Living wall at City Junior School

Meristem was delighted to be contracted to design, supply and install an exterior living wall at the new modern, child-friendly, and accessible school building at the City Junior School, which was recently officially opened in central London.

The east facing 9sqm living wall was designed with a total of 315 plant shade lovers, arranged with vertical linear patterns to reinforce texture and contrast. The plant selection includes hardy evergreens that will thrive all year round. Amongst them are: polystichum polyblepharum, euonymus fortunei emerald gaiety and luzula nivea. 

The Carex morrowii, hedera Green and vinca minor were particularly chosen to act as pollution barriers, while some other varieties provide microhabitats as well as shelter for small animals. The liriope muscari and its purple flowers are one of the plants we always love to add to our plant pallet. It will attract the attention of various insects and bees. To add contrast and brighten up the wall, we have purposefully chosen the Leuchotheo Zeblid with its reddish-purple leaves, maturing dark green, and turning reddish-bronze in autumn and winter.

The living wall is still in its infancy, but we are looking forward to starting our regular maintenance visits to make sure plants are always well looked after. 

Our living wall school projects aim to create a calm environment to connect kids with nature. Meristem also offers training to teachers and children, teaching them how the living wall works and the importance of plants to improve urban air quality. 

If you want to give life or enhance any space at your school, do get in touch!