Specially selected plants on "living roof" will support pollinators
Tonbridge gets its first bee-friendly “buzz stop” this week with the creation of a living roof on one of its town centre shelters.
The innovative bus stop design will feature a mix of 13 native wildflower and five sedum species planted on the roof of a specially designed shelter in Quarry Hill Road, close to the town’s rail station and high street. The plants have been selected by experts to support bees and other pollinators, whose numbers have been in decline in recent years.
Unlike traditional bus stops, the mini wildlife haven will also keep the shelter cooler in summer by reflecting rather than absorbing heat from the sun as is the case with a conventional roof. The materials used to construct the roof are either recycled or upcycled.
The initiative is the latest from Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council in support of its ambitions to protect the environment and cut carbon emissions. It’s also investing in solar power for its leisure centres, electric vehicles and home insulation. The £30,000 scheme is being financed through the council’s allocation from the government’s levelling up fund and delivered in partnership with leading out of home advertising and infrastructure company, Clear Channel UK.
Robin Betts, the council’s cabinet member for climate change, said: “High streets are not especially insect friendly places so it’s great that we’ve found a way to provide a mini habitat for vital pollinators while also adding a bit of extra buzz to the great town that is Tonbridge.”
Will Ramage, Clear Channel’s Managing Director said: “We're excited to partner with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council on this innovative project. By transforming bus shelters into bee-friendly habitats, we're not only supporting local biodiversity but also contributing to a more sustainable and vibrant urban environment."