I'm fascinated by the potential of 'living walls' or 'vertical gardens' to transform the living environment of cities and I believe this could form the basis of a major new 'green' technology in the future if systems could be developed that are more sustainable and easier to manage than current designs.
My ideas for achieving this are described in my recent article in an environmental technology magazine which will eventually be available for free download at www.awemagazine.com/issue.php?issue_id=96 , but anyone can email me in the meantime to receive my proof copy. Further information on my work is available on my web site www.soil-moisture.co.uk
Living walls are typically located in challenging environments with difficulties of access, spatially variable evaporative demand, and restricted plant root growth. I have envisaged systems that cope by controlling plant growth and water- use with electronic sensors that also provide remote access to system performance over the web to optimise maintenance visits and provide assurance to customers. It has also been necessary to devise new planting systems to ensure efficient use of sensors and hence affordability.
Living walls are generally commissioned by a tendering process and served by a consortia of plantsmen, landscape designers, installation/maintenance contractors and suppliers of planting modules, root substrates and irrigation equipement.
I would welcome comments on any aspect and also from any of the above practitioners who might be interested in collaborating to realise commercial systems.
Terry McBurney TMCB2000@clara.co.uk
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