Cost to rebuild Paradise Park's vertical floral wall climbs to £130k
Row over ‘expensive green gimmick’
Published: 23 April 2010
by PETER GRUNER
A ROW has broken out after Islington Council confirmed they will attempt to re-grow a failed vertical floral wall at a cost of £130,000.
The 30ft structure at Holloway’s Paradise Park won awards and was described as pioneering when it was unveiled five years ago.
The wall – which costs an estimated ￡6,000 in upkeep – combined a colourful array of 30 different plants, including strawberries, thyme and various flowering shrubs, attached to it by steel mesh.
But last year the flowers all dried up and wilted and the wall, part of a children’s centre and café, turned from lush green to brown.
Critics accused the council of frittering away public money on a “green extravagance” using untested technology.
It emerged that a unique recycled watering system, that was supposed to spread moisture throughout the wall along tiny pipes, failed.
Now the council have commissioned a new floral wall from Sussex-based firm BioTexture, despite claims from Labour councillors that the money would be better spent on a smaller, cheaper green scheme and on improving the centre.
Experts intend to spread water horizontally using fresh rather than a continuous recycled flow, according to a report in the Architects’ Journal. They also intend to provide a new computerised alarm system if the wall becomes too dry.
Labour ward councillor Barry Edwards said that when the installation originally went up it looked “wonderful”.
He added: “Since then the council have spent thousands trying to deal with the problems. Personally, I don’t think you can grow plants vertically.
“The fancy watering system has never worked. Either it overwatered or it under-watered the plants.
“I would prefer £20,000 spent on a conventional green wall with hardy climbers, creepers, ivy and honeysuckle – and the rest spent on the community centre.”
The other ward member, Labour councillor Richard Watts, said: “If we are elected as the majority party we shall cancell this floral wall.
“It’s a total waste of money and a green gimmick by the Lib Dems.”
A statement from BioTecture said: “We are extremely pleased to announce our appointement to design and install a replacement green wall for this project.
“We see this as an excellent opportunity to restore that good standing of this pioneering project and also to restore the reputation of living walls in general.”