Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson was a prominent physician, anaesthetist and sanitarian. He founded the Journal of Public Health in 1855 and was an early advocate of the benefits of cycling. Writing in 1876, in his book Hygeia – A City of Health he argued that in the roof of each house should be a flat area to be used as a yard or where flowers could be grown, which sounds a little like the Mayor of London’s Living Roofs Policy(which the Green Roof Consultancy wrote a technical report) – which was finally adopted 135 years later! Although his City of Health was ‘yet unknown’ Richardson made the point that ‘the details of the city exist’ and his proposals were not an unobtainable utopian dream. All the components of the City of Health still exist but we still need to accelerate uptake of their use.

We also need to widen our understanding of public health – using modern ecological concepts but getting closer to Richardson’s more holistic approach. The de-constructivism, overspecialisation and linear thinking that has been promoted since Richardson’s time has led to a decoupling with the natural world (in our imaginations anyway) which many of us now know doesn’t work. But we still have a long way to go: I had a discussion with a general practitioner of medicine last year, who felt that green issues were largely irrelevant to his work. This week a TV news presenter, referring to the current outbreak of Phytophthora infection of UK trees, remarked that if trees died we wouldn’t have anything to photograph in autumn, implying perhaps that trees are nothing more than an attractive backdrop. After mentioning that ‘all the trees might be dying’, the newsreaders soon re-directed our attention the wisdom of the TV doctor and whatever that day’s ailment of concern was.

The Natural Health Service initiative in the UK is promoted by Natural England. The main idea is that everyone should live within 5 minutes of green space so that they can exercise to counter obesity and depression.  The campaign also urges doctors to prescribe exercise in the local park. Of course it is always best to walk in the park if you can, but some of the proven mental health benefits of green space come from overlooking it and this is where green roofs and living walls could play their part in those districts that are deficient in green space. And growing vegetables on the roof is an extremely soothing and rewarding activity and although it is not exactly like going to the gym, it can also involve some light exercise.

So in my view Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson was right, the rooftops can play their part in the City of Health. A pleasant outlook on some vegetation and wildlife, perhaps growing some food, keeping cool in summer and making the raindrops work before we throw them down the drain, but perhaps most importantly, helping people to understand that they are part of nature and rely the ecosystem goods and services that it provides.  The details exist for the City of Health and they will include living roofs. So called ‘cutting edge’ green buildings without living roofs are not cutting edge – they were already out of date in 1876.