I had been looking forward to seeing the planting at the Olympic Park since June 2010. I can be that specific because that’s when I visited Hillier Tree Nurseries where they were preparing the 4000 containerised trees that form an integral part of the naturalistic design. The trees, mostly native varieties, were grown in the ground then lifted and grown for one season or more in special air-pots to help them establish a complete root system and full canopy quickly on site.
On a sunny morning in August I made my way to the Athletics Stadium, ticket in pocket, with the distinct feeling that I’d just opened a bar of Wonker’s chocolate and would soon be claiming my prize. I was not disappointed…
The park is meadow-tastic, a seemingly endless array of wildflowers that had all been timed to peak with perfection. There were 25 acres worth of annual meadows, the largest to be seen in a public park, sown with a special flower heavy mix, not just for wow factor but for encouraging pollinators…the bees knees.
The site really is huge so you needed a few hours to have a proper stroll around. After my morning session of obligatory shouting and jumping around in my seat I did just that, starting along the banks of the River Lea along which you can walk from one end of the site to the other. In terms of planting it is divided into 2 main areas, the North and South Parks. The North being more informal, celebrating UK native habitats with meadows, wetland and woodland schemes. The South is more of an urban affair containing the 2012 Gardens which focus on the 4 international regions that have been a important source of plants for the UK over the last 600 years.
The underlying theme to the whole park is biodiversity and sustainability on a large scale – creating long term, natural, green, clean spaces in our ever increasing urban environment. The masterplan for the park doubles the planting areas after the Olympic events are over, the park opening to the public again in summer 2013. Professors James Hitchmough and Nigel Dunnett, who are behind the planting along with Sarah Price hope it will be a benchmark for future public spaces.
I for one was very excited to see the natural planting style used so successfully and along with what we saw at Chelsea this year I am hoping for some requests for mini meadows in 2013!