Two bus shelters have been installed with Living Roofs in Portsmouth in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support pollinating insects and improve local biodiversity.
The two new bus shelters, installed by Clear Channel UK, are located on Spur Road outside Cosham Library. These are the first of 15 bus stops chosen by Portsmouth City Council to have a living roof installed. Starting in spring, improvements will also be made throughout the city.
Each roof has been planted with a mix of native wildflowers and sedum species designed to attract pollinating insects. The bus stops are not yet green and flowering, as the selected plants are dormant in winter, but will begin to grow in spring and summer.
As well as being visually appealing, green roofed bus stops will also provide a boost to local biodiversity, creating 'springboards' (also known as nature recovery nets) for bees and other pollinators whose numbers are sadly in decline. . Living Roofs also contribute to climate resilience by absorbing falling rainwater, thereby mitigating runoff during heavy storms and filtering fine dust from the air, thereby improving air quality.
Clear Channel is already in charge of bus stop maintenance in Portsmouth and will oversee the cleaning and maintenance of the new Living Roof bus stops, throughout their lifespan, at no cost to the council.
Cllr Kimberley Barrett, the city's cabinet member for climate change and greening, said:
โNot only will the bus stops look wonderful in the city, but they will also be a haven for wildlife. The Living Roof bus stops are another example of how we are working to improve Portsmouthโs biodiversity, climate and air quality, and I hope to see many more in the city soon.โ
Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Portsmouth City Council's Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
โPeople rely on the bus to get where they need to go and we are improving bus services in the city to encourage more people to use the bus. โIt is fantastic that these canopies with their innovative green roofs have been installed, making bus journeys even more enjoyable for our residents.โ
Will Ramage, CEO of Clear Channel, said:
โAs our collaboration with Portsmouth City Council continues, we are pleased to see the installation of our Living Roof bus shelters. The shelters underline our dedication to sustainability and environmental responsibility, offering tangible benefits to the local community and the environment by supporting biodiversity and improving the city's ecological landscape. โWe look forward to witnessing the positive effects these green roof bus stops will bring to Portsmouthโs urban ecosystem.โ
More information about Living Roof bus stops in Portsmouth is available on the council website: travel.portsmouth.gov.uk/public-transport/
