Scotscape Living Pillars® Boost Biodiversity in Maidstone

07 October 2025

Scotscape has delivered a major new Living Pillars® project in Maidstone town centre, installing 19 vertical gardens across key streets to bring vibrant greenery and pollinator habitats into the heart of the town.

Mounted on existing lamp posts, each Living Pillar® combines pollinator-friendly planting, bird and insect boxes, and smart solar-powered irrigation. This unique combination not only delivers year-round foliage and seasonal colour, but also creates vital biodiversity corridors high above street level — connecting green spaces and supporting wildlife without taking up pavement space.

Cllr Clive English, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Enforcement, said:

“These installations are a beautiful and practical way to enhance our town centre, support biodiversity, and demonstrate our commitment to sustainability. They’re a great example of how innovation and nature can work together to improve urban spaces.”

The project forms part of Maidstone’s wider urban greening vision, improving air quality, helping mitigate the street canyon effect that traps pollution, and providing natural wayfinding and placemaking benefits for residents and visitors alike. Supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the initiative demonstrates how targeted investment can deliver meaningful benefits for people, wildlife and the public realm.

Scotscape founder Angus Cunningham added:

“It has been an absolute pleasure working with the team at Maidstone, planning, designing and installing our innovative Living Pillars®. Seeing the humble lamp post being put to good use to support biodiversity and form bee lines through the town centre is hugely rewarding.”

This installation in Maidstone reflects Scotscape’s commitment to working with local authorities nationwide to deliver innovative green infrastructure — using Living Pillars® and other urban greening solutions to reimagine our streets as places that support both people and nature.