City Advocate Dusty Gedge Stresses City's Obligation to Provide Authentic, Significant Biodiversity
An Inquisitive Birdwatcher's Journey to the Green Roof Summit
Meet Dusty Griffiths, a man who'd never fathomed becoming a green roof expert, let alone the President of the European Federation of Green Roof and Wall Associations. But life, like the rare black redstart he watched, had a surprising flight path in store for him.
A Fledgling Passion Ignites
Dusty, an avid nature lover, noticed the elusive black redstart nesting on brownfields. A revelation struck: if these birds could thrive on brownfields, couldn't newly built structures also sport some vegetation? And so, the concept of green roofs was born in 1997.
Serendipity Makes a Connection
Fast forward to 2000, Dusty stumbled upon a fascinating article about a Swiss green roof and biodiversity guru named Dr. Stephan Brenneisen. Eager to learn from the man himself, Dusty braved the seemingly insurmountable internet barriers of the time and flew to Switzerland. After absorbing all the knowledge he could from Dr. Brenneisen, Dusty returned to London, inadvertently creating a name for himself in the city planning scene.
A Self-Taught Marvel
Without any formal education in Building Science or City Planning, Dusty forged his own path. In 2006, he campaigned for a green roof policy in London, penning the technical report and the policy itself. His work culminated in the New Green Roof policy addition to the London Plan, which made developers justify their green roof omissions. As a result, London's green roof spaces exploded from approximately 200,000 m² in 2010 to a staggering 2,000,000 m² in 2021.
Rising to the Top
Today, Dusty stands at the helm of the European Federation of Green Roof and Living Wall Associations (EFB), an organization that influences the European Union by creating policies, conducting research, raising awareness, and inspiring countries to embrace the green roof movement.
One of the EFB's key goals is to push the boundaries of carbon-neutral cities and explore the possibility of green roofs becoming carbon-negative. "That's a big focus of my professional work at the moment, how we might achieve that," Dusty muses.
Spreading the Green Gospel
Dusty has traveled far and wide, sharing his green roof wisdom and meeting experts in the field. Despite his globe-trotting adventures, he credits the support of organizations like the English Environment Agency and the government's nature conservation body, Natural England, as being instrumental in the green roof movement's success.
A Legacy in the Making
When asked about his most significant achievement in the green roof world, Dusty proudly points to the black redstarts now nesting on the very roofs he pursued to protect them. "That's why we put the green roofs there," he smiles.
In 2018, the green roof of IKEA in Greenwich bore witness to a momentous change, as it was the first building whose roof design Dusty was intimately involved in. The seeds for this transformation were locally sourced by Dusty himself.
Embracing Progress Gradually
Recognizing that innovation is a gradual process, Dusty has steadfastly resisted the temptation to rush progress. In fact, it took until 2019 for the last two London boroughs (the London Borough of Redbridge and the London Borough of Bromley) to implement local planning requirements for green roofs. Dusty is well versed in the necessity of allowing cities to adapt changes according to their unique needs.
Lessons Learned Along the Way
Although initially not educated in green roofs, Dusty's initial mistake—advocating for brown roofs—eventually paved the way for the successful London policy that specifies green roofs must be at least 50 to 150mm in depth, seeded with native wildflowers, and contain various ecological features.
Continuing the Green Crusade
Despite his numerous accomplishments, Dusty remains driven and eager to innovate. He is currently involved in mapping every green roof in London, developing software for satellite mapping of green roofs, and is the co-founder of the UK's leading independent green roof website, livingroofs.org.
Dusty remains actively involved in the World Green Roof Day (WGRD), an international celebration of green roofs dedicated to sharing their various benefits. The first event had 57 participating countries in 2020, and the 2021 event boasted double that number. Interested individuals can participate in WGRD 2022 by visiting this link.
Looking Ahead
Dusty's journey serves as an inspiring reminder that a curious mind, combined with a passion for making a difference, can open doors to unexpected opportunities. His story is testament to the boundless potential of the human spirit and the lasting impact that can be achieved by nurturing our relationship with the natural world.
In the realm of environmental science, Dusty Griffiths' interest in the black redstart led him to pioneer the concept of green roofs in 1997, a concept that has since flourished and transformed not only London's lifestyle but also its home-and-garden landscape, with green roof spaces expanding from 200,000 m² in 2010 to 2,000,000 m² in 2021. Furthermore, his self-taught expertise in the field has culminated in policy changes, inspiring a carbon-neutral community vision within the European Federation of Green Roof and Living Wall Associations (EFB), an organization he leads.
