You might not find it surprising that only 6.8% of the UK is classified as urban. However what might make you raise your eyebrows is the fact that a massive 81.5% of the UK’s population lives in these urban areas. It’s no wonder we spend so much time sitting in traffic, pushing our way through bustling streets and are renowned for our love of standing in queues!
Interestingly the cities in the UK are actually green by world standards with 78.6% of urban areas designated to nature, this is made up of parks, sports pitches, gardens, allotments, rivers, canals and reservoirs. There is still room for improvement however as these spaces for nature are not spread consistently through cities and many residents of urban areas live in areas with few natural spaces.
Of course space is both limited and costly in cities so designating large areas to greenery can be both controversial and expensive. Meanwhile the challenges faced by our crowded urban areas continue:
- Poor air quality and concentrated air pollution
- Flash flooding caused by non-porous surfaces
- Eyesores and graffiti from lack of social pride
- Buildings weathered by ultraviolet rays and acid rain
- Urban heat island effect as temperatures soar
- High levels of sound pollution
- Loss of habitats for wildlife, bees and insects
With this in mind it’s no wonder that living walls and green roofs are increasingly favoured by urban planners. Making use of spaces that would otherwise be wasted and ignored, they provide a method of maximising green spaces in cities, disguising eyesores, regulating buildings temperatures, retaining and using rain water, absorbing sound and air pollution and providing homes for wildlife.
For further information on living walls or green roofs and how they can improve our cities in the future, get in touch.
