A new bee-friendly bus shelter has been introduced into Fishergate Hill to ‘help contribute to climate change and nature recovery in the city’.

It features a mix of 13 native wildflowers and five sedum species which are ideal food sources and habitats for bees and other pollinating insects.

The shelter sits at the bottom of Fishergate Hill near the shops and doctors surgery just before the Broadgate and Strand Road junction and is comprised of 100 per cent recycled or upcycled materials.

It has been installed as one of the final elements of the cycle-friendly CYCLOPS (Cycle Optimised Protected Signals) junction nearby and was installed by Lancashire County Council. It is owned and maintained by Clear Channel UK.

Will Ramage Clear Channel’s managing director said the roof was created “to help create nature recovery networks, address climate change, help create healthier local communities, and bring greenery back into urban areas.”

The roof contributes towards climate resistance and absorbs rainwater falling on the roof.

It also helps to reduce the ‘Urban Heat Island Effect’, capture particulates from the air, and aims to make Preston a greener and happier place.

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Mr Ramage said: “We’ve seen great success with Living Roofs across the UK with more than 120 shelters installed to date. Our overall goal is to reach 1,000 Living Roofs nationwide.”

The living roof bus shelter concept was first installed in 2021 by Clear Channel and utilises thousands of square meters of empty roof space across their shelters.

Raw materials were used in the building of the roof including recycled plastic trays, compost, and upcycled waste gravel to reduce transport and utilise local products.

The shelter took less than a day to install and only two annual visits are required for fertilising, weeding and trimming.

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County councillor Scott Smith, Lancashire County Council lead member for highways and active travel, said: “One of the key aims of the new CYCLOPS junction is to improve our environment by supporting people to make healthier travel choices, and it’s very fitting that this new bus shelter will help to support bees and other vital pollinators.

“High quality infrastructure also supports people to use public transport, and I’m pleased to see this new shelter being installed on this key transport corridor linking Preston and South Ribble.”

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