, which aim to recreate the type of habitat and plants found on underused industrial areas, favoured as foraging sites by rare black redstart birds.
The aim of the project is to conserve the black redstart whose numbers are thought to be declining following increased development, and whose continuing presence in the city is precarious, with just 10 pairs thought to be left in the West Midlands.
The green roofs will be created on the following buildings:
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The ICC, Birmingham
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The International Convention Centre (ICC) was the first major development undertaken in order to regenerate Birmingham city centre. The ICC is Birmingham’s premier conference venue with seven halls. The Central Mall links the halls to a public way that leads from Centenary Square to the canals and Brindley Place (mixed use development).
This formerly derelict, unmaintained and underused part of the city centre was a well-known black redstart site. The biodiversity value of this area is considered to have been lost during the process of redevelopment. This project seeks to install a green roof designed for the black redstart on part of the roof and to carry out research into management of the rest of the existing roof, which will add biodiversity value.
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BVSC - The Centre for Voluntary Action
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BVSC is one of the largest voluntary sector support organizations in the UK. We work to support voluntary action in the city of Birmingham by providing information and guidance to voluntary and community organizations and by promoting volunteering. At a strategic level, we ensure the voluntary sector has an influence in the running of the city and we champion the sector's ability to find innovative ways to meet the needs of local people.
BVSC is located adjacent to the new Bullring, near to the refurbished Moor St Station and disused railway viaduct; areas of known black redstart activity. The installation of a roof designed to meet the needs of the black redstart will provide an important mitigation for the disturbance caused by redevelopment. The roof would become a feature of the BVSC resource centre. Access will be provided as appropriate to ensure the birds are not disturbed and the roof will be viewed using a remote camera.
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Ladbrooke House, Birmingham City Council
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Ladbrooke House is home to a range of Birmingham City Council’s services including Waste Management, Public Health and Trading Standards.
Greening the roof of Ladbrooke House demonstrates the Council’s ongoing commitment to the aim set out in their Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan to “protect manage and enhance the variety of wildlife in the city”.
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Islamic Relief Headquarters at Trafalgar House
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Islamic Relief is an international relief and development charity, which aims to alleviate the suffering of the world’s poorest people. It is an independent Non-Governmental Organization founded in the UK in 1984 by Dr Hany El Banna.
As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, Islamic Relief promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities - regardless of race, religion or gender.
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Sites have been selected where black redstarts are, or were, known to exist and where it’s believed there are the best prospects for their re-establishment and survival.
Black redstarts have adapted to thrive on post-industrial land. Sadly, for them this is land that’s been targeted for redevelopment. The creation of the green roofs will replace some of the land that’s been lost and encourage them back into the city.
Other species that will benefit include: bumble-bees, butterflies, and beetles. Educational access will be provided to the roofs where possible so the return of the rare birds can be observed.
The Black Redstart Habitat Creation project is being lead by Groundwork Birmingham and Solihull with a range of partners including:
Environment Agency, Birmingham Environmental Partnership, Advantage West Midlands, Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, Birmingham and Black Country Biodiversity Partnership, The University of Birmingham, BVSC - The Centre for Voluntary Action, The ICC, Islamic Relief, Land Care Associates, Living Roofs, Birmingham City Council
Rosemary Coyne, Eastside Sustainability Advisor, Groundwork Birmingham & Solihull, said: “This is a huge opportunity to show that biodiversity can drive the transformational change needed to create sustainable communities”.
John Leaver, Chairman of SITA Trust, said: “This project will help a rare species that is in serious danger of disappearing from Birmingham. We sincerely hope that our funding will help it to survive and hopefully thrive here.”
Funding from SITA Trust is available for environmental projects within ten miles of landfill sites in England, through the Landfill Communities Fund. Community organisations can also apply. SITA Trust receives its funding from the waste management company, SITA UK. SITA UK owns a landfill site at Packington, in between Coventry and Birmingham.
The Birmingham Environmental Partnership provided the 10.2% third-party reimbursement required by SITA in order to access the grant.
The first green roof is due to be installed on The ICC in January 2007.
Nick Waight, director, The ICC, said: “The ICC is delighted to be involved in the development of the green roof project and create a habitat within the venue where rare birds and wildlife can thrive in the city. It is fantastic that The ICC will be the first venue to have a green roof installed and work due to begin in the coming weeks. Activity at The ICC generates around £200 million for the city and sustains the equivalent of 5,000 full time jobs and it is really important to us as a venue that we consider our environment.”
Download species chart in .pdf format or as Powerpoint slides
Black Redstart Survey
Land Care Associates carried out a survey for black redstarts at the four sites planned to have a green roof in June 2006.
No sign of nesting activity was identified at any of the sites during the surveys. There was a confirmed sighting at Trafalgar House and possible sightings were made at the ICC and BVSC.
The ICC offers very little suitable habitat for black redstarts, although the introduction of a green roof will replace some valuable brownfield habitat to the area, which is known as a historic breeding area. All other sites have potential for supporting breeding populations and their presence should not be ruled out. For further details download the full Black Redstart Survey as a pdf file.
About the Black Redstart, for more information see www.blackredstarts.org.uk
- The black redstart is about the size of a robin; its name is derived from the male’s plumage, which is grey-black with a red tail.
- Less than 100 pairs of black redstarts exist in the UK, of which there are approximately 10 pairs in the West Midlands.
- The black redstart is specially protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. This protects the bird, its eggs and nestlings from killing, injury and damage or destruction to its nest.
- The black redstart is listed as a Species of Conservation Concern on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. It is also listed on the Amber Data Book of Birds.
- It has adapted to living on postindustrial land and has been found nesting at power stations, railway stations, disused factories, building sites, and old quarries.
- Black redstarts eat insects, worms, spiders, berries and seeds
- Black Redstarts make a warbling, jangling song and 'tucc, tucc' call notes
- See www.bbcbap.org.uk for the Species Action Plan for Black Redstarts in Birmingham & the Black Country.
- Green roofs are designed to be watertight and structurally sound and increasingly feature in new developments.
- Green roofs can slow down the rate of rainfall runoff, act as part of a sustainable urban drainage system and reduce the risk of low to medium term flooding
- A green roof system protects the waterproofing membrane from climatic extremes, UV light & mechanical damage and in so doing almost doubles its life expectancy
- Thermal insulation properties of green roofs can reduce on-going energy use for cooling systems and CO2 emissions
- They are most commonly installed on flat roofs but can be used on other roof types.
- Green roofs designed for biodiversity benefit can pre-empt complex negotiations by providing mitigation required as part of a development
- SITA Trust was set up in 1997 and runs two funding programmes:
- Enhancing Communities – for community improvement projects around landfill sites owned by SITA UK
- Enriching Nature – for biodiversity projects within the vicinity of landfill sites in England.
- Each year, SITA Trust distributes approximately £6 million nationwide through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme.
The Landfill Communities Fund
- Landfill tax was introduced in 1996 to encourage more sustainable ways of managing waste.
- The landfill tax legislation also brought about the Landfill Communities Fund. This scheme allows landfill operators to voluntarily donate 6.7% of their landfill tax liability to environmental improvement projects.
- The Landfill Communities Fund scheme is independently regulated on behalf of HM Government’s Revenue & Customs by ENTRUST.
Project Partners
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