Happy birthday to Madeira Drive Green Wall – the oldest, longest green wall in Europe! 150 years old this year.

Planted in 1872, the hundreds of Japanese spindle plants have grown to create a wall almost a mile long at Madeira Drive in Brighton & Hove. Today over 100 species of flowering plants can be seen growing here, along with a range of birds and other wildlife. In recognition of its importance, Madeira Drive Green Wall has been designed a Local Wildlife Site – the only one of its kind in the UK.

The green wall forms an integral part of the East Brighton seafront, and backdrop to the famous Madeira Terrace. The terrace, and green wall, both feature in a forthcoming film from LatestTV to celebrate this anniversary. The film will explore Brighton’s historic connection to the environment, the benefits for health and wellbeing, and the plans to restore and enhance Madeira Drive for the future.

Today, Linda Standing, volunteer with Portslade Green Gym, planted a baby Japanese spindle tree to celebrate the Green Wall anniversary. Green Gym volunteers have been working at Madeira Drive for 10 years, and are vital to the care and attention the green wall needs.

Building Green supports the work the Council are proposing as part of the restoration of Madeira Terrace. This will involve safeguarding and enhancing the green wall, as well as introducing other environmental habitat.

This proposal can be viewed in the planning application summary statement here – and you can comment using this form here.

The film below sets out what is planned.