16 May Greening Hammersmith: 1QCS
Case Study: Greening Hammersmith with 1QCS
In May 2022, Hammersmith office space One Queen Caroline Street (1QCS) developed their award-winning rooftop garden, for which they received the Green Apple Environment Award.
Initially buying mature plants to populate the rooftop garden, in 2023 the team tried their hand at growing plants and vegetables from seed. The current offering includes potatoes, tomatoes, radishes, strawberries, chillies and various herbs.
The rooftop is also home to different shrubs that provide a green focal point for tenants, simultaneously attracting pollinators. Indeed, a key aim for 1QCS in 2023 is to attract more bees to the rooftop. The plan is to plant bee-friendly foliage and to create bee ponds (hydration stations for local bees).
Christy and Juliet: inspiring change
Leading the initiative was Facilities Manager Christy Lewington and Reception Supervisor Juliet Taylor. Christy spoke to Hammersmith BID about growing up in the countryside and going to her grandfather’s allotment after school to help out. Being close to nature and connecting to people through plants is an ethos Christy still lives by and something she wanted to pass on to colleagues at 1QCS.
In contrast, Juliet spoke about growing up in the city without a garden. Thanks to the 1QCS rooftop, Juliet told us she has now developed “green fingers” and regularly spends time watering the rooftop planters. This activity forms part of Juliet’s mindfulness routine. She’s not alone: many 1QCS tenants also interact with the green rooftop to ground themselves during the working day.
The tenants
Christy and Juliet spoke about the positive effect the garden has had on the wellbeing of 1QCS tenants. Many visit on a regular basis to de-stress, whether through the physical activity of tending the garden, or through quietly appreciating nature while taking in some fresh air.
The rooftop space also provides the perfect opportunity to connect with colleagues and other tenants from different floors, creating community through initiatives such as Veggie Garden Meetups. Together, the tenants have worked on clearing flowerbeds, re-soiling, planting and feeding. In return, they were treated to pick ‘n’ mix produce bowls, available at the 1QCS reception desk after harvest days.
Christy and Juliet shared the anecdote of an Italian colleague who, upon walking into the lobby and smelling the fresh basil and tomatoes in a pick ‘n’ mix bowl, was instantly reminded of his hometown. He claimed this experience made his day – another example of how green initiatives can boost employee wellbeing.
Top Tips
Top tips for local businesses: Developing greening initiatives
- ‘Research, research, research’
- Christy noted the importance of researching different options for greening initiatives and encourages people to get creative with their sources of inspiration (Buzzfeed, YouTube, etc.).
- Weighing up the options
Weighing up the options and asking for estimates from different contractors demonstrates the level of thought you have put into your project, meaning you are more likely to receive buy-in and approval. It also provides decision-makers with a range of options, making it more likely that at least one will be progressed.
- Tenant Involvement
- Talking to tenants and getting them involved is the perfect way to demonstrate that you have support for a particular initiative.
In addition to their green rooftop, 1QCS recently installed a new, chemical-free, carbon-neutral water flushing system. The installation was unintrusive and the system is low maintenance, while the environmental benefits are significant. The system will help to support 1QCS’s sustainability commitment.
Additional Notes
These long-term sustainability initiatives demonstrate the commitment of 1QCS to the overall greening and cleaning of Hammersmith.
If your organisation also has a greening initiative you’d like to showcase, please email us.