In April a fennel planter collapsed and we grew worried about rooftop damp. So it was decided we would re waterproof the roof - strip the decking (reserving as much as possible), refigure the rainwater channels, paint the roof in liquid rubber waterproof ‘lava 20’ and add some strengthening beams just incase we want to add some bigger trees (we did).
This left us with a blank canvas on which to concept and build a new rooftop garden. We worked with Marian Boswall and Urban Organic to design a rooftop garden that would accommodate 40 grill-hungry diners. We went for a British Woodland theme with a perennial focus - a roof garden that will evolve and grow and provide natural dappled shade for guests and a good habitat for the birds and the bugs. For full Woodland immersion we built the new decking up and installed huge tubs below the decking to house the tree root balls, so guests would be sitting at tree trunk level.
With deck built, irrigation pipes in place and soil layers sitting comfortably, we made the pilgrimage to Deepdale Tree Nursery and selected three 4-5m tall trees to be our shady protagonists. With some complex crane negotiations, an 18T flatbed truck and tree harnesses secured, we prepared for the arrival of our trees and opened the rooftop on May 15th.
In the canopy layer we have a majestic Malus Rudolph (crab apple) at the centre, an Amelanchier Lamarckii at the chimney breast and a Corylus Maxima ‘Purpurea’ (purple hazel) at the bow of the pub. Accompanied by lots of hazel and silver birch.
In the mid layer we added blackberry and raspberry bushes and white currants, ivy and fennel. Then the lower layer is full of wild strawberries, mint, calendula, woodruff and sweet cicely, two of Nicholas Culpeper’s favourites.
