Westfield shopping centre - London

Inside Westfield shopping centre.

Hi Everyone,

While I was in London I saw a couple of great examples of green or living walls. These walls were used to bring green and nature into the design of new harsh concrete and glass buildings.

Outside Westfield Shopping centre

     Green/Living Walls

A green wall is a wall partially or completely covered with greenery that includes a growing medium, such as soil or a substrate. Green walls may or may not have a water system which directly waters the wall. Green walls are ideal for small spaces and building facades. 

 Advantages to a green wall: 

·       Provides insulation for building walls

·       Easy to assemble

·       Easy to care for

·       Provides a place for living plants where space is limited.

·       Lends itself to contemporary design – aesthetically pleasing

·       Year-round colour

·       Provides habitats for animals

·       Keeps homes cool in summer if built inside

·       Contributes to reduced noise pollution

Disadvantages to a green wall:

·       Hard to keep weed free

·        Can be expensive

·       Position: plants are dependent on sunlight, shady positions will reduce the plants which can be used.

·       May not be readily available in your area

    If anyone can think of any other great examples of green walls, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I would love to see your photos. 

Thanks for reading and hope you have a great weekend. 

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre

Hi everyone,

Exhibit at the Buckinghamshire railway centre.

Last Sunday I spent a couple of hours at the interesting and informative Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. Run under the passionate care of volunteers the centre includes a small cafe and gift shop, a railway museum, free steam train rides and a miniature railway for children and adults. 

http://bucksrailcentre.org/ 

When I arrived at the centre's car park I was pleased to find plenty of car parking which slowly filled up throughout the morning. After paying the ticket entry fee -£11- I began to wander through and around the train exhibitions. Roughly following the map I was given I found my way to the miniature railway ride. Set separately from the rest of the train lines it provides an area for children to play freely.  

The miniature railway offers children and adults a chance to enjoy a short ride through the trees surrounding the centre. I enthusiastically paid the ticket master £1 to have a go.  In and among the trees were old battered toys tugging at the strings of nostalgia and offering added curiosity to what would be around the next corner.    

Feeling like a kid again, I happily decided to follow the circular route indicated on the map which took me over the old railway bridge past the museum and back to the cafe where I started. 

Before I left I got the chance to experience the steam train ride which takes you back and forth around the centre's railway tracks in a well cared for and loved steam train. 

Museum wall featuring railway signs from across the country.

A great morning or afternoon out for both adults and children alike which I really enjoyed and would highly recommend to those passing through the area.

Thanks for reading,
Curiously muddy