Manley Park Primary School Bike Shelter
Sow the City designed and delivered a 40-bike shelter for Manley Park Primary School, featuring a biodiverse green roof and sustainable urban drainage system. Rain chains guide excess water from roof to ground, reducing flood risk and enhancing ecological function.
‘The team at Sow the City designed exactly what we needed, gave expert advice, and installed our green roof bike shelter efficiently and to an excellent standard - it was a stress-free and very smooth process from start to finish’
Sarah-Jane Henderson, Headteacher, Manley Park Primary School
Biodiverse bike-shelter
Sow the City worked closely with staff, parents, and students at Manley Park Primary School to co-design a bike shelter that supports active travel and ecological education. The shelter accommodates up to 40 bicycles and aims to encourage more pupils to cycle to school, promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing traffic congestion.
The shelter’s green roof was designed in consultation with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), ensuring alignment with local transport infrastructure and securing necessary permissions. The roof was installed in accordance with the GRO Green Roof Code of Best Practice, guaranteeing high standards in waterproofing, drainage, structural integrity, and planting.
The sedum roof delivers multiple benefits:
- Biodiversity: provides habitat and forage for pollinators including bees and butterflies
- Climate resilience: reduces urban heat island effect through evapotranspiration
- Water management: absorbs rainfall and slows runoff, reducing pressure on drainage systems
To further enhance drainage, we integrated rain chains—a visually striking and functional feature that channels water from roof to ground in a controlled cascade, preventing waterlogging and supporting the roof’s long-term performance.
This project exemplifies how green infrastructure can be embedded into everyday school environments, creating spaces that are functional, educational, and ecologically rich.
