Living infrastructure in schools

Using natural elements such as plants, soils and water in the design of towns, cities and buildings is called living infrastructure.

Canberra’s natural spaces are the ‘lungs of the city’. Vegetation provides the oxygen we breathe, removes air and water pollutants, and captures and stores carbon.

Living infrastructure helps make Canberra better able to cope with the impacts of climate change.

Why it’s important

Buildings and pavements absorb heat, which is then slowly released. This leads to higher temperatures during the day and at night. Living infrastructure can provide shade. Plants transpire water from their leaves and stems. Both help to reduce the absorption of this heat and make us feel cooler.

Living infrastructure also supports our native wildlife and improves our biodiversity.

Canberra’s Living Infrastructure Plan: Cooling the city aims to increase our urban tree canopy cover from 21% to 30% by 2045. It also aims for more permeable surfaces such as grass, gravel and porous paving.

What your school can do

When considering living infrastructure for your school, think about which locations may be best suited. For example, planting deciduous trees near a building can provide shade in summer and let light in during winter. This may also lead to reduced energy costs. A rain garden could be planted in an area prone to puddling.

When choosing plants and planting locations:

• the Plant Selector Tool can help you find the right plant or tree for any spot
• the WaterRight Garden Tool can help you find how much water to use
• consider what sort of habitat will be provided for native animals and insects
• check if the plantings will attract bees in an area regularly visited by students
• consider your budget – smaller plants such as tube stock are cheaper and quickly outgrow larger plants but may need more protection from students.

Identify areas where there is:

• unlikely to be future development
• reduced risk of damage to infrastructure
• adequate space so that access is not blocked
• access to water to establish the plantings.

Types of living infrastructure

Carbon forests

A mixed planting using trees and shrubs of varying sizes and shapes provides diverse habitat and looks attractive. Use tree guards to make your plantings visible and to protect against kangaroos and rabbits.

Windbreaks

Long stretches of fences are ideal locations for windbreaks. Planting 3 to 5 rows of trees or shrubs is ideal, but even one row of shrubs will provide shelter and habitat.

Deciduous plants

Canberra is the ideal climate for deciduous plants. When on and around buildings, they provide shelter from the sun during summer. Climbers such as ornamental grapes can be planted at the base of wires strung on a building to shade windows. Consider how leaf litter will be managed so that it doesn’t enter stormwater or landfill. Remember, leaf litter is great for composting.

Fruit trees

Consider planting deciduous fruit trees in or around your chicken house to provide shade for chickens. Chickens will also clean up pests and fallen fruit. Plums are the easiest fruit trees to start with. Apples and pears are the most difficult as they are prone to fruit fly and codling moth. Consider the timing of when fruit ripens, and if fruit will fall on paths or walkways.

Shrubs and climbers

Shrubs provide habitat for insects and birds and can be selected for a specific purpose such as habitat for bees, butterflies or birds, or Indigenous food and medicinal plants. Fences are ready-made trellises so consider planting edible climbers such as beans and peas or perennial climbers such as grapes, evergreen Hardenbergia (native) or Clematis (evergreen or deciduous).

Green walls

While green walls can be purchased, they can also be made from reusable materials and provide challenging and creative design projects for students. Consider maintenance, where water will drain, ease of watering and access to water.

Green roofs

A green roof has potential to improve the urban environment and can be retrofitted to an existing building. It’s a space saving option! Consider the depth of the growing area and overall weight including drainage and water proofing.

Remember, any changes to structures like walls and roofs may require a development application and building approval.

Rain gardens

Rain gardens use storm water from hard surfaces or roofs which is then distributed through gardens. Rubbish and sediment remain on the top of the soil, while nutrients in the rainwater are used by the plants. You may have to improve your soil so that it can hold moisture and allow infiltration. Adding compost to your soil will help with this.

Find out more

Read more about water and plants.

You can organise a site visit from our specialist staff when planning your living infrastructure project. Find out more about the Sustainable Schools Program.