Oxford’s first Living Roof bus shelter installed in East Oxford

The Living Roof bus shelter - also known as a ‘Bee Bus Stop’- is on Morrell Avenue.

As well as being visually attractive, Living Roofs absorb rainwater to avoid flooding, provide natural cooling, filter fine dust from the air, produce oxygen, and provide a natural habitat for animals and plants.

The work to install the new bus shelter roof was funded and organised by ODS, who manage street furniture across the city.

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The location was selected by Oxford City Council, which owns the shelter, and was designed and installed by partner Clear Channel, who will be maintaining it for its life-span at no cost to the taxpayer.

A living roof shelter installed in Witney in September was the first of its kind in Oxfordshire.

The roof is planted with a mix of native wildflowers and Sedum plants - ideal food sources and habitats for a wide variety of pollinating insects including solitary bees, hoverflies and butterflies.

It contains a specially designed gravel and compost mix, helping to create deeper roots for healthier flowers long term and ensure climate resilience, while also being simple to maintain.

The materials used are 100 per cent recycled or upcycled, and are fully recyclable with nothing being taken to landfill.

The Living Roof product has been assessed by The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, whose independent ecologists found it would make a significant contribution to delivering Biodiversity Net Gain.

ODS manages just over 600 hectares of accessible green space in the city and surrounding area on behalf of the City Council, including a country park, 33 nature areas and over 60 urban parks.

Oxford also has 12 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, including four managed by the city council; Port Meadow, Wolvercote Common, Shotover Country Park and Lye Valley Nature Reserve.

Councillor Lubna Arshad, cabinet member for Parks and Waste Reduction, said: “Supporting local biodiversity and habitats can happen on a large scale, or small, and these bus shelters are a clear example of combining urban living with nature and local communities. I am looking forward to seeing shelter bloom in the coming months.”

And Will Ramage, co-managing director of Clear Channel, added: “It’s wonderful to see another of our ‘Bee Bus Stops’ being installed in Oxford.

"Even in an already leafy and green city, our Living Roofs can bring real, tangible benefits. I’m looking forward to seeing more of them in the most urban and densely populated corners of the city, where they would be valued most.”