Are there enough “Green” Planners?
GreenBlue were delighted to see a DEFRA announcement dated 12th March for a government-led funding scheme: The Local Authority Treescapes Fund – designed to increase new tree planting and natural regeneration in locations outside woodlands, helping our great nation-build back greener following the pandemic. A total of £2.7 million has been released from the central […]
Driving Resilient Green Infrastructure Policy Forward
GreenBlue is overjoyed when councils present a resilient GI Policy / Strategy; even more so when we see the inclusion of “blue” too, but how do these policies reinforce resilient planning/designing of our towns and cities. What is green and blue infrastructure? Green and blue infrastructure is the combination of green space and stormwater […]
Discussing Carbon Storage Potential
In June 2019, parliament passed a legislation requiring the government to reduce the UK’s net emissions of greenhouse gases by 100%, relative to the 1990 levels by 2050. By doing so it will allow the UK to become a ‘net zero’ emitter. Trees have a positive role to play and are an important contributor when […]
Stormwater Made Simple
Stormwater is, in essence, just what is sounds like: water from a storm. Any precipitation that falls from the sky, including rain, hail, and snow, is considered stormwater. In the UK we refer to SUDS – Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (CIRIA – 2000). Updated to Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). Methods to manage surface water that […]
Festival of Ideas: Designing for Successful SuDS
SuDS, the acronym everyone is talking about. Smart planning for sustainable urban drainage system features, has largely become the new focus for successful designs. SuDS systems can work on practically any scale; from plot-level components like rainwater harvesting and green roofs, to very large schemes that include several SuDS systems working together. 2021’s key focus […]
Further Modelling Guidance Tools
With the recent success of last year’s publication detailing the methods of Sustainable Drainage System modelling design using MicroDrainage, GreenBlue are pleased to launch a further publication detailing how to use the Causeway software for the same purpose. Again, we would like to thank the team at McCloy Consulting for their technical expertise and guidance […]
Not all Super Heroes wear Capes. (Some wear Leaves).
Trees are the heroes of our landscape. A bold claim you think? Possibly. But look at the list of benefits they bring to our lives: ecology, beauty, cooling, shade, Oxygen, removing pollutants from the air, providing homes and food for wildlife and conkers! Let’s face it, who doesn’t have a favourite tree? For National Tree […]
The Conservation Volunteers: Let’s Get Planting
Mini Urban Forests – for people and green spaces Trees – we all know they are good for the environment, helping to combat global warming and creating new opportunities for establishing habitats and increasing biodiversity. We also know they add to the beauty of green spaces, enhancing the mental and physical health and wellbeing benefits […]
City of Trees: Let’s Get Planting!
City of Trees is the Community Forest for Greater Manchester and is one ten Community Forests across England. City of Trees work across the whole of the Greater Manchester City region, helping to plant the Northern Forest – a project which aims to plant 50 million new trees over 25 years between Hull and Liverpool. […]
Veterans Growth: Promoting Positivity & Well-being through Horticulture
Veterans’ Growth works with ex-military personnel to promote positive mental health and well-being. Offering horticultural therapy, it provides a wide range of activities based around growing food, ornamental plants and cut flowers. The charity has a 5-acre site in Westfield, East Sussex. The first seeds were sown at the charity in April and since then, […]