In 2017, the Mayor of London's pivotal report shed light on the concerning air quality around London’s educational institutions. It revealed that students at 38 Lambeth schools were at risk from elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a harmful pollutant. Addressing this, the 2018 manifesto of the administration pledged to install protective Green Screens at every Lambeth school situated on major roads, a commitment aimed at shielding our children from air pollution. This project is funded by Lambeth Council, in line with their Net Zero targets and Air Quality Action Plan, this £147k funding provided an opportunity to survey, design, construct, and install green screens across identified schools in Lambeth.
According to research by King’s College London, it is estimated to have caused approximately 9,500 premature deaths in London in 2018. The harmful effects of air pollution range from minor ailments such as eczema and itchy eyes to more serious illnesses like cancer and lung disease.
On behalf of the London Borough of Lambeth, we were tasked with the mission to design, construct, and install these Green Screens. Our comprehensive approach included initial surveys, bespoke design, construction, and a 12-month maintenance plan post-installation, coupled with essential training and handover for school staff. The quantity of screens varied at each school based on specific needs and locational considerations.
Green screens serve as natural-looking barriers that effectively capture and obstruct particulate pollution, serving as a shield, and safeguarding students from traffic emissions originating from nearby roads. These structures offer further advantages, not only enhancing privacy for schools but also creating essential habitats for biodiversity.
We were instructed to survey 16 schools focusing on areas most affected by pollution, particularly along roadside perimeter fences, playgrounds, and the most vulnerable classrooms. 15 of the schools were suitable. Despite having a 2-year timeframe for the project, we successfully completed all installations within 4 months, spanning from October 2023 to February 2024. In total, we installed more than 520 meters of 1.8m tall Hedera Helix Woerner screens.
Each school's installation varied, incorporating the use of timber and galvanized planters, or direct planting into the ground, incorporating both timber and galvanized planters, and direct ground planting where feasible. This flexibility ensured that each school's unique needs and conditions were met, providing additional green spaces for educational and recreational purposes. Where possible, our preference is always to plant directly into the ground, but planters are an excellent alternative for locations with hard surfaces and also provide additional planting space for the children.
As part of the programme, we will also be carrying our Reconnecting Children with Nature workshops in all the schools, commencing in spring 2024. These will be held outside (weather dependent!) and aimed at connecting children with nature through an engaging and educational experience, relating to their new green screen installation and looking at the benefits of them to the local air pollution, as well as a fun practical on seed growing. Our flagship workshop is a unique opportunity for your students to immerse themselves in the world of plant science while aligning with your school’s commitment to holistic education.
To ensure the screens' establishment, we committed to maintaining all installations for the first year. The school (and children!) will also be taught how to look after the greens and provided with the relevant maintenance guides. An automatic irrigation system was incorporated into each installation to simplify maintenance and alleviate the burden on schools.
We installed at the following schools: Sunnyhill Primary School, Immanuel & St. Andrew C. E. Primary School, Streatham Wells Primary School, Heathbrook Primary School, Jubilee Primary School, Telferscot Primary School, St. Andrew's Catholic Primary School (Polworth Rd), Julian's Primary School, Rosendale Primary School, Maypole School, Dunraven School, Trinity Academy, St Andrew's CE Primary School (Kay Road), St John's Angell Town Primary School and Evelyn Grace Academy.
This directly benefits over 7600 of students.
