The world’s attention has been on this former industrial wasteland in east London. And I’m just so happy the Olympic Park has done us proud. Even in early September after upwards of a million people have enjoyed this space, it’s looking magnificent.
Over a hundred acres of what is the largest new park in the city for more than 100 years have been planted up as wildlife banks, wetland , football fields-worth of wildflower meadows and banked lawns for picnics. Inspiration has also been taken from plant environments around the world… a kind of world expo of flowers.
Planting design is by University of Sheffield Department of Landscape’s James Hitchmough and Nigel Dunnett who have done so much to push self-sustaining and ecological planted environments up the agenda over the past few years.
This combination of semi-mature trees, waterways and swathes of colour delivers what has to be the prettiest Olympic park ever. It has certainly showcased the best of British.
The park re-opens to the public in May next year.