Trees and the Public Realm - Westminster City Council

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Trees and the Public Realm (Draft)
Air Quality
115. The green, clean city requires an integrated design and trees with appropriate qualities
have a role to play in improving air quality in Westminster. The “right tree, right place”
principle needs to be implemented when making selections 14 .
116. The fact is, however, that Westminster’s air quality is seriously compromised by
pollution from traffic and other sources. A good mix of trees (and other plants) is best
used to minimise this, although effective species selection could help alleviate local
conditions.
Other Planting
117. Other forms of greening can be used in locations that are not suitable for street tree
planting. Vines on wires across small spaces, and creepers on blind flank walls provide
alternatives to the straightforward option of planting a street tree. Property rights will be
involved, but where an alternative may be desirable, suitable agreements with the
owner of the wall will be brokered, allowing the council to plant in its highway and
maintain the plant.
118. The use of first floor flower boxes in Covent Garden for instance, continues a local
tradition originating from the eighteenth and nineteenth century (although not an original
design intention) and provides a good example of alternative greening of the City.
Recent studies 15 on the area advocate the continued use of flower boxes to enhance
the character of the area.
Piccadilly, W1 (Athenaeum Hotel) and King Street, WC2: Green walls and private planters can provide welcome
greening in some locations where planting trees would be inappropriate.
14 Refer to Appendix D for discussion of some species which are suitable for efficient removal of different
types of air pollution.
15 See Covent Garden Area Trust, 2004, Caring for Covent Garden: A conservation and management guide
& Westminster City Council’s 2004 Covent Garden Action Plan.