"A city is not a park" @ Radio 3 > "What would change, psychologically, socially, emotionally, if we covered the concrete and brickwork of our towns and cities with vines, plants and vertical gardens?"

Putting a bit of green up some ugly concrete is known as covering something up:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: greening the grey >>> "Is the trend for foliage on buildings a fig leaf for poor design?"

However, 'greening the grey' might be quite effective - on many levels:
Futures Forum: Vertical forests... vertical gardens...

As explored on this evening's 'the Essay' on Radio 3: 

A City Is not a Park

The Essay

Des Fitzgerald tracks the relationship between the modern city and its green environs. Drawing together psychological research with urban history and literature it asks: what would change, psychologically, socially, emotionally, if we covered the concrete and brickwork of our towns and cities with vines, plants and vertical gardens? A city is not a park but should it be?

Des Fitzgerald is a sociologist at Cardiff University who is researching health, illness and city living. The Essay was recorded at the Free Thinking Festival with an audience at Sage Gateshead.

New Generation Thinkers is a scheme run by BBC Radio 3 and the Arts and Humanities Research Council to select 10 academics each year who can turn their research into radio.

Producer: Torquil MacLeod.

BBC Radio 3 - The Essay, A City Is not a Park

For a little more, see also:
Futures Forum: Greening Grey Britain
Futures Forum: Greening grey Britain @ Radio 4's Costing the Earth
Futures Forum: Greening grey Britain > tackling pollution and flooding

And:
Futures Forum: A sensory garden for Sidmouth
Futures Forum: "Greening grey Britain for health and happiness" >>> a sensory garden for Sidmouth

And finally:
Futures Forum: Vertical farming
Futures Forum: Vertical farming > "the most technically advanced indoor farm in the world" unveiled
.
.
.