New Living Wall installed at Portsmouth Harbour station

Tuesday 12th April 2022

Living Wall at Portsmouth Harbour station 

  • South Western Railway have installed a new, emissions-busting Living Wall at Portsmouth Harbour.
  • The wall is set to reduce air pollution, boost biodiversity and help to reduce stress levels.

Local residents travelling to and from Portsmouth Harbour by train won’t fail to notice a new green addition to the station.

The station entrance is now adorned with a Living Wall; a self-sufficient, vertical garden produced by green firm Biotecture.

South Western Railway (SWR) have installed the wall in a move to combat air pollution and increase biodiversity, while also helping to improve personal wellbeing.

With studies showing that poor air quality is linked to more than 5.5 million premature deaths, Living Walls have been proven to effectively reduce harmful nitrogen oxides. At the same time, they also give a boost to biodiversity by providing accessible habitats for insects and other wildlife.

Commenting, SWR’s Head of Sustainability Amy Dickinson said:

“At SWR, our mission is more than simply getting people from A to B. We’re passionate about helping to the support the communities we serve, including by making them greener and more sustainable. By improving air quality and providing a safe home for all sorts of wildlife, this brilliant new Living Wall does just this”.

Richard Sabin, Managing Director of Biotecture said:

“Living walls are a brilliant way to reconnect people with nature and deliver environmental benefits. It’s great to be working with a client like South Western Railway and we are looking forward to bringing many more living walls to train stations across the region for people to enjoy”. 

Cllr Kimberly Barrett, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Green Recovery at Portsmouth City Council said: 

"It is great to see our partners in the city acting on our declaration of a Climate Emergency in 2019, and looking at all the ways they can support us in moving towards Net Zero as a city, as well as helping us to make the city greener. The Living Wall is a great addition to the area and I'm really looking forward to seeing the impact it has on the local environment."