Pupils help plant green screen to protect their playground

19 December 2019

Pupils from Ilderton Primary School have been helping plant a new green screen and flower beds around their school to help protect them from harmful traffic fumes and noise.

The school has a playground that is lower than the busy Ilderton Road, which runs alongside it, and as a result pollutants were able to easily enter the school playground.

Now, thanks to support and funding from the council, the school has a barrier of ivy, evergreen trees and planting between the road and the playground, plus extra flowerbeds and trees on the other side of the area.

Cllr Richard Livingstone, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport Management and the Climate Emergency, who joined the pupils to help plant tulip bulbs for next spring, said: “Southwark Council is committed to tackling the London-wide air quality crisis head on and launched it ambitious Air Quality strategy in 2017.

“There is growing evidence that projects like green screens around our schools can capture and reduce air pollution before it gets into our playgrounds, in this case by up to 50 percent.

“I was really pleased to see the work and join the children from the school council to help plant up the new flower beds.”

Carol Askins, headteacher at Ilderton School, said: “The new landscaping looks great and will make a real difference. We are really pleased with the work so far and the pupils are excited to see it when it is finished.”

Page last updated: 19 December 2019