Benefits of Plants in Schools
How Living Walls Can Benefit Schools
Green walls are both beautiful to look at and have tangible benefits, especially when it comes to educational environments. Read on to find out why living walls are the best new investment schools can make.
They Provide Health Benefits
Health can be a huge issue in schools. Part of this is the often unhealthy air quality: The air in schools can contain a large number of toxins, such as the ammonia in common cleaning products, benzene in plastic resins, and formaldehyde in items such as tissues and paper towels. A green wall will filter out these toxins while producing oxygen, and it will also reduce levels of CO2 and volatile organic compounds—all of which can cause headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Living walls work as natural air-cleaning powerhouses, reducing sick days and illnesses by ensuring that the entire population has access to a fresher air source.
They Improve Memory and Concentration
Another classic problem in classrooms is wandering attention. Fortunately, the presence of living walls has been shown to increase memory retention by 20% [1], and the most likely explanation is due to another of plants’ benefits—their ability to absorb background noises. Due to their uncarpeted surfaces and hardwood floors, schools can be loud places, with noises from outside and conversations from hallways leaking into classrooms almost constantly. With plants absorbing this excess noise, it is easier for children to stay focused on what’s happening in class. A moss wall performs even better than plants do, as it has more surface area and can absorb more sound—as well as more air pollution.
They Decrease Stress
Wandering attention is nothing compared to one of the most dangerous problems that students of today are facing: stress. Students are more overworked than ever, and this has massive impacts on their health and lives. However, a living wall can go a long way toward reducing the tension they feel. Plants can lower tension and anxiety by 37% [2], and this makes a massive difference for stressed and sleep-deprived students.
They Offer Their Own Learning Opportunities
Living walls also provide a natural bridge to learning. Teachers can use the walls as the foundation for nature-oriented learning activities. It’s a great way for students to dive into the botanical world and experience plant life as something other than a photograph in a textbook or something that’s brought into the classroom on special days. Everyday access to living walls helps students interact with these pieces of indoor nature and make broader connections between the “classroom life” and “the real world.”
With these benefits, it’s easy to see why more and more schools are installing living walls in classrooms, hallways, and shared spaces. Better physical and mental health, greater attention spans, and increased learning opportunities are some of the amazing things they're receiving in return.