Craving a moment of peace? The London Blossom Garden offers just that. It is more than just a garden. It is a living memorial in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Opened on May 24, 2021, by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, the London Blossom Garden commemorates Londoners lost to the pandemic. It also marks the city’s shared experience during those hard times. The garden highlights the importance of green spaces. Parks became havens for physical and mental health during lockdowns.
Thirty-three blossom trees stand here. Each tree represents a London borough. City Hall hopes this garden will be a lasting reminder. It is a reminder of those lost and London’s unity. The London Blossom Garden aims to bring communities together forever.
Eight spring-blossoming tree species were picked. Blossom season coincided with London’s first lockdown. The public bench uses materials from every London borough. Local communities helped design the garden. It is a space for reflection. It is a peaceful haven for wildlife.
Planted in the park’s north, the trees form three circles. Eight different tree species comprise these circles. Each spring, the London Blossom Garden bursts with life. Hawthorn, cherry, cherry plum, and crab apple blossoms create a stunning scene. Colorful blossoms contrast with the vibrant green parklands.
Grassy lawns and planting beds support wildlife. As trees mature, they offer shade and shelter. The path includes thirty-three pieces of recycled concrete and timber. This echoes the number of trees. Seating near each tree ring invites reflection.
The garden is enclosed by existing banks. It provides refuge from the city. It offers a tranquil space. The garden embodies Londoners standing together.
The London Blossom Garden supports nature too. Large perennial planting beds and species-rich grassland thrive here. This supports Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s ecology. It helps create wildlife habitats year-round.
Pollinator-friendly species support bees and insects. Flowers like echinacea offer homes for local species. This includes the rare Amara bifrons beetle. Different trees blossom at different times. This extends the spring blossom season. Blossoms feed pollinating insects. Fruits and berries sustain migrating birds. Fieldfare and redwing arrive each autumn from Scandinavia.
The garden was designed with sustainability in mind. Timber is reclaimed from the UK’s only FSC-certified supplier. The wood comes from London sites like Duke Shore Wharf. The path uses locally sourced recycled aggregate. This lowers the carbon footprint. Local artists fabricated the seating. This supports the local economy. Perennial plants are grown peat-free. All trees were grown in the UK.
The garden supports sustainable drainage. A sunken channel reintroduces rainwater into the soil. This eases surface water flooding.
In October 2020, Rosetta Arts consulted local communities. Residents and key workers from four boroughs participated. They shared experiences, feelings, and thoughts about COVID-19. They gave input on the garden’s tone. They suggested how to represent affected communities. The London Blossom Garden needed to be an inclusive space. It should celebrate east London’s diversity. It also needed to focus on physical and mental health.
The London Blossom Garden is fully accessible. A hard-standing path runs through the center. Seating areas accommodate wheelchairs. The nearby Timber Lodge Café is accessible too. It has a Changing Places toilet.
The Mayor of London and National Trust created the garden. They partnered with Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Bloomberg. The Edible Bus Stop and Davies White Landscape Architects designed it. Rosetta Arts engaged local communities.
Remember the London Blossom Garden. It is a place to reflect. It is a tribute. It is a symbol of London’s togetherness.