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Green roof systems

Green roofs, or living roofs, are partly or completely covered with vegetation, planted in a growing medium, and installed over a waterproofing membrane. They may also include additional layers such as a root barrier, a drainage layer, water storage and irrigation systems. They can contribute to BREEAM credits or help a development achieve planning permission. Green roofs can help to:

  • promote biodiversity
  • combat the urban heat islands effect
  • absorb CO2
  • reduce heat loss
  • provide acoustic or thermal insulation
  • help with sustainable drainage schemes
  • provide recreational space

Green roof systems fall into five main types: Extensive green roofs, Intensive green roofs, Semi-intensive green roofs, Biodiverse roofs and Brown roofs.

  • Grassroof - green roof system
    Grassroof - green roof system
    Grassroof is an overlay paving system that can be applied to new or existing flat roofs to provide a base layer for green roofs. It can be used in extensive, simple-intensive and intensive green roof designs...
    Grass Concrete
    • PRODUCT
  • Green roof substrate
    Green roof substrate
    A green roof is a unique environment that calls for a unique growing medium. Harrowden Turf's growing medium meets the needs of both the building and the plants. Its specially blended extensive green roof substrate is tested to the German FLL guidlines (2018) and provides the perfect base for establishing a green roof. An extensive green roof...
    Harrowden
    • PRODUCT
  • Semi-Intensive Lightweight Green Roof Subsoil - green roof sand & aggregate
    Semi-Intensive Lightweight Green Roof Subsoil - green roof sand & aggregate
    MCM Lightweight Green Roof Subsoil is a specialist blend made from sand and lightweight aggregate, designed for green roofs, roof gardens, and podium landscapes where reduced weight is important: specialist subsoil blend for green roof and landscape applications; lightweight composition reduces structural load on buildings; suitable for use with...
    MCM-SE
    • PRODUCT
  • Terraxx - green roof drainage membrane
    Terraxx - green roof drainage membrane
    Terrax is a dimpled sheet with a geotextile layer which acts as a surface layer. Normally used as a green roof external drainage layer, it also protects the primary waterproofing applied to substrate. Laminated on to the dimpled sheet, a layer of compression-resistant permanent filtration geotextile prevents the dimple structure from being clogged...
    Delta Membrane Systems
    • PRODUCT
  • Enviromat® - sedum matting for extensive green roofs
    Enviromat® - sedum matting for extensive green roofs
    Enviromat® sedum matting is used for extensive green roofs, as well as being well-suited as a low-maintenance ground cover. The overall appearance of an Enviromat® sedum green roof is well manicured, neat and contemporary. Grown on a special matting for strength, versatility and easy installation, Enviromat® is supplied with 95% coverage of mature...
    Harrowden
    • PRODUCT
  • Green roof creates interest for nursery children
    Green roof creates interest for nursery children
    Little Jungle Nursery in SE London has strong environmental and ecological ideals and wished to bring plants, pollinators and other wildlife into its environment. A green roof was installed on a small storage shed at the front of the nursery that children could see from the window and could watch flowers develop and see insects at work...
    Harrowden
    • PROJECT
  • Living green roof for historic windmill home
    Living green roof for historic windmill home
    Harrowden supplied its premium grade turf for the green roof on an extension to a 300-year-old windmill as part of a home renovation. A grass mound was excavated to make room for this semi-submerged extension with grass roof. Visually, the project has barely had an impact on the building yet the living space has more than doubled....
    Harrowden
    • PROJECT
  • Enviromat - natural feed for sedum green roofs
    Enviromat - natural feed for sedum green roofs
    Harrowden's specially formulated sedum fertiliser, designed for living roofs, covers 65m2. Sedum fertiliser is an essential part of its recommended green roof maintenance regime. This slow-release organic feed is formulated for healthy and robust plants and maximises benefits for any living green roof. Sedum fertilisers offers a wealth of...
    Harrowden
    • PRODUCT
  • Lightweight aluminium green roof edging
    Lightweight aluminium green roof edging
    Lightweight aluminium green roof edging is available in two face heights to suit Harrowden Turf's range of living roof products. 33 laser-cut slots per metre allow the free draining of water, whilst retaining pebbles or substrate. The base on both versions is 100mm wide allowing the weight of the green roof system or pebbles to hold it in place...
    Harrowden
    • PRODUCT
  • 20mm HDPE drainage board for green roofs
    20mm HDPE drainage board for green roofs
    Harrowden offers a tough cuspate drainage board with integral filter fleece that is ideal for intensive and semi-intensive green roofs, providing irrigation and drainage. A 20mm black HDPE (high-density polyethylene) punched cuspate drainage board with a geotextile filter fleece bonded to a single side (top). The 20mm cuspate provides water...
    Harrowden
    • PRODUCT
  • Green-tree Intensive Roof Garden Substrate
    Green-tree Intensive Roof Garden Substrate
    Intensive green roofs typically by design are of a heavy construction with weights varying across the span of the roof. The substrate used in intensive green roofs can vary in depths from 100mmm to 1000mm to accommodate large plants and plant groupings. A blend of lightweight aggregate and the award-winning Green-tree Topsoil, the intensive roof...
    Green-tech Specifier
    • PRODUCT
  • Green-tree Extensive Roof Garden Substrate
    Green-tree Extensive Roof Garden Substrate
    Extensive roofs are generally thin, lightweight roof systems that typically have a planting media measuring 40mm to 100mm deep. Green-tree Roof Garden Extensive Substrate is ideal for incorporation into expansive green roof projects that require very little maintenance, such as sedum roofs. A proven growing media, that is lightweight in texture...
    Green-tech Specifier
    • PRODUCT
  • Wildflower green roof for cycle shed
    Wildflower green roof for cycle shed
    As nearby parking spaces are few and far between, staff are encouraged to cycle to work at the Boathouse in Teddington. Landscape architects Outerspace therefore required a cycle store. This was designed to incorporate a green roof which would feature wild flowers. The clients chose Meadowmat woodland shade as the site was too shady for sedum matting....
    Harrowden
    • PROJECT
  • ASF green roof single cycle shelter
    ASF green roof single cycle shelter
    ASF green roof cycle shelters use a roof tray and sedum matting to convert the usually utilitarian product of a cycle shelter into an attractive unit that promotes biodiversity. The frame and tray of the cycle shelters are manufactured in 275 carbon steel from recycled sources. As standard they are finished galvanised and powder coated in holybush...
    Architectural Street Furnishings
    • PRODUCT
  • ASF green roof double cycle shelter
    ASF green roof double cycle shelter
    ASF green roof cycle shelters use sedum matting to convert the utility product of a cycle shelter into a pleasing and architectural unit that promotes biodiversity: frames and trays are manufactured in 275 carbon steel from recycled sources; supplied with GT4 extensive roof garden substrate and roofdrain membrane - pre-grown sedum matting is...
    Architectural Street Furnishings
    • PRODUCT
  • Meadowmat - wildflower turf for green roofs
    Meadowmat - wildflower turf for green roofs
    Meadowmat is a green roofing product that makes it easy to establish a biodiverse habitat on the harsh environs of a roof. The 23 species of native flowers and grasses have been specially selected for their suitability to the conditions on a roof. They are perennial, frost-hardy, reasonably drought-tolerant and tough enough to put up with blustery...
    Harrowden
    • PRODUCT
  • Enviromat polythene root barrier for green roofs
    Enviromat polythene root barrier for green roofs
    Black low-density polyethylene film originally designed to cover fodder, providing an excellent barrier against water and air. It has a good tensile strength making it ideal for protecting the waterproofing layer on green roofs from root damage....
    Harrowden
    • PRODUCT
  • Roof glazing replacement - Green Park Station, Bath
    Roof glazing replacement - Green Park Station, Bath
    Following a safety incident at Green Park Station in Bath, the Standard Patent Glazing Co's expertise was sought to assess the condition of the station’s glazing system. After conducting a thorough condition survey, it compiled a comprehensive report indicating the need for a complete replacement. Green Park Station, originally known as Queen...
    The Standard Patent Glazing Company
    • PROJECT
  • Intensive Green Roof Substrate - lightweight soil for roof gardens
    Intensive Green Roof Substrate - lightweight soil for roof gardens
    MCM Intensive Lightweight Green Roof Substrate is a lightweight, low-porosity soil blend made from sand, compost, and aggregate, designed for intensive and semi-intensive green roofs, podium landscapes, and container planting. Supplied in bags or bulk, it supports healthy, well-drained plant growth while reducing roof load weight: lightweight...
    MCM-SE
    • PRODUCT
  • Extensive Green Roof Substrate - lightweight compost blend for sedum roofs
    Extensive Green Roof Substrate - lightweight compost blend for sedum roofs
    MCM Extensive Green Roof Substrate is a lightweight soil blend made from 10mm graded PAS 100 compost, 8–14mm expanded clay aggregate, and mulched wood fines. Designed for low-maintenance green roofs and sedum planting, it has low organic content, high porosity, and balanced particle size for effective drainage and plant support: lightweight...
    MCM-SE
    • PRODUCT
  • Enviromat sedum green roof kit for pitched roofs
    Enviromat sedum green roof kit for pitched roofs
    This is a simple green roof kit that can be installed in a day. It comprises a root barrier, water retention blanket and sedum matting. Enviromat pitched green roof kit is suitable for living green roofs with a gentle slope between 3 and 20 degrees. ...
    Harrowden
    • PRODUCT
  • Enviromat - sedum roof trays
    Enviromat - sedum roof trays
    Enviromat sedum roof trays can be used to transform garden roofs. Sedums are a pollinator-friendly species that come in varied colours and textures and offer long flowering periods. The trays allow the sedum to be easily transported and installed....
    Harrowden
    • PRODUCT
  • Enviromat Sedum roof for shepherd hut
    Enviromat Sedum roof for shepherd hut
    Enviromat sedum matting from Harrowden Turf was installed by a private client on the roof of their shepherd hut to create a living green roof...
    Harrowden
    • PROJECT
  • Armadillo seating shelters with green roofs for hospital
    Armadillo seating shelters with green roofs for hospital
    Handspring designed, manufactured and installed bespoke courtyard Armadillo seating shelters for a richly planted and textured landscaping project designed by FIRA at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary. The shelters are quite complex in form but this then repeats for the two- and four-bay units. The main frame is made from oak, with Douglas Fir...
    Handspring Design
    • PROJECT