New trees and wetland plants turn Olympic Park from brown to green

24 Jun 2010--The first of 4,000 new semi-mature trees are taking root in the Olympic Park to help create around 250 acres of parklands on former industrial land.

Around 100 ash, cherry and hazel trees, which were grown in Hampshire, have already been planted.

Work has also started to plant the 300,000 wetland plants, grown in Norfolk and Wales for the UK’s largest ever urban river and wetland planting. The first plants were laid on the river banks today by Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson, TV Gardener Charlie Dimmock, Olympic gold medal winner Jonathan Edwards, Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) Chairman John Armitt and children from the Olympic Park’s Construction Crew.

New reed beds are being created in a large area of wetlands in the north of the Park. They will help form wider areas of parklands where visitors during the Games will be able to relax and watch the action on live screens. After the Games the riverside area will be a tranquil space for people and wildlife which will also help protect 5,000 properties in the area from flooding.

ODA Chairman John Armitt said: ‘The parklands will be the centrepiece of the Olympic Park during the Games and are at the heart of the long-term transformation of this part of east London.

‘We have cleaned up formerly industrial land, much of it contaminated, and opened up inaccessible riverbanks to start creating a new great park that will be enjoyed by people and wildlife for generations to come.’

The ODA has today published a new document that highlights some of its work on sustainability, download ‘brown to green’ from the London 2012 website.

Source: London 2012

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