Creating a living roof above the motorway: from infrastructure to nature

Located off the M1 in Leeds, Skelton Lake Services presented a unique opportunity: perched above a lakeside environment and a motorway service hub, the mission was to blend infrastructure, ecology and design. Wildflower Turf Ltd was commissioned to supply over 4,600 m² of bespoke wildflower roof turf along with the required roof substrate. The project team — including landscape architects Smeeden Foreman, installers ABG Ltd and Brambledown Landscapes Ltd — worked closely to ensure the installation was seamless and aligned with planning requirements.

The bespoke turf mix featured 41 different native UK wildflower species, selected for their suitability to roof-top conditions and ecological value. Technical challenges included a very wet winter followed by dry early spring, so the roof design incorporated a drip-irrigation system to support the emerging plants. Beyond the visual impact, the wildflower roof now mitigates stormwater runoff, filters air pollutants and rainfall, reduces carbon emissions through insulation, and buffers sound-noise from the motorway — delivering measurable sustainability and wellbeing benefits.