BIODIVERSITY IN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

Nearly all our projects place free standing infrastructure directly onto the hard surface.  This is normally asphalt, pavers, rooftops or concrete.  Just by bringing green infrastructure into these areas completely changes the biodiversity of an area.  This is how:

Baseline: Paved Area (Control)

Habitat Value

  • Flora: None – impermeable surfaces provide no rooting substrate for plants.
  • Fauna: Limited to transient species such as pigeons; no nesting, foraging, or shelter opportunities.
  • Microorganisms: Minimal microbial activity due to absence of organic matter, moisture, or nutrient cycling.

Microclimate

  • High surface temperatures (urban heat island effect) discourage most forms of plant and invertebrate life.
  • No shading, wind protection, or moisture retention.

Ecosystem Services

  • No contribution to pollination, carbon sequestration, stormwater filtration, or cooling through evapotranspiration.
  • Rainwater runoff is immediate and unfiltered, carrying pollutants to stormwater systems.

 Intervention: Green infrastructure (such as our floating gardens)

Habitat Creation

  • Flora: Supports a diverse range of plant species (native grasses, flowering perennials, shrubs) within a shallow but fertile substrate layer.
  • Fauna: Provides foraging and shelter for pollinators (bees, butterflies, hoverflies), other beneficial insects, and small birds.
  • Microorganisms & Soil Biota: Introduces a living soil ecosystem — bacteria, fungi, and invertebrates (e.g., earthworms in deeper trays) that support nutrient cycling.

Structural Complexity

  • Vertical and horizontal plant structures create microhabitats for different species.
  • Seasonal flowering cycles support biodiversity year-round rather than in short bursts.

Food & Foraging Resources

  • Nectar- and pollen-producing plants support pollinators.
  • Seed- and berry-producing plants attract birds.
  • Insects drawn to plants form a prey base for higher trophic levels.

Microclimate Benefits

  • Reduces surface temperatures through shading and evapotranspiration.
  • Increases local humidity, benefiting moisture-dependent species.
  • Buffers wind and creates sheltered microclimates for invertebrates.

Ecosystem Services

  • Stormwater interception and filtration through substrate, reducing pollution load in runoff.
  • Local cooling supports a broader range of species in surrounding areas.
  • Carbon capture through photosynthesis.

 

Scientific References: Garden Trays and Biodiversity

UK Green Building Council. (n.d.). BioCube Wildlife Planters. Retrieved from https://ukgbc.org/resources/biocube/

Wallbarn. (n.d.). How do modular green roofs improve urban spaces? Retrieved from https://www.wallbarn.com/how-do-modular-green-roofs-improve-urban-spaces/

Wallbarn. (n.d.). How M-Tray® wildflower green roofs promote biodiversity in urban spaces. Retrieved from https://www.wallbarn.com/how-m-tray-wildflower-green-roofs-promote-biodiversity-in-urban-spaces/

Filazzola, A., Shrestha, N., & MacIvor, J.S. (2019). The contribution of constructed green infrastructure to urban biodiversity: A synthesis and meta-analysis. Urban Ecology. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_ecology

Aronson, M. F., et al. (2021). Boosting biodiversity through restoration interventions in urban green spaces. Science of The Total Environment, 789, 147870. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147870

Laughlin, D. C., et al. (2021). Plant biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in green infrastructure. Ecological Applications, 31(5), e02323. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2902

Niemelä, J. (2025). Designing urban green spaces to support biodiversity. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 92, 127066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.127066

Open Access Government. (2025). Rethinking urban greenery: A nature-based approach to biodiversity management. Retrieved from https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/openaccessgovernment.org-Rethinking-urban-greenery-A-nature-based-approach-to-biodiversity-management.pdf

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Urban green space. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_green_space

Dover, J. (2015). Green Infrastructure: Incorporating Plants and Enhancing Biodiversity in Buildings and Urban Environments. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203121993

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