PLT recently had a memorable visit to three rooftop gardens above Landsec’s Victoria properties, organised by our Ambassador, Sue Payne, managing director of Q&S (Quality & Service) who are responsible for urban gardening across Landsec’s extensive London Workplace portfolio.
Sue started us off with a briefing on Q&S’ organic chemical free gardening practices and how with Landsec’s support they are continuously innovating and developing across the portfolio. Q&S are privileged to be part of the conversation, playing their part in creating and maintaining these spaces. This was followed by a short overview of the Business Improvements Districts by David Beamont, Head of Sustainability and Infrastructure at London Heritage Quarter.
We were then delighted to hear from Landsec’s Sustainability Director, Henry Powell, sharing their sustainability strategy – Build well, Live well, Act well – and the impacts this has on how the company designs, develops and manages buildings focusing on ESG issues – with nature a central element of this, enhancing the health of the environment, now and for future generations.
Q&S’s contract manager Jack Davies explained the vision behind Q&S’ envrionmentally supportive appraoch, and took us up to see three very different habitats located 10+ storeys up which, apart from one tenant terrace, are rarely seen by anyone. All designed for wildlife first, they’re a brilliant example of what urban greening can look like when biodiversity is built in from the start.
🐝 N2: Sedum roof with a range of different habitats for pollinators, including log piles
and sand mounds for ground-nesting bees, enhanced with wildflowers and
striking echium in full purple bloom. Trials also ongoing on various substrates
with drought tolerance at the forefront. The views over St James’s Park and
Buckingham Palace were spectacular too!
🌸 Zig Zag: A beautiful roof top terrace with seating and treescapes which are available
to tenants in the building, bursting with perennial planting – a green escape above
the London rooftops. The views over Westminster Cathedral were a highlight!
💧 62 Buckingham Gate: Q&S are creating ‘mini wetland areas’ on an unused roof to
increase biodiversity, providing water habitats, log piles and recycled materials to
welcome hoverflies, insects and pollinators of all kinds. To our surprise we also
saw two enormous grape vines greening the roof top
All in all a lovely visit in the company of fellow PLT Members, a real privilege to be allowed to see areas not open to the public, which demonstrate Q&S and Landsec’s collaborative approach to supporting and increasing urban greening and biodiversity within London, creating spaces that form part of a wider green corridor, quietly connecting nature across the city.
Our thanks to Q&S and Landsec.
