Green walls have been allocated their own special day to celebrate the many ways they can make our cities and our spaces inside and out greener. Here's the release that we have sent out. During the week we will be reminding you of some of the green walls that members have submitted as Award entries previously.

Celebrating Green Walls

15 February - the day to celebrate green walls

It’s no surprise that green walls are being celebrated with a special day. Not only do these green master pieces bring a sense of nature to often densely populated areas where there are little or no other aspects of greenery, but they are also found inside buildings too.

Textured wall at St Luke's Hospital, Oxford by Biotecture

Finding space for plants covering walls where there is no room for planting at ground level is not new, and it is becoming more and more common. Visually green walls offer us calming green spaces in densely built cities where there is little or no space for ground-level planting. In fact green walls are becoming more and more common used in this way particularly in large cities.

Of course, green walls are adaptable enough to work indoors as well where their versatility is shown off in various ways from creating room dividers to unifying spaces with large green walls over several floors.

Interior walls and screens by Green Team Interiors

Importantly, we must remember that as well as offering visual appeal green walls also help us in other ways.

• Exterior green walls create noise barriers for inside the building by 15 decibels
• They can help to increase biodiversity in urban environments where much has been lost to development
• On a practical note, the Finnish green wall company Naava’s recent research found that 43% less mistakes are made in the presence of plants (in green walls)

Biotecture's green wall at Heathrow Airport

• People who live in cities are keen to see more greenery where they live, work and socialise (66%)*
• More than half (57%) would appreciate more vertical green living walls to make up for a lack of ground space*
• A similar number (51%) think there is currently not enough investment in urban greening*

*Recent research by Biotecture (a Mitie company)

According to Richard Sabin of Biotecture (a Mitie Company), ‘Plants and greenery can make our cities healthier, happier, and more resilient to climate change. It’s clear people can enjoy many of the benefits associated with more rural living, whilst enjoying everything our cities have to offer if we prioritise and invest in urban greening.’

Regal House Covent Garden installed by Biotecture

 Other plants@work members offer green walls to encourage greener spaces too.