Newington Green is well known for having several historic buildings around its perimeter but there is also an exciting but hidden away new development, that is unknown to all but a few people. One of NGAG’s committee members, the architect Justin Bere, has built The Muse, which is an inspiring example of how to design a sophisticated urban building that is also ecological and supports our native flora and fauna.

The Muse, located between Newington Green and Poets Road, is one of the most 'rounded' ecological buildings in the UK, built close to Passivhaus ecological and energy saving standards and also built as a wildlife sanctuary as well as an oasis for neighbouring taller buildings to look down upon. It was started as a self-build 6 years ago before Justin discovered the European Passivhaus approach but has been built to almost identical standards and may indeed achieve Passivhaus certification once it is completed.

The Muse is located immediately behind a terrace of four Grade 1 Listed Heritage houses, thought to be the oldest terrace in England. The adjacent terrace, on the West side of Newington Green, dates from 1658. Although Newington Green was at that time a small hamlet some distance outside the walls of the City of London, today it represents a rare surviving example of the typical house type built within the City walls before the Great Fire of London in 1666. Thomas Jefferson stayed at one of these houses.

The four green roofs at The Muse are flourishing.  In the Spring 20 tonnes of soil was spread over the roofs to sustain an all-native planting scheme, including a native hawthorn thicket, a native hazel woodland with native honeysuckle and two native wild-flower meadows. Also forty native birch trees have been planted along the gravel entranceway.  The water from an underground rainwater storage tank will be used to settle the planting in during its first year and it is planned that the meadows and other plants will not require more than occasional watering from the rainwater tank after the first year.

The wild flower meadow was done with Dusty Gedge of Living Roofs who also advised on the soil for the whole project and the scheme includes sun-baked stag-beetle sandpits, bumble bee sleeping quarters and other insect nests to add to the bird and bat boxes already built into the brick walls. A large number of birds and insects now visit and feed on the native planting, particularly the seeds of the native meadow planting. Bird species include house sparrows which are an endangered species. With the help of a couple of ponds, Justin’s plan is to create a wildlife oasis in the heart of London. The fact that bumblebees, honey bees, hoverflies and various bird species are already using these green roofs as habitats, indicates that The Muse will form a valuable link within the wildlife corridors that NGAG are aiming to develop around the area around Newington Green.