Sustainable Warwickshire

Public spaces across Leamington, Warwick and Stratford will soon be a lot greener thanks to a series of Green Shoots funded living walls.

The Green Shoots funding will enable the Warwickshire Living Walls project to design and install 100 linear metres of green walls at hospital and public access sites in Warwick, Leamington and Stratford-upon-Avon.  This will form part of a larger programme of environmental projects, creating six Gardens of Wellbeing across Warwickshire.

The core aims of Warwickshire Living Walls is:

• To design and install 100 linear metres of green walls at hospital and public access sites in Warwick, Leamington and Stratford upon Avon. The species-rich planted walls are designed to absorb particulate matter, Nitrogen Dioxide and reduce the harmful effects of traffic in the atmosphere as well as enhancing biodiversity.
• To demonstrate a proof of concept for sustainable drought resistant vertical gardens which improve wellbeing and provide employment, training and volunteering opportunities for young people; and
• To deliver green therapy sessions to the local community.

The living walls will be planted with a wide range of evergreen plants – recommended for their ability to produce oxygen and capture Nitrogen dioxide – including thyme, oregano, sedum, vinca major and Bergenia. These will become beautiful, long-lasting, green walls for all to enjoy for years to come.

The Forest of Hearts Living Walls will be installed with an innovative self-watering system with each planter having a storage reservoir so that watering is only done once a week during the summer months.

Carole Longden, CEO and Founder of Forest of Hearts, speaking about the Warwickshire Living Walls project, said: “We are delighted to help to boost biodiversity and do our bit for the local community with beautiful vertical gardens and we would like to thank Warwickshire County Council for their generous support.”

More information about Forest of Hearts.