7 Air Street pollinator-friendly and sensory planting

At 7 Air Street in London, a biodiverse planting scheme brings colour, fragrance, and texture to rooftop spaces and window alcoves. Designed to attract pollinators and enhance wellbeing, the project strengthens the connection between people and nature within an urban office environment.

7 Air Street, a central office building in London owned by The Crown Estate, has been improved with planting schemes designed not only to support pollinators but also to enhance the sensory experience for people in and around the office. These planting initiatives have transformed unused spaces into habitats rich in nectar for pollinating insects and provides an attractive garden space for staff to relax and enjoy.

In addition to the rooftop planting, new greenery has been incorporated into the building’s window alcoves. This approach brings nature closer to occupants, creating visual and emotional connections to the outdoors even from within the office environment. The selected species were chosen for their sensory appeal: a combination of colour, texture, and fragrance that engages the senses and contributes to relaxation and wellbeing.

The result is enhanced aesthetic quality of a building, which offers a biodiversity sanctuary in a usually dense urban environment. The project demonstrates how planting can be integrated into architectural features to maximise biodiversity and wellbeing benefits, even where space is limited.

Partner:

The Crown Estate

Green infrastructure type:

Terrace
Roof greening
Window boxes

Ecosystem services provided:

Connection to nature
Aesthetic value
Biodiversity Net Gain
Wellbeing benefits