We are delighted that two of Biotecture’s living walls have been recognised in the Flowers in the City Summer Campaign Awards; 20 Fenchurch Street and New Street Square. The Awards, run by the Worshipful Company of Gardeners, showcase the best horticultural displays across the City of London.
Our 700 metre living wall at 20 Fenchurch Street won the campaign’s newest award – The Skyline Trophy — which celebrates the best examples of green walls and roof gardens.
This impressive living wall was designed and installed by Biotecture in 2014 and continues to be maintained by us in partnership with idverde.
A mix of ferns, shrubs and grasses create a variety of colours and textures; from the crisp green of Evergreen Hart’s Tongue and the red hues of Heuchera ‘Marmalade’ to the small dense leaves of Lonicera Maygreen and the long fronds of Polystichum setiferum. Flowering plants give fragrant bursts of violet, pink and white to the wall throughout the summer, after which berries ripen in the winter to provide year-round interest.
Living wall at 20 Fenchurch Street installed by Biotecture and maintained in partnership with Idverde
The award judges, all members of The Worshipful Company of Gardeners, visit their areas at least twice during the summer and provide recommendations for trophies and plaques. Final judging for those put forward for trophies is conducted by the Master, Chairman, Secretary and the Head of Judges.
The living wall at New Street Square received the Master’s Special Trophy – the best display in the whole of the City this summer. The wall was installed for client LandSec and turned 10 years old this month. In Winter the living wall provides the only urban greening in a built up area of Holborn and the lush planting creates a stunning natural feature year round. The wall includes native species such as London ferns to help with the biodiversity and urban greening in the City of London. The project was featured on ITV’s this morning in June.
The living wall at New Street Square brings lush year round greenery to an urban area of Holborn
Tom Ward and Russell Hearsham joined Landsec’s Workspace Manager Martyn Pharo to accept the Master’s Special Trophy for the living wall at New Street Square.
Biotecture have maintained both walls since their installation. This includes daily remote monitoring of the irrigation systems by our operations team, regular inspection visits, and full horticultural maintenance three times a year. During these visits the plants are cleaned, pruned and trimmed back to keep them looking neat and tidy. Any plants that have come to the end of their lifecycle are replaced. The irrigation systems are also serviced, and nutrient levels topped up.
“It’s fantastic that the work of our horticultural team has been recognised by the Flowers in the City Awards judges. Our living walls are designed to last and mature over time so it’s great that these well-established walls have been recognised as the best horticultural displays in the City.” Russell Hearsum, Maintenance Director, Biotecture
For information about our living wall services call +44 (0)1243 572118 or email enquiries@biotecture.uk.com
