Our Environmental Approach
Grosvenor Street, 2026 © Daniel Bell Vertical Garden
We create bespoke exterior planting schemes that bring more life into the built environment while supporting biodiversity. From vertical gardens and rooftops to terraces, penthouses and larger outdoor spaces, our planting is designed to create valuable habitats and opportunities for pollinators and other wildlife to flourish.
Cities need more than green space. They need living spaces.
London has plenty of walls, façades and temporary structures, but little space for nature to establish itself.
Vertical gardens can help connect these spaces. Species-rich planting creates pockets of habitat within the built environment, providing food and shelter for wildlife while making the city greener and more enjoyable for people.
What we've found on our walls
Higher insect diversity
DBVG vertical gardens have recorded greater insect species richness compared with other green wall systems.
60+ plant species
A diverse mix of plants creates a wider range of food sources and habitats.
Pollinators welcomed
Flowering species provide valuable resources for bees, hoverflies and other beneficial insects.
Bird species
Birds are using the gardens for food, shelter and nesting within the urban environment.
Species spotlight: the Hummingbird hawk-moth
Also known as: Macroglossum stellatarum
A distinctive day-flying moth, the hummingbird hawk-moth is named for its ability to hover in front of flowers as it feeds on nectar.
Its presence on the site highlights the value of flowering planting schemes as a food source for pollinating insects.
Designed with wildlife in mind
Creating space for nature
Even the most urban environments can provide opportunities for nature to thrive.
Through considered, species-rich planting, rooftops, terraces, façades and other exterior spaces can become valuable pockets of habitat, providing food and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife.
A case study: The Athenaeum
The Athenaeum is our longest-standing vertical garden. Almost twenty years in the making, the wildlife data shows just how much it’s grown to support. Here’s what a recent ecological survey found:
Athenaeum ecology in numbers
Over 12,000 plants
4x more insects
757kg CO₂/year
2 bird species
Data taken from our recent ecological report at The Athenaeum’s vertical garden. Ecological outcomes vary depending on location, planting design and surrounding habitat.
Interesting species found: Greater bee-fly
Also known as: Bombylius major
A familiar sight around flowering plants, the greater bee-fly is a distinctive pollinator that can often be seen hovering above flowers as it feeds on nectar. Despite its bee-like appearance, it is actually a fly.
Its presence at the Athenaeum demonstrates how the vertical garden can provide valuable food and habitat for insects within the city.
Interesting species found: Vapourer moth
Also known as: Orgyia antiqua
The vapourer moth is particularly easy to spot in its caterpillar stage, thanks to its bright red and yellow markings and unusual tufts of hair. The adult female is wingless, while the male is a small, brown moth with patterned wings.
Its presence is a great example of the variety of insects that can find food and shelter among the planting of a vertical garden.
Ecology across our projects
Cheyne Walk
14 invertebrate species recorded, including a mix of butterflies, bees, hoverflies, wasps and flies.
120 Kings Road
24 invertebrate species recorded across a vertical garden of 28,000 plants, including bees, hoverflies and butterflies.
Fleet Street
18 invertebrate species recorded, including honeybees, bumblebees and several species of hoverfly.
Have a project in mind?
Our vertical gardens can create valuable habitat within urban spaces, providing food and shelter for insects, pollinators and other wildlife. From plant selection to the way each garden is designed, we consider how it can support the surrounding environment.
If you’re planning a new project, get in touch to explore how planting can bring more life and nature into your space.