Green Infrastructure for Environmental Gain
Project Area
Habitats
Specialism
Living Wall
Year
2022
We engaged with Scotscape UK, who supply Fytotextile™ panels - the lightest Living Wall system on the UK market - to design the wall and deliver the first living wall of this type to Jersey. We installed the wall with Scotscape in July 2022, using the installation to train our team and become a provider of this trailblazing system to our clients locally.
The Fytotextile™ Living Wall is made from strong, lightweight, fully waterproof panels, which are fabricated to bespoke fit around the existing windows and vents. Each panel includes dozens of small planting pockets, which were planted with species chosen to suit the exact location, aspect, colours and desires of the homeowner. An irrigation system is integrated into the panels to ensure every single plant is watered, attached to a timer to give a twice daily dowsing of water.
The planting pockets accommodate established plants which meant an instant living wall was created, which within hours was buzzing with butterflies and bees. Within 6 weeks the wall was almost completely green. It will be cut bi-annually by our team as well as ‘health checked’ to ensure things like irrigation system and drainage are functioning properly.
Living walls are becoming popular in cities and rural areas alike as they absorb pollution, provide clean air, absorb noise, provide insulation, increase biodiversity, and simply add a WOW factor - and look beautiful!
We believe that green infrastructure is part of the solution for sustainable development in the Island, and offers a huge number of benefits. With the training and availability to install and maintain green infrastructure locally now, we hope that Islanders will start to see this type of product is not just for busy cities such as Singapore but has a real worth and place in Jersey.
To top off this install we also included a Flex MSE® green retreating wall, below the living wall, to hold back the steep road verge. These completely organic, soil-filled bags were hydro-seeded to result in another layer of green, avoiding the need for an unsightly concrete retaining wall.
Guy Plante, the homeowner, said ‘We needed to show environmental gain in order to get Planning Permission to create an extension at our property, and this living wall system seemed the best way to do it. We are delighted with the outcome and love the planting design that gives so many colours and textures. It will provide an important pollen and nectar source for many insects throughout the summer months. We are so excited to see what it looks like next year once it’s fully established’.
Highlight Projects
-
![]()
Nude Dunes - St Ouen's Bay
Protected wildlife translocation and sand dune habitat creation. This site located within the Coastal National Park was to be converted into a new beachside café.
-
![]()
Green Retaining Wall - St Brelade's Bay
An engineered vegetated retaining wall system, created to replace a bank and wall that were subsiding due to high-tide wave erosion.
-
![]()
Re-Development - Les Ruisseaux Estate
A private development with close proximity to a Nature Reserve, whereby full re-development of the house, gardens and pond were approved.
-
![]()
Conway Tower - Wayside, St Brelade's Bay
Protected wildlife translocation and sand dune habitat creation for a 500m2 coastal strip around the former Wayside Café.
-
![]()
Historic Farm Complex - St Ouen
Ecological surveys of this farm complex in St Ouen found Protected Species and wildlife use that required mitigation to achieve Planning Permission.
-
![]()
Samarés Nurseries Re-Development
Large redundant glasshouse site with high populations of Protected Species groups present. Habitat re-creation and wildlife re-homed to specially created receptor sites.
-
![]()
Bat Mitigation for Site Development
Protected species mitigation and translocation in development project that involved a full re-roof and extensive re-landscaping work.
-
![]()
Wildlife Zone - Les Quennevais School
Agricultural fields re-zoned to accommodate the new school. Demonstration of environmental gain as a result of the development required.
-
![]()
Heathland Restoration - Wolf's Caves
The Planning Application to build a new home at Wolf’s Caves included an element to restore the coastal slopes in front of the property to species rich heathland.
-
![]()
Wildlife Pond & Waterfall - Daisy Hill
Large wildlife pond creation in a domestic garden to attract a variety of wildlife. Our client also wanted to create a natural looking stream and waterfall leading into the pond.
-
![]()
Planning in the Coastal National Park
Proposed demolition of a private house within the Coastal National Park where an Ecological Assessment and Species Protection Plan were reuiqred for Planning.
-
![]()
Living Wall - Corbiere
In order to demonstrate environmental gain in the Coastal National Park, our client included a living wall as part of their Planning Application for an extension.
