Lower Meadow Primary Academy in Sheffield, has installed a “living roof” over part of the school building, as part of the school’s pledge to find ways to address future climate change risks.
The “living roof” is covered with vegetation, soil and a waterproof membrane, designed to protect the building while providing environmental benefits.
Lower Meadow secured £20,000 in funding to install the roof as part of the Built for Change project, a partnership between Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield City Council.
The project supports schools as they identify future risks and challenges associated with climate change. Overheating has been identified as one of the most significant challenges facing educational buildings.
Lower Meadow hopes that its new roof will help to keep classrooms cooler during the warmer months by absorbing heat and providing natural insulation.
In addition to improving comfort levels for pupils and staff, the roof will create valuable habitat space, supporting plants, insects and pollinators within the school grounds.
Lower Meadow worked with the sustainability charity Let’s Go Zero to explore a range of practical solutions to reduce climate risk and, after careful consideration, school leaders opted for the installation of a living roof.
With the roof installed over the half term break in February, the school is now planning a special event in June – once the roof is flourishing with biodiversity – to celebrate this innovative project.
As part of the celebrations, the school’s student Eco Warriors, who look for ways to make their school more sustainable, will be presenting information about what the school has done and why.
Jane Dawtry, Principal of Lower Meadow Primary Academy, said: “We are very proud to be part of the Built for Change project and to be taking meaningful action for our pupils and for the planet.
“We are delighted to have this new roof installed at our school, which will help protect our classrooms from overheating while also creating new habitats for wildlife.
“Our Eco Warriors are passionate advocates for making the school more sustainable and this living roof is something they can truly feel proud of. We hope that all our pupils will be inspired to see sustainability in action right here at Lower Meadow Primary Academy.”
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “We know that many of our schools experience challenges due to increasingly hot, dry summers and wet winters resulting from the changing climate. High classroom temperatures, lack of shade and waterlogged or flooded grounds affect the ability of children to learn, play and stay healthy.
“These projects will impact the next generation, those who will grow up in Sheffield and call the city home for many decades to come, it is vital that we give them the best possible start in life, not only in terms of their education but also their health as well.”
“The programme is already playing a vital role in helping these schools change and adapt and I’m looking forward to seeing the results, the impact it has on the lives of the children and across the whole city and communities. Along with the help of our partners, we are building a Sheffield fit for the future and tackling the climate emergency with the Built for Change programme is right at the heart of that.”
