Case studies

Edward Wilson Primary School

Delivering Greener and Healthier Learning Environments: Westminster's first School Superzone at Edward Wilson Primary

Delivered in two phases between 2024 and 2025, Meristem Design collaborated with Westminster City Council to install vibrant and engaging green infrastructure at Edward Wilson Primary School in North Westminster. Funded by the Greater London Authority’s School Superzones initiative, and as part of a wider effort to create healthier, greener, and safer environments for pupils and the surrounding community, Edward Wilson has successfully become Westminster’s first School Superzone and accredited Asthma Friendly school.

Previously dominated by plain brickwork and urban features, the school has been transformed into a lush and vibrant space filled with evergreen plants, bringing year-round greenery to an otherwise grey urban setting. The green elements not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the school but also contribute to improved air quality and biodiversity within the area.

An especially meaningful aspect of this project is the reuse of plants that had originally been part of the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show 2025. Rather than letting them go to waste, these plants have found a new, purposeful home in the plant walls where they can continue to thrive and benefit the local community. The living wall plant palette was carefully curated to ensure durability, visual interest, and year-round texture. Among the species featured are:

Alchemilla mollis – known for its soft, frothy lime-green flowers
Pachysandra terminalis – a low-maintenance ground cover with glossy foliage
Polystichum setiferum – a hardy evergreen fern that adds rich texture
Muehlenbeckia complexa – a delicate but resilient climber
Heuchera ‘Lime Marmalade’ – with vibrant lime-toned foliage for a splash of colour
Campanula ‘Get Me Blue’ – offering cheerful blue blooms through the warmer months
Lavandula – fragrant and pollinator-friendly, adding both scent and soft purple hues to the display

Ivy Green Screens

Installed along the playground boundary to reduce air pollution and provide a natural visual barrier from the street

Sensory Garden

Designed specifically for the school’s new SEND resource base to offer a calming, multi-sensory learning space

Living Walls

Seven striking vertical gardens installed to enhance biodiversity, soften the school’s brick exterior, and bring nature into pupils' daily routines

Chelsea Flower Show Reuse

Many of the plants used in the living walls were repurposed from the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show, embodying principles of reuse and sustainability

The installations serve as engaging living examples of sustainability and environmental awareness, providing students with daily exposure to nature while encouraging care and curiosity about the green world around them.

Improved Air Quality

Green screens and living walls help filter pollutants and contribute to healthier air for students and staff

Inclusive Nature Spaces

The sensory garden supports SEND pupils with an interactive, calming environment tailored to their needs

Sustainable Outcomes

Edward Wilson has become the first Westminster School Superzone and Asthma Friendly school and has achieved TfL STARs Gold Accreditation and recorded a 12% increase in active travel

Community-Led Transformation

The project reflects the wider goals of the GLA Superzone initiative and stands as a blueprint for school-based health and greening projects across Westminster and beyond