The History
Ten years ago, the land that is now RSPB Lakenheath comprised arable fields which housed very little wildlife.  Now this 298 hectares site has been transformed to comprise mostly reed beds and grazing marsh, with poplar woodland too helping to attract such species as marsh harriers, hobbies, golden orioles and reed and sedge warblers. 

Funds Awarded
Up until recently the only facilities available to visitors were a car park and well trodden footpaths.  However, with the recent award of £546,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund all of this has changed.  The trail network has been expanded to give full access to the reserve for the first time with more staff employment to aid visitors.  A purchase of an additional 42 hectares has helped RSPB Lakenheath make a substantial contribution to UK Government Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) targeting specific environments and species, as well as making it the largest piece of recreated fen habitat within the UK.  Finally, a new visitor centre has been opened, creating a focal point for the nature reserve, allowing people to experience and learn about the surrounding habitat and the wider heritage of the fens.

Why a Green Roof
To help the visitor centre blend into its surround, this low lying building was topped off by a Bauder extensive green roof system, housing one of the most sustainable waterproofing build-ups beneath, namely Bauder Thermoplan-T.  This single ply system is a flexible polyolefin membrane, free from plasticisers, halogens and heavy metals, making it environmentally sound.  The membrane is 100% recyclable and has been specially designed so that all production waste is returned to the manufacturing process.

The green roof finish offers greater design potential for a building to that of a traditional felt roof and at the same time replaces permeable land otherwise lost to construction.  Although the aesthetic benefits for a green roof are visually obvious, their attribution to their immediate habitat and the building user may not be and are too important to be ignored. 

Benefits to the Owner
For the building owner running costs are reduced through energy savings; a green roof improves the thermal insulation of the building providing a more balanced temperature within.  The building’s life expectancy is increased, research has shown that when protected by landscaping the life expectancy of the waterproofing membranes are substantially increased and can last the estimated design life of most buildings.  Finally green roofs can help to reduce noise pollution from both inside and outside the building. 

Benefits to the Environment
The key environmental and ecological benefits include conserving and controlling storm water run-off.  Green roofs can help reduce the heat island effect, an effect where the natural aeration by the wind is reduced, temperatures rise, humidity levels lower and pollution escalates.  Furthermore they allow for natural colonisation and cross-fertilisation of plants encouraging a wider spread of bird and plant species in the area – ideal for the RSPB reserve.

Flying Start
Bauder’s extensive green roof is a strong visual testimony of the RSBP’s beliefs.  Encapsulating the top of the centre, it is one of the first things that visitors to Lakenheath Fen will see, helping to set the environmental scene for the rest of the day.  The sedums will change with seasonal colours from lush greens to deep reds, creating all year round interest and seeing the visitor centre off to a flying start.

“The building sits in a relatively flat Suffolk landscape surrounded by newly created reed bed habitats.  The requirement was for a building that would harmonize with the natural environment.  Although of a relatively modern design, the building uses traditional materials such as timber, flint and sedum in order to complement its natural setting”.
Neil Kellythorn
Development Projects Manager
RSBP 

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