You can’t normally fix a living wall back to a listed building, but you may be able to use a purpose-built steel frame, placed so it would not touch the original facade.

Living walls (or green walls) are unlikely to get vandalised.  Here’s why:

• If the planting is well-established, it is unlikely to be damaged as it is difficult to remove any plants.
• You cannot graffiti on a living wall (easily!)
• The modules are fixed back to the substructure, so are secured in place.
• We’ve worked in several areas where the integration of nature (including living walls) have reduced anti-social behaviour in the area. This has been most noted in Parr Street. Studies have noted 7-8% less crime in areas with access to nature.

The environmental benefits of a living wall that uses natural soil are several.  Let’s look at air quality and biodiversity:

• Air quality: Plants clean the air through the process of photosynthesis: absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen, whilst soil assists in capture of particulate matter. Using soil also gives us flexibility with plant selection which allows us maximum opportunity to select species that hold air purification properties.
• Biodiversity: The power of soil cannot be overstated. Using a natural substrate means we have greater flexibility in plant selection, allowing for native species, pollinator planting and sources of nectar. Soil also creates a habitat for bees, burrowing insects and encourages natural colonisation. Our organic soil substrate also includes green waste, furthering the sustainability of the project.

The annual running costs of a living wall are the water and electricity required for the irrigation system.  The electrical loading is minimal, and the water required for a sunny wall and a shady wall is as follows:

Sunny wall: 16.8 litres/m²/week

Shady wall: 7.6 litres/m²/week

The annual maintenance cost is approximately 10-12% of the original cost of the living wall.

The space required for the irrigation system of a living wall is a 4m² wall space with a depth of 1m if your system is with a tank (typically needed if your living wall is over 30m²).