Leicester City Council’s ambition to be carbon neutral and climate-adapted by 2030 has paved the way for the installation of the UK’s largest network of bus stops topped off with living roofs.
The initiative, delivered in conjunction with out-of-home advertising and infrastructure company Clear Channel UK and award-winning British living roof supplier WALLBARN, has seen 30 new ‘green’ bus stops installed on city centre thoroughfares Humberstone Gate and Charles Street.
Affectionally nicknamed ‘bee bus stops’, the shelters deliver a boost to biodiversity and demonstrate how local authorities can take the lead in retro-greening urban landscapes.
Deputy City Mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, environment and transportation lead, said: “It’s great to see the first of Leicester’s new living roof bus shelters appearing across the city. We’ve had fantastic feedback from people who are as excited as we are to see this bee- and butterfly-friendly revamp of bus shelters taking shape.”
Finding the right living roof partner was essential for Clear Channel, which selected Wallbarn and its award-winning British-grown M-Tray modular green roof system, which is designed with all elements of a traditional green roof contained within fully-established pre-planted trays. The bus stops are planted with a blend of 18 different species of wildflowers, offering all-year green with a carpet of flowers in summer.
Wallbarn Director Julian Thurbin said: “This is an absolutely fantastic project, providing the city with a ‘bee superhighway’ and all the many recognised benefits of living roofs.”
