Landscape & Urban Design Issue 41 2020 | Page 33

GREEN & BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE Ongoing research shows that the Living Green Screens, superior in plant density and construction than other greening options, help remove PM10 particle pollution – in some sample locations up to 60% of the particles were “cleansed” from the air behind the screens. The research continues to further validate these initial findings, but increasingly, the installation of Living Green Screens offers not only a secure and natural screening barrier for schools’ perimeters, but a valuable screening option to reduce the hard effects of urban pollution from our schools and communities. The Living Green Screen Our most popular product is the Living Green Screen. These are available in Ivy, Beech, Hornbeam, Pyracantha Darts Red & Euonymus Dart’s Blankets. We also offer Variegated Goldchild and Green Ripple. The screens are planted and pre- grown on a 5mm galvanised steel frame and come fully established, creating a secure and attractive evergreen or deciduous hedging. We now have several different methods of installation with a solution available for most projects. The screens can be installed on timber or powder coated steel posts, planted into GRP, timber, aluminium or powder coated steel planter boxes or fixed to an existing structure using our stainless-steel cabling system. An increasingly popular design is the green screen installation in planter boxes. They offer a flexible and instantly stylish way to maximise space by creating a partition, protection from the effects of pollution, draughts, and instant privacy screening. Available in a choice of finishes including GRP, timber, aluminium or powder coated steel, planter boxes are the perfect choice for roof terraces, patios, outdoor dining areas, swimming/ spa pool areas and the perimeter of schools playgrounds. Follow us @ludmagazine Included in the installation costs are all materials, labour, compost to improve planting ground conditions and slow release granular fertilizer. The result is an instant, sustainable and beautifully well-established secure hedge that reduces air pollution and promotes biodiversity. Recent projects - Green My School Thousands of children up and down the country are being exposed to poor air quality that risk causing lifelong health problems both inside and outside the classroom. A study, commissioned by the mayor of London, showed in London alone there are over 800 schools, nurseries, and colleges being exposed to illegal levels of air pollution. The EU legal limit for nitrogen dioxide pollution levels is 40µg/ m3 (40 micrograms per cubic metre of air) and some schools have NO2 readings as high as 73. There is no more important outdoor environment to protect from the dangerous toxins of traffic pollution than in and beyond the school perimeter. This isn’t limited to inner London schools; the damaging effects of pollution are countrywide. For several years we have been helping some of the most polluted schools across London and the UK by working tirelessly to supply and install 100s of metres of Living Green Screens as the first line of defence in the battle to improve air quality across the UK. The demand has been significant in 2019 and constantly increase as more organisations become aware of the benefits of installing living green screens. The screens can be planted directly into the ground, using timber or powder coated steel posts, planted into planter boxes or raised sleeper beds. With greater emphasis on the reduction of carbon emissions and the carbon footprint, Hedera Screens is an experienced, accredited and trusted greening partner. For more information contact Hedera Screens on 0845 504 8211, email: [email protected] or visit the website at www.hederascreens.co.uk www.landud.co.uk 33