How Mobilane Ready-Made Hedging Reduces Air Pollution at Schools in Hackney
- Hedges
- Location: Hackney, Londen,
- Dealer: Meristem Design
Key Facts
Location: Hackney, London, United Kingdom
Project Type: Air pollution reduction at schools
Solution: Mobilane Ready-Made Hedge (ivy hedge – Hedera helix ‘Woerner’)
Project Partner: Meristem Design
Application: Green barrier between road and school playground
Environmental Impact: Research shows ivy hedges can capture 40–60% of particulate matter (PM10)
Air pollution around schools is a growing problem in cities worldwide. Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM10), especially when school playgrounds are located close to busy roads. As a result, more and more cities are investing in green schoolyards and green infrastructure to improve the living environment for children. Green solutions can not only contribute to better air quality, but also support biodiversity, climate adaptation, and create more attractive learning environments.
In the London borough of Hackney, an innovative green solution was implemented to better protect children from traffic-related air pollution. As part of this project, Mobilane Ready-Made Hedging was installed to function as living green barriers between roads and school environments. The project was carried out by Meristem Design, a specialist in urban greening and sustainable landscape solutions. For the installation, Meristem used the Mobilane Ready-Made Hedge, a pre-grown ivy hedge that immediately forms a dense vegetation barrier. Within the project, these installations are also referred to as “Pollution Block Ivy Screens.” This name highlights their function as natural barriers that help reduce exposure to air pollution while simultaneously contributing to greener and healthier school playgrounds. Mobilane supplied the ready-made ivy hedges, while Meristem Design is responsible for maintaining the green screens at the schools, ensuring they remain healthy, dense, and effective over time.
The Challenge: Air Pollution Around Urban Schools
Many schools in large cities are located close to busy roads. Traffic generates several forms of air pollution, including:
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Particulate matter (PM10)
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Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
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Fine particles from tyre and brake wear
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Children spend a significant amount of time outdoors during breaks, sports activities, and play. Reducing their exposure to air pollution is therefore an important public health priority. At the same time, many schools have limited space for traditional green solutions such as trees or wide hedges. Creating green schoolyards therefore requires smart solutions that take up little space while still delivering immediate impact. Traditional planting methods, such as establishing new hedges, can take several years to grow dense enough to function as an effective barrier. Schools and municipalities therefore need solutions that deliver results immediately.
The Solution: Green Barriers with Mobilane Ready-Made Hedging
To create an effective green barrier, Meristem Design installed Mobilane Ready-Made Hedging along school boundaries adjacent to busy roads. In total, more than 1,000 metres of green screens were installed across 15 schools as part of the wider project. The system consists of a steel mesh panel fully pre-grown with ivy, creating an immediate dense green hedge. Ready-Made Hedge include:
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Mature ivy plants providing immediate green coverage
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A durable steel mesh structure
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Modular panels for fast and efficient installation
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Vegetation that continues to grow and become denser over time
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Mobilane supplied the ready-made ivy hedges, while Meristem Design is responsible for the design, installation, and ongoing maintenance of the green screens, ensuring their long-term performance and health. Thanks to this approach, schools can quickly benefit from a green boundary solution that contributes to improved air quality.
Proven Impact: Reduction of Particulate Matter (PM10)
Scientific research shows that vegetation can play an important role in reducing air pollution. Studies on Mobilane Ready-Made Hedging demonstrate that ivy vegetation can capture 40% to 60% of particulate matter (PM10) from the air. The leaves of ivy act as natural filtration surfaces on which airborne particles settle. This makes ivy hedges an effective nature-based solution for reducing air pollution in urban environments. Because Mobilane Ready-Made Hedges are delivered fully grown, they provide immediate filtration capacity. This makes them particularly suitable for locations where instant improvements in air quality are desired, such as schools and playgrounds.
Read more about the research here.
Results: Healthier and Greener School Environments
The installation of Mobilane Ready-Made Hedging around schools in Hackney resulted in immediate ecological and visual improvements. By introducing dense vertical vegetation along school boundaries, the project contributes to a healthier, greener, and more pleasant outdoor environment for students.
1. Reduced exposure to air pollution
The dense ivy vegetation forms a natural barrier between traffic and playgrounds, helping to capture particulate matter from the air before it reaches the school grounds.
2. Immediate green transformation
Because the hedges are fully grown at the time of installation, schools benefit from instant green coverage and screening from day one. The impact of the project is clearly visible when comparing the situation before and after installation, demonstrating the significant visual and environmental value the green screens have added to the schools.
3. Increased biodiversity
Ivy provides valuable shelter and food sources for insects and birds. As a result, the green screens support urban biodiversity, especially in densely built areas where green space is limited.
4. Rainwater interception and climate adaptation
The vegetation captures rainwater through its leaves and branches, slowing down water runoff during heavy rainfall. This contributes to climate-resilient urban design.
5. Contribution to urban greening
Vertical green systems such as Mobilane Ready-Made Hedging make it possible to introduce vegetation in locations where there is limited space for traditional planting. They help support urban greening strategies and sustainability goals.
6. Educational value and engagement
The project also included interactive planting workshops, helping students connect with nature and understand the importance of green environments.
Engaging Students Through Planting Workshops
To engage students in their newly created green environments and strengthen the educational value of the project, interactive bulb planting workshops were organised across the participating schools.
During these hands-on sessions, students learned how to plant bulbs, care for plants, and understand the importance of looking after their environment. The workshops encouraged active participation, helping pupils to connect with nature in a practical and meaningful way.
By involving students directly in the greening process, the project not only improved the physical environment but also fostered a sense of ownership and responsibility. Getting hands-on with planting activities allowed children to reconnect with nature while learning valuable skills in a fun and engaging way.
Environmental Benefits at a Glance
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Reduction of air pollution – Ivy helps filter particulate matter from the air.
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Immediate green results – Pre-grown hedges provide instant green coverage and privacy.
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Biodiversity support – Ivy offers food and habitat for insects and birds.
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Rainwater interception – Vegetation helps slow down and manage rainwater runoff.
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Space-efficient greening – Vertical systems add greenery in densely built urban areas.
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Scientific Evidence: Vegetation as an Air Filter
Reducing air pollution through vegetation is an important area of research within urban environmental science. Dense vegetation can function as a natural filtration system, capturing particulate matter on leaf surfaces and reducing the spread of air pollution into surrounding areas. Research on ivy-covered green screens shows that their large leaf surface area and dense structure are particularly effective at capturing airborne particles such as PM10. Because the Mobilane Ready-Made Hedge is installed fully grown, it provides both:
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Immediate capture of air pollutants
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Long-term environmental benefits as the vegetation continues to grow and develop
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This makes the system especially suitable for schools, playgrounds, parks, gardens, business parks, and other urban environments.
Why Mobilane Ready-Made Hedging Is Effective in Cities
Hedges such as Mobilane Ready-Made Hedging are particularly suitable for urban environments because they:
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Require minimal space
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Create an instant green barrier
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Capture particulate matter on their leaves
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Support biodiversity
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Contribute to cooling and climate adaptation
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They can be applied along:
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School playgrounds
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Roads and traffic corridors
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Residential areas
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Urban infrastructure projects
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Read more about the system here.
Project Partner
The Hackney schools project was carried out by Meristem Design, a valued professional partner specializing in urban greening and green infrastructure. Meristem was responsible for the design, planning, and installation of the Mobilane Ready-Made Hedging. By using pre-grown green systems, Meristem was able to deliver a fast and effective solution to improve the environmental quality around schools.
About Meristem Design
Meristem Design specializes in urban greening and sustainable landscape solutions. The company works with schools, municipalities, and urban planners to create greener and healthier living environments. As a professional partner of Mobilane, Meristem regularly applies ready-made green systems to quickly introduce vegetation in densely built urban areas.
FAQ: Mobilane Ready-Made Hedging and Air Pollution
How do Mobilane Ready-Made Hedges reduce air pollution?
The leaves of ivy capture particulate matter such as PM10. The dense vegetation forms a natural filtration barrier between traffic and surrounding areas.
How effective are ivy hedges at filtering air pollution?
Research shows that ivy vegetation can capture 40–60% of particulate matter (PM10) from the air.
Why are ivy hedges used at schools?
Ivy hedges create a green barrier that helps reduce exposure to traffic-related pollution while also contributing to greener and healthier school playgrounds.
What is a “Pollution Block Ivy Screen”?
This term refers to ivy-covered green screens that function as natural barriers between roads and public spaces.
