Neil McCarthy’s Post

🌱 Green Roofs: Bringing Nature Back to the City 🌿🌆 Our urban projects now include green roofs to enhance biodiversity, reduce heat islands, and provide beautiful recreational spaces. Learn more about the benefits! 🏙️🌺 Would you like to see more green roofs in your city? Share your thoughts and ideas below! 🌻👇 #GreenRoofs #UrbanEcology #SustainableCities #GreenArchitecture

Embracing #nature can help address climate-related challenges on multiple levels, and we wanted to expand #worldenvironmentday to a whole month to spotlight solutions that can help #makeithappen. Starting with a unique project developed by Dublin City Council to build a Biodiversity Education Centre in the heart of the capital to create more liveable public spaces, raise awareness, and enhance urban green areas while inspiring #climateaction. Uncared for over twenty years, a damaged Georgian house and overgrown land next to Phoenix Park, Dublin's most prominent green area, are not exactly attractive in their current state. However, with a well-planned design, the site will be turned into a multi-purpose space to revive wildlife and provide a place for locals and visitors to connect with nature. “It is a very special location where you would find a range of habitats from forestry to wetlands and the remains of an old orchard, so we have a great potential to restore it into a rich biodiverse green space nestled in an urban environment," said Donncha Ó Dúlaing, Senior Executive Officer at Dublin City Council. Read more insights about this #greendevelopment: https://lnkd.in/dvHNPBPn #sustainablecities #urbandevelopment #biodiversity #ireland #dublin #education #sustainability #climatecrisis #climateaction

The Thames Water depot we want to transform is within the Lee Valley Park. The Lee Valley Park Authority’s development guidance says new land use for the site should be “compatible” with the surrounding park, add to leisure and nature conservation activities, “enhance landscape quality” and "bring heritage buildings back into use". Their framework states: "This could include a waterside visitor hub, a biodiversity visitor attraction, sporting facilities, accommodation for park visitors or community-use buildings." With the exception of new-build sporting facilities, this is everything we envision for our park! It is also interesting to note that, according to the Park's own guidance, developments which fail to meet this criteria “will be resisted”. Our nature-rich plan for this parcel of land, located right between Hackney and Leyton Marshes and adjacent to the River Lea and Lee Navigation, is the very best use of this part of the regional park. It could greatly benefit nature and people for many years to come, as shown in this image (c)periscope! Want to show your backing for East London Waterworks Park? Download a poster to display in your window (or get in touch with us for free copies)! https://lnkd.in/eR6gasSF

🌱 Green Roofs: Bringing Nature Back to the City 🌿🌆 Our urban projects now include green roofs to enhance biodiversity, reduce heat islands, and provide beautiful recreational spaces. Learn more about the benefits! 🏙️🌺 Would you like to see more green roofs in your city? Share your thoughts and ideas below! 🌻👇 #GreenRoofs #UrbanEcology #SustainableCities #GreenArchitecture

🌿🏙️ Demystifying Mindful Regeneration: Urban Ecology Urban Ecology is about integrating nature into the heart of our cities, ensuring they’re not just places to live, but ecosystems where both people and the environment thrive. By weaving green spaces and biodiversity into urban design, we create cities that are healthier, more resilient, and inclusive and it’s happening in cities all over the world. 🌳Saint Kjelds Climate-Resilient Neighborhood – Copenhagen (Denmark): In Copenhagen’s Saint Kjelds neighborhood, green roofs, permeable pavements, and parks that double as stormwater basins are helping the city adapt to climate change. It’s all about working with nature to make cities more resilient against flooding and other climate-related challenges. 🌴 Gardens by the Bay – Singapore: The iconic Supertrees of Gardens by the Bay aren’t just visually striking—they’re vertical ecosystems that generate solar power, collect rainwater, and cool the city. This project is a perfect blend of urban design and ecological functionality, creating a space where people and nature coexist in the heart of Singapore. 🌿The High Line – New York City (USA): What used to be an old, disused railway track in Manhattan is now a thriving, elevated park. The High Line acts as a green corridor, cooling the surrounding area and supporting biodiversity, all while providing a stunning space for people to come together and reconnect with nature. ☘️A similar example to the High Line is Seoullo 7017 in Seoul, South Korea. Originally an elevated highway, this urban space was transformed into a pedestrian walkway lined with plants and trees, reconnecting people with nature in the heart of the city. Like the High Line, Seoullo 7017 serves as a green corridor, cooling the area and providing a much-needed escape from the bustling urban environment. It also supports biodiversity and serves as a space for social gatherings, making it a key part of Seoul’s strategy to blend nature and urban life. Next up: Eco-Literacy – exploring how understanding our natural systems can empower communities to shape more sustainable, equitable urban futures. #UrbanEcology #MindfulRegeneration #GreenInfrastructure #ResilientCities #SustainableFutures #UrbanBiodiversity The Mindful Regenerist From the mind of Natascha McIntyre Hall, written with help from various AIs

What are the right trees for the right places ? I've just come back from Belfast, having been reviewing the Tree Establishment Strategy for the city. It sets out to answer things like; is 30% canopy cover achievable (it is!)? What is the maximum canopy cover possible? How many trees that might take and where are the available planting sites (in both hard and soft landscapes), with all those places prioritised based on Tree equity and other environmental factors. But what are the right trees? How can we create a diverse treescape? How can diversity tools and indices be used more effectively? This is exactly what I will be exploring at the Urban Tree Diversity Conference (www.urbantreediversity.org) next week, focusing on work we've been doing in London Borough of Camden and Belfast City Council. It's a work in progress and there are a lot of unknowns but it's something I'm really excited to be sharing and shouting about. I will be joined by friends and colleagues Josh Behounek, Keith Sacre, John Parker, Andrew Hirons, Cecil Konijnendijk, Russell Horsey MICFor, Urban Forester and Johan Östberg (amongst many others) who are also presenting on a range of stellar topics including: - Using tree diversity to mitigate risks from a changing climate - Novel approaches to urban tree selection - Emerging technologies and their role in urban forest management - Harnessing open data and citizen engagement to support urban forestry The event will offer keynotes, parallel talks, a poster session, and a tree diversity field trip in central Madrid. See you there ? #treediversity #urbantrees #urbanforests #UTD5 #resilience

Urban Rewilding hits Germany! Exciting developments from Germany where cities like Hanover, Frankfurt, and Dessau are pioneering urban rewilding through the "Städte wagen Wildnis" (Cities Dare Wilderness) initiative. This innovative project, started in 2016, transforms neglected urban areas into vibrant wildflower meadows, aimed at boosting biodiversity and supporting crucial pollinators like bees and butterflies. The beauty of this initiative? It's designed for minimal intervention. Once established, these wildflower meadows are largely self-sustaining, showcasing a successful model of urban rewilding where nature takes the lead, reducing the need for regular maintenance while enhancing urban green spaces. This approach not only nurtures local wildlife but also enriches the community, offering serene spots for city dwellers to reconnect with nature. It's a testament to how integrating natural landscapes into urban planning can yield ecological and social benefits, promoting biodiversity while beautifying the cityscape. Achievements so far: - Increased Biodiversity: Urban areas have seen a rise in plant and animal species through natural succession, creating vibrant, bio-diverse habitats. - Community Involvement: The project has significantly boosted local engagement and education around the importance of urban green spaces. - Research and Insights: Continuous ecological monitoring has provided critical data, shaping future urban conservation strategies. Looking Ahead: - Project Expansion: Building on its successes, the project seeks to expand these green havens across more urban areas. - Sustainable Practices: A key goal is to enhance the self-sustaining nature of these ecosystems, ensuring they require minimal human intervention. - Policy Development: The initiative aims to influence broader urban planning policies by showcasing the ecological and social benefits of urban wilderness. This initiative serves as a model of how cities can integrate natural landscapes to foster biodiversity, enhance public health, and create more resilient urban environments. Let's get inspired and think about how we can introduce similar rewilding projects in our own cities! How can your community benefit from such green initiatives? #UrbanRewilding #Sustainability #Biodiversity #CityPlanning #GreenSpaces #InnovativeCities #Germany #NatureRestoration #Regeneration

Green is not equal green, in cities. The benefits of urban green spaces depend significantly on the urban form! In socioeconomically disadvantaged area, greenery can improve the overall quality of life by mitigating some negative effects of socioeconomic disadvantage and promoting wellbeing and social cohesion. Conversely, in highly preferred neighborhoods, additional greenery does not significantly alter preferences. This presents a unique opportunity to create spaces beneficial for both humans and non-human species. Integrating biodiverse greenery in affluent neighborhoods can help achieve biodiversity targets without adversely impacting resident preferences. Our study led by Heidi Baumann can be found here: https://lnkd.in/dDn7M-AQ

Spring is here, and so is urban development. Any city's growth impacts on our ecosystems. Urban sprawl, the spread of city infrastructure into natural habitats, comes with a cost. It fragments ecosystems, disrupts wildlife, and reduces biodiversity. Each new development might mean less room for local flora and fauna to thrive. Implementing green spaces within urban design invites nature back into the city. Green roofs, urban parks, and tree-lined streets aren't just aesthetics; they're lifelines for urban wildlife. Strategic planning and environmental assessments help us pinpoint the best ways to integrate nature. But it's not a solo mission. Collaboration with ecologists ensures we preserve and enhance biodiversity. Together, they can create cities that celebrate and protect the very nature that makes them so alive. Your thoughts? Visit our website for more insights into sustainable urban development: jsm-associates.co.uk #UrbanPlanning #Biodiversity #SustainableDevelopment

Spring is here, and so is urban development. Any city's growth impacts on our ecosystems. Urban sprawl, the spread of city infrastructure into natural habitats, comes with a cost. It fragments ecosystems, disrupts wildlife, and reduces biodiversity. Each new development might mean less room for local flora and fauna to thrive. Implementing green spaces within urban design invites nature back into the city. Green roofs, urban parks, and tree-lined streets aren't just aesthetics; they're lifelines for urban wildlife. Strategic planning and environmental assessments help us pinpoint the best ways to integrate nature. But it's not a solo mission. Collaboration with ecologists ensures we preserve and enhance biodiversity. Together, they can create cities that celebrate and protect the very nature that makes them so alive. Your thoughts? Visit our website for more insights into sustainable urban development: jsm-associates.co.uk #UrbanPlanning #Biodiversity #SustainableDevelopment