Could lampposts help air pollution?

From pillar to post

A trial of lamppost greening is taking place in London’s Ebury Street to assess the potential environmental benefits of retrofitting the capital’s estimated 494,000 lampposts with columnar living-wall systems that are irrigated using solar energy.

Designed by Scotscape in conjunction with Grosvenor Britain and Ireland, the Smart Pillars, which can be planted with hardy deciduous plants to provide year-round greening, could be used in congested city centres where service pipes prevent tree planting. Greenwich University is investigating the extent to which Smart Pillars can mitigate air pollution.

Green streets

It's not the only initiative which is bringing more greenery to London's streets. This autumn work will begin on the transformation of Sloane Street.

Developer Cadogan is to plant a greener, more elegant boulevard with an avenue of Tilia cordata 'Greenspire' which creates a green canopy. Plus Andy Sturgeon's planting design for more than 50 organic-shaped planters includes an understory of multi-stemmed Amelanchier, yew and beech hedging for winter structure with infills of shrubs, perennials, grasses and bulbs.