Celebrating World Green Roof Day 2024

TO CELEBRATE World Green Roof Day on 6^th June, Bridgman & Bridgman and the Green Roof Project co-hosted a Community Lunch with YMCA Milton Keynes on their green roof.

Milton Keynes is ranked second in cities outside London with the most amount of intensive green roofs.

Over 60 guests including the Mayor of Milton Keynes and the Youth Mayor joined the celebration. This year’s theme for World Green Roof Day is Energy on Roofs. The Mayor of Milton Keynes joined in the fun energy by cycling herself a smoothie on the 9th-floor oasis.

Guests learnt more about the benefits of using rooftop space to improve biodiversity, reduce flooding, grow food, produce energy, and create incredible spaces for people to enjoy.

World Green Roof Day

The YMCA Milton Keynes is home to over 200 young people between 18 and 35; guests had a chance to meet the other residents, 200,000 Buckfast Bees, and discover more about beekeeping from Steven Robinson from Mr Robs Honey.

One of the day’s highlights was the unveiling of a new mural, created by artist Luke McDonnell. The mural imagines the Milton Keynes skyscape in 2050 when the city aims to become carbon-negative.

The mural depicts swathes of green roofs, social rooftop spaces and sustainable energy production. The playful scene shows the iconic Point floating in the air and the Midsummer Tree preserved in all its former glory.

Chris Bridgman, from Bridgman and Bridgman, said: “In this time of climate emergency and biodiversity loss, we can utilise large areas of space that already exist to bring together communities and nature here in Milton Keynes – our flat, city rooftops. The YMCA project gives a flavour of what can be achieved and aims to inspire others to create gardens in the sky.”

Simon Green, from YMCA Milton Keynes, added: “Young people are disproportionately affected by environmental damage because they will be here longer to experience it. We need to make some fundamental changes to how we treat nature in our society and the creation of green roofs is a great way to have an impact in a positive way.

“We know from our own green roof how wonderful it is to have a secret place where nature thrives and where staff and residents can spend time and improve their wellbeing. If you’re not convinced then I invite you to come and see ours and experience the benefits first-hand.”

To find out more about World Green Roof Day 2024 check out #WGRD2024 on social media.

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