Created with students from Oxford Recovery College & the community.
The Future of Green & Blue Infrastructure planter has used sand as the growing medium. Plants grown in sand have been found to be more resilient to drought and tough urban conditions and encourage species diversity, which in turn fosters resilience to the effects of extreme weather conditions brought about by climate change. Bare ground and poor compacted soil can also benefit biodiversity by providing ideal habitat conditions for solitary bees which make up over 90% of our 270 bee species in the UK (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) They are therefore key pollinators and essential for our ecosystem health. The water rill in the centre of the planter highlights the need for protection and enhancements of our blue infrastructure including reinstating our lost retention ponds as well as caring for and restoring the health of our streams and rivers.
Image: photo of ORC planter (Tom/Laura)
