Green Infrastructure is a term that encompasses quite a broad scope. Its ‘catch-all’ nature is often difficult to define. The UK Green Building Council has published a report which aims to bring together information that currently exists on the subject to provide an easy to use guide.
In 2013/14 the Community Projects Fund provided one off grants of up to £3000 to support small scale projects at grass roots level to improve their local greenspace and enhance the quality of the environment. The fund, which was supported by Forestry Commission Scotland, was directed at projects which would benefit and/or engage with children and young people.
The newly formed Scottish Green Infrastructure Forum (SGIF) has announced details of this year’s conference as part of Glasgow’s Green Year 2015.
The completion of Glasgow’s ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ has provided an uninterrupted route from Kelvingrove to Anderston. This report by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health shows the positive impact that this has had on active travel in the city.
When considering conservation, we tend to immediately recognise designations such as Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), country parks, local nature reserves and maybe even sites that have local designations, often called Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCS) or Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). There are of course many places that wildlife can thrive away from designated sites, ask any gardener. But maybe former industrial land is not the sort of location that springs to mind.
The National Housing Federation & Neighbourhoods Green and Keep Britain Tidy recently launched the Green Flag Award for Housing. Following two years of development, the award is now open to housing associations.
Two recent articles have come to our attention via the European Commission Science for Environment Policy. They look at the benefits of urban greening – the first relating to green walls which can lower energy consumption, support biodiversity and reduce flooding. This particular report explores the benefits green walls can also have on noise pollution.