The 16th January marks Blue Monday, dubbed the most depressing day of the year. In addition to the usual post-Christmas lull, dark wintry weather and awaiting the arrival of pay day, city dwellers have claimed a lack of greenery in their area is also giving them the blues.
We surveyed 2,000 city dwellers. We found that two thirds (66%) of people who live in urban environments want to see more botanical beauty where they live, with over a quarter (26%) feeling demotivated by the lack of green space in their area and one in five (20%) feeling isolated. More than half (51%) think there is not enough investment in urban greening and two fifths (43%) believe there is just too little space available for nature.
Recognising that there is simply not enough horizontal space for parks and open areas, the majority (57%) would welcome more vertical greenery, such as living walls, to make up for the lack of ground level room in their city. Others want more trees (43%), flower beds (38%) and grass (36%) – as many (78%) say greenery improves their mental wellbeing.
A large number of city dwellers (79%) said they enjoy living in an urban place, thanks to the convenience, career opportunities and social life. Yet the research also found over two thirds (67%) would consider moving to a greener suburb or the countryside to be able to enjoy nature more. Those looking to move want cleaner air (40%), a calmer life (39%), more space (34%) and to be able to get outside more (32%).
However, almost two thirds (62%) would consider staying in a metropolitan environment if there was more investment in urban greening, saying the key benefits of living around plenty of greenery include having cleaner air (47%) and more wildlife (45%).
Access to greenspace shouldn’t be a bonus – everyone should be able to enjoy nature where they live, work and socialise. Cities often lack space, but vertical living walls provide a solution. By investing in urban greening, we can make our cities healthier, happier and more resilient, while still enjoying the benefits of urban life.
Biotecture’s mission is to transform urban environments and reconnect people with nature. Living walls are panels of plants, grown vertically on structures that are either freestanding or attached to walls.
They are a space-saving solution for greenery, containing plants that help to clean the air, provide enhanced insulation and shading for buildings and improve the aesthetics of an area. You can find out more about the benefits of living walls here.
Living walls can be installed internally or externally, browse our portfolio for inspiration.
If you would like to discuss a project please get in touch.
