Living Walls

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I was surprised to discover that there are 'living walls' near East Croydon station. I couldn't think where they could be but it turns out I actually go past them every day!

One is at Terrace Hill's Chroma site just down the hill from East Croydon station. This mainly seems to be some ivy trailing over trellises attached to the hoardings.

Slightly Washed Out Goth

The other is at the Lansdowne Road entrance to East Croydon station. I do remember noticing this last year when the honeysuckle entwined through the fencing was flowering. A welcome splash of colour and good for pollinating insects.

Slightly Washed Out Goth

As well as the aesthetic benefits living walls provide habitats for insects, improve air quality and can reduce noise pollution. They deflect water away from walls during heavy rain and (particularly with a small air gap) provide an extra layer of thermal insulation. They also help to keep their surroundings cooler in summer as they don't store heat during the day and release it at night like brick and concrete do.

The Royal Horticultural Society identifies three types of living walls - direct greening, indirect greening and living wall systems. Direct greening is where a self-attaching climbing plant utilises a surface for support and sometimes nutrition. Indirect greening means support has been provided specifically for the plants - trellises or wires. This has the advantage of introducing a small air gap which has an insulation effect on the wall. The third category are engineered systems. The plants used in these don't necessarily have to be climbers but they do require frequent irrigation and maintenance. Depending on the local environment plants used for a living wall can include climbers, wall shrubs, leaf succulents (such as sedum) and even fruit and vegetables - strawberries, sweet pea and tomatoes for example.

There are already some brilliant examples of living walls in London - Anthropologie in Regent Street, Edgware Road Tube station, Westfield Shopping Centre and The Athenaeum Hotel - and around the world.

And what of the future? I like this quote from Lloyd Alter -
'There really is no reason that ground, walls, balconies and roofs cannot all feed us, provide habitat for wildlife, shade and cool our buildings, and provide feedstock for our furnaces and electrical generators. There is no reason that our own waste can't be digested on site and provide compost for the farm. There is no reason that our buildings cannot provide employment for people living in them, growing the food that others in the building can then have for dinner.
This is the future of green living building, it's not walls, roofs or garden; it's everywhere.'

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