Shedmeadow by James Farrell

Project
Specially constructed storage shed with green roof to increase planted space. colour and wildlife opportunities in garden of small victorian terrace in Brighton. Inspired by local chalk meadows in the South Downs.

Dates
Shed construction mid-March 04
Substrate installation and planting late March 04

Structure
SE facing garden. Roof shaded by neighbouring buildings early morning and late afternoon.
Block rendered shed W1.05m, L2.02m, H1.50m
Roof 2.1m2 (W1.05, L2.02m, H0.15m). 0.01m marine ply on 6 joists 0.45m x 0.10m, edged with 4 battens 0.15m x 0.025m.
BUtyl pond liner as waterproof membrane wrapped over and trimmed to fit, fixed onto battens with 4cm x 2cm edging strip. Layer of standard garden fleece on top.
Four drainage points - cut 2.5cm diameter pvc pipe entering through front batten, punctured through liner. End into large recycled beach pebbles and brick pieces.
All timber FSC certified where possible.

Substrate
Approx 5cm chalk subsoil, 5cm hand-crushed brick and concrete, 5cm topsoil. Large flint pieces on surface for interest.
All substrates taken from the garden construction - most from the footprint of the shed.
All measurements approximate - substrate deliberately not uniform across roof in composition and depth.
Average depth 14cm (range 12-18cm).

Planting
All local provenance where relevant.

Established plants
yarrow Achillea millefolium
thrift Armeria maritima
cowslip Primula veris
primrose Primula vulgaris
ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
sage Salvia officinalis
french lavender Lavende stoechas
sedum spp. (3 small plants only to trail over edges)

Plugs (local)
salad burnet Sanguisorba minor
kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria
ornamental poppy Papaver sp.
maiden pink Dianthus deltoides
hedge bedstraw Galluim mollugo
broad-leaved plantain Plantago major

Seeds (all local)
globe thistle Echinops ritro
wild pansy Viola tricolor
bird's foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus

Naturally colonised (first year)
Various ruderals eg dandelion. Grasses very limited.

Cost of materials
Shed				80.00
Roof membrane and fleece	40.00
Plants				60.00
Total				180.00

Observations
First house sparrows ever recorded in garden arrived May/June 2004, foraging for invertabrates on roof.
Extremely popular with spiders.
Drought-intolerant primrose and cowslip to be removed.
Watered once a week in height of summer. Only seen to drain off water once, after heavy watering when dry.
10-15% bare substrate remaining as of September 04.
Will see how develops before deciding whether to cut.