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Synonyms: Green façades
Green wall composed of ground-based climbing plants intended for ornamental and sometimes food production purposes. In a ground-based green wall, the plants are rooted in the ground and use the building facade as a support structure to climb up. This type of green wall often includes climbing plants like Ivy (Hedera helix) that can attach themselves to surfaces or be guided along structures. The main source of nutrients and water for these plants is the soil in which they are planted at the base of the wall.
These are traditional green walls where climbing plants are rooted into the ground. Climbing plants may be grown directly onto the building façade or be trained against wires or trellises. Green façades may take some time to mature (source: Natural England)
Note that it is important to take account of aspect and shade when choosing plants (source: Natural England)
Assessment Questions:
- Are the plants rooted to the soil?
- Are the plants grown directly onto the building façade or be trained against wires or trellises?
If YES, then it is likely 'Urban - Facade-bound green wall'. If the plants are rooted in the soil then it may be 'Urban - Ground-based Green Wall'.
How to Create / Enhance to a "Good" condition
⚠️ Important Note
The design and management of green walls will have specific competency requirements which should be demonstrated where these habitats are targeted in the SSM.
Please refer to the Green Infrastructure Standards. Note that it may not be appropriate to vegetate the façades of historic buildings. Any attachments to external walls, including green walls, should be considered as part of a fire risk assessment and specialist advice on fire risk should be sought.
You may wish to consult this guide for information.
How to get a "moderate" or "good" rating
There are three tests:
- Vegetation structure is varied, providing opportunities for vertebrates and invertebrates to live, eat and breed. A single structural habitat component or vegetation type does not account for more than 80% of the total habitat area.
- The habitat parcel contains different plant species that are beneficial for wildlife, for example flowering species providing nectar sources for a range of invertebrates at different times of year.
- Invasive non-native plant species and others which are to the detriment of native wildlife (using professional judgement) cover less than 5% of the total vegetated area (must be 0% to get a 'Good' rating).
If you pass all 3 tests and have 0% on the third test, the condition is 'good'.
If you pass 2 tests, or pass 3 tests but don't get 0% on the third test, the condition is 'moderate'
If you pass 1 or less tests the condition is 'poor'
Useful Resources
Guide 2 - Green Infrastructure Standards
Guide 3 - UK Guide to Green Walls
Please note that this is a simple guide to help identify the habitat. For a definitive description, please refer to UKHab documentation. Joe's Blooms takes no responsibility for the content of external links.