A family-run Moira company is working with the Leicester City Council to help with social distancing measures by installing over 60 planter boxes.

Hedera Screens has been commissioned to provide the boxes containing living, ivy screening to enforce COVID-19 safety across the city.

It comes at a time when Leicester has been subjected to a local lockdown with social distancing measures remaining a priority.

People visiting the city will be greeted by beautifully displayed planter boxes which not only look good, but also have a huge number of health benefits as well as providing necessary social distancing measures

Not only do the green screens enable vegetation to be introduced into places where other green infrastructure is lacking in city centres, they also improve the 'look' of the space and, most importantly, the planted greenery has been proven to reduce air pollution considerably.

The boxes can be placed much closer to emission sources such as roadways and streets, providing an immediate impact for the people living, working and visiting Leicester

Green screens can influence biodiversity and capture micro pollutants thereby improving air quality, well-being and human health which is of utmost importance right now as we are in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Husband and wife team Alistair and Katherine Moore, along with their son Robert, run Hedera Screens from their base at Chestnut Farm Industrial Estate.

The company has been around for 13 years, working to reduce pollution and create more green spaces.

And managing director Alistair told Ashby Nub News about the Leicester planter boxes.

"They're part of Leicester City Council's social distancing measures and are placed outside restaurants or where they don't want people to park," he said.

"That was our brief for the project, it's a big deal. We installed 29 in one week and followed that up with another 10

"We'd already planned to put some of them at Vaughan Way on the central reservation, but the others are now being integrated into different areas for social distancing.

"It was a specific request from the council – they create a physical barrier."

Hedera Screens also realises it is making a valuable contribution during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Alistair added: "We installed the first ones in July, just as Leicester went into the lockdown.

"We've been going out there early in the morning when there's no one around, so we take precautions that way."

Hedera screens can be contacted on (01530) 560550 or email: [email protected].