Parks and Green Spaces

September 10, 2023September 15, 2023

Crossrail Place Roof Garden – Canary Wharf’s Hidden Leafy Spot

Crossrail Place Roof Garden is a leafy oasis hidden in the roof top of the Canary Wharf Elizabeth Line. Canary Wharf, home to our corporate sector, is an urban mass of concrete and glass. So the thought of spending a half an hour looking at tropical greenery with great views out over West India Quay dock is appealing.

The History of Crossrail Place Roof Garden

At least our town planners thought so. In 2008, they hired notable architects Foster + Partners to design this indoor park brim full of unusual and exotic plants. And tucked away amongst the foliage is a performing arts space.

Foster + Partners are luxury casting indeed for such a project. They are the firm responsible for other iconic architectural masterpieces including the neo furturistic central courtyard of the British Museum and the landmark Gherkin building in the heart of London’s financial district.

You’ll notice Foster + Partners trademark triangles in the garden roof design.

Trademark triangles in the Crossrail Place Roof Garden

Shaped like a ship and laden with exotic plant species

The Crossrail Place building reflects Canary Wharf’s maritime history and the outstanding water-side views.

5 Reasons to Visit the Crossrail Place Roof Garden

If you are expecting anything on the scale of the Victorian greenhouses in Kew Gardens you are going to be disappointed. You could probably walk round the whole garden and study the plants in less 20 minutes. Therefore, it doesn’t merit a full day’s visit and is best combined with other activities. Consider visiting after a trip to the London Museum Docklands.

Interesting hoof shaped park bench sculpture

Here are some ideas for enjoying the garden

Bring a picnic lunch with you and eat it sitting on one of the many benches in the garden
Grab a coffee from a ground floor coffee shop and enjoy it in tropical leafy splendour
Make it a meeting point for a blind date. Walk round and admire the plants. If the date goes well, you can always suggest a drink in the restaurant at the back of the garden
Bring a book to read and use it as an opportunity to decompress

The Planting Plan for Crossrail Place Roof Garden

You may think that Foster + Partners have overthought the planting plan!

The garden lies directly north of Greenwich on the Prime Meridian. Therefore, they have divided the plant species into varieties that grow on the west and east hemispheres.

In the Western Hemisphere section (the Americas New Zealand and Australia) you’ll find plants like:

Soft tree fern
Golden tree fern
New Zealand fern
Sweet gum
Strawberry tree

Ferns in the Western Hemisphere of the Crossrail Place Roof Garden

In the Eastern Hemisphere (Europe, Africa, Asia and Russia) you’ll find plants such as:

Northern Japanese maple
Black bamboo
Northern Japanese magnolia
Veitch bamboo

Bamboos in the Eastern Hemisphere of the Crossrail Place Roof Garden

The Crossrail Gardens website has more information on the plants and planting plan.

If you are enjoying this piece on Crossrail Place Roof Garden, check out our post on Kew Gardens in Winter and Richmond Park.

Dr Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward and the Invention of the Terrarium

Crossrail Place Roof Garden resembles an Enormous Terrarium

If you think that the garden is similar in design to a terrarium you are entirely correct.

Nathaniel Ward was a botanist who invented a sealed glass container which was used for transporting plants from overseas to Europe. The survival of many of the species found in this garden is due to his invention of the Wardian Case as it was known.

Find the Story Dispenser Near the Restaurant

With relaxation in mind, there is a story dispenser situated near the restaurant. You decide whether you want to read for one, three or five minutes and the machine dispenses a ticker tape print out of a story.

Crossrail Place Roof Garden in a Nutshell

Great views over the Canary Wharf docks and buildings
Sublime Foster +Partners architecture
Exotic plant species
A place to meet friends or relax

Practical Information About Crossrail Place Roof Garden

Directions to the Crossrail Place Roof Garden

How to find it

Come out of the station at Canary Wharf’s Elizabeth Line and take the entrance behind you. You will see a cartoonish multi coloured wall with escalator and lift to the roof garden.

Do you need tickets?

No tickets are required to the garden just arrive and enjoy.

Is the garden free to visit?

Yes, there is nothing to pay.

What are the garden’s opening hours?

The garden is open from 9am to 9pm. You can check on the Crossrail Place Roof Garden website.

How big is the garden?

You can walk around the gardens in about 15-20 minutes. It’s long enough to enjoy a coffee or a chat with a friend.

April 8, 2023August 20, 2023

Queen Mary’s Rose Garden – A Sublime Floral Display

The Queen Mary’s Rose Garden is living proof that anyone can have an experience of a lifetime in London free of charge. These historic gardens containing thousands of roses are an area of peace and tranquility that feed the soul. Come here on a warm Spring day in late May or early June to see the roses when they are at their best.

I often visit after a trip to the nearby Regents Park Open Air Theatre but there is nothing to stop you bringing a book and a picnic and lying in the sun surrounded by beauty. Copy the Victorians and make Queen Mary’s Rose Garden it a place to see and be seen.

What is Queen Mary’s Rose Garden Famous for?

In a single word, roses…to be precise, 12,000 of them, contained in 85 single variety beds. Each year 3 of these beds are replaced with a new variety.

Queen Mary's Rose Garden contains 12,000 roses in 85 single variety beds. — Queen Mary’s Rose Garden contains 12,000 roses in 85 single variety beds.

What is the History of Queen Mary’s Rose Garden?

The garden is named after the wife of King George V and was first planted in 1832. In the same way that we might dress up to meet our friends in a pub, club or restaurant the affluent middle classes of the day would wear their best clothes and promenade in their top hats and tea gowns in the rose garden. Fetes and music would be organised in the summer months. It was a place to see and be seen,

Today the Queen Mary’s Rose Garden attracts all sorts of people…newly-weds looking for a back drop for their wedding photographs, professional photographers bearing tripods, local residents taking a stroll, families having picnics, young lovers (it’s the ideal backdrop for a proposal) and of course tourists who have heard about the legendary blooms.

It is a stroke of luck that we have this magnificent garden to enjoy today as there were historic proposals to use the land as a palace for the Prince Regent, the bloated and debauched son of an earlier monarch. Fortunately, he preferred the Buckingham Palace location.

The Four Areas of Queen Mary’s Rose Garden

There are several distinct areas that make up Queen Mary’s Gardens.

The Queen Mary's Rose garden is made up of four distinct areas. — The Queen Mary’s Rose garden is made up of four distinct areas.

The Circular Rose Garden

The original garden was the circular rose garden with its rose-festooned border of white and pink roses that provide a colourful living wall.

The Triton Borders

The Victorian jungle beds known as the Triton Borders have flamboyant jewel like colours with contrasting begonias, huge palms and ferns. These are linked to the famous garden designer William Robinson who worked for the Royal Botanical Society. He was a big fan of subtropical bedding containing hardy plants placed in natural arrangements.

Don’t be mystified if you see plastic buckets in the borders. These are place holders for plants that are on order and waiting to be delivered.

The Sausage Border

There is also a herbaceous border called the Sausage Border because of its shape. This has a planting scheme of deep red peonies and ornamental rhubarb spikes

The Mediterranean Garden

The Mediterranean Garden has been made possible by improving the water-logged London clay soil with plenty of sand to allow acacias, palm trees and purple alliums to thrive.

When Should I Visit Queen Mary’s Rose Garden?

Very late May and early June is the best time for seeing the roses in full bloom. Most roses have a second showing in August and September but your photos maybe spoiled by the faded blooms of earlier flowerings. The delphinium border is at its best in June.

Can you find the plant sculpture of an elephant which is hidden in one of the borders?

How Do I Research Roses Before my Visit?

Before you visit, familiarise yourself with the different types of English roses. The varieties that you will see in the garden are:

Hybrid tea
Polyantha
Climbing
Rambling
Damask
Gallica
Alba
Centifolia
Floribunda
Patio
Ground Cover

As a general rule, the older varieties are less magnificent looking but have a stronger smell and the newer hybrids are amazing to look at but with less scent.

You can find out more about the different types of roses at the Gardener’s World website.

If you see a rose that you like you can almost certainly buy it online from one of our many rose firms, so don’t forget to photograph the plant label.

Tips for Photographing Roses Using a Smart phone

Any amateur can get very successful results using these tips;

Use natural light to photograph flowers as overcast days give a softer look
Mornings are the best time as the roses are fresh and often have dew drops
Crouch or kneel to get to the same level as the flowers
Use the close up/flower function on your phone’s photograph menu
Take a lot of photographs at different angles and closeness
Fill the frame and block out as much of the background as possible for rose close ups.
Check for unwanted things in your picture e.g. people, litter bins, insects
Use the crop facility on your camera to edit your photos and make the flowers bigger.

How Do I Get to Queen Mary’s Rose Garden?

There is an 8-10 minute walk which ever tube you take as the rose garden is in the centre of Regent’s Park. The nearest underground stations are Great Portland Street, Bakers Street and Regents Park.

How Much Does it Cost to Visit Queen Mary’s Rose Garden?

The entry to Queen Mary’s Gardens is free of charge.

If you like gardens, be sure to see out post on Kew Gardens in Winter.

March 8, 2023June 23, 2023

Kew Gardens in Winter – Ducks and Dappled Light

There is something particularly invigorating about Kew Gardens in the Winter. Everyone enjoys trudging through green and mud, buffeted by cold gusts of air and spotting adventurous crumb seeking ducks.

Kew Gardens in Winter is a Green Leafy, Pine Scented Oasis.

Is it worth Visiting Kew Gardens in Winter? Absolutely! Winter is the optimum time to visit Kew. Any wuss can visit on a balmy summer’s day with a picnic in hand. Or sit on an outside table sipping chilled white wine under a vine covered pergola. But it requires an explorer’s sense of adventure and spirit to go in the Winter when you are going to trudge through puddles, mud and duck poo.

Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage site in West London. It’s a 9 acre site with many different themes and walks. Originally, the home and private gardens of King George III and opened to the public in 1840. Now a famed scientific institute for plant and fungal research.

Kew Gardens Winter Scenes

Green Spaces Are Good for the Soul

Kew Gardens Winter has something for every mood. If today is a day when you want palaces, the breathtaking Victorian palm house, and the Great Walk arrive at Victoria Gate and turn right.

You’ll also find views reminiscent of Constable paintings and a magnificent Orangery which is ideal for coffee with friends.

Kew Gardens in Winter benefits from all round greenery.

But if your instincts are for a woodland walk through a densely forested area with, bark underfoot and the scent of pine turn left at Victoria Gate. The arboretum is home to 14,000 trees and more than 2000 species.

What to Expect at Kew in Winter

January is perfect for visiting Kew. I am no fan of their hugely popular Christmas Lights extravaganza and by January they have removed the twisted tangle of illuminations hidden in plastic flowers, the fake reindeer, the arches of fairy lights.

In the winter months you can survey the vast acreage and with hardly anyone in sight.

Usually there will be a few media types who live locally, in mismatched athletic wear and bobble hats yelling production instructions into their phones while walking at pace, young mothers with their babies strapped close to their bodies using their phones to photograph the still waters with their mirror images of golden foliage and skeleton branches, women of a certain age in ancient ski wear “getting in their steps” and catching up with their walking companions.

But for all the mud and cold, and there is sometimes sun light, green lawns, bulbs peeking through brown earth, alert, inquisitive geese, oblivious ducks and tall trees that made you feel dizzy as you look up. a day at Kew feels like an adventure that is otherwise hard to come by at this time of the year.

Opening Hours

The Kew opening hours vary according to the month and January has the shortest opening hours with the gardens closing at 4pm and the last entry is at 3pm. You can check the opening hours here.

Toilet Facilities

Toilet facilities are dotted around the gardens and are also to be found in each of the cafes. These are heated and well maintained.

Cafes and Restaurants

Victoria Gate is the busiest of the cafes and serves sandwiches, coffees and cakes. It is the ideal location to meet someone as it is right next to the entrance.

The new Pavilion restaurant is more upmarket and has a grill. Their hamburgers and grilled chicken with side dishes are very popular.

The Orangery is a popular meeting spot for locals and has a range of hot cooked food and cakes and drinks. Theres a nice outdoor seating area and picnic tables on the grass.

A newer restaurant is the privately owned The Botanist which has more pricy and mesmerising offerings including an Afternoon Tea on tiered stands with exotic tea choices. There are also comfortable sofas in the conservatory area which are ideal for lounging on while drinking hot chocolate and there is a nice view of the pond and palm house.

Kew Gardens Membership

Many local people purchase an annual Kew membership which costs costs £77 for a single adult for the year. One of the main advantages is that you can take in a family member free of charge. This makes Kew a perfect budget day out if the membership card is used frequently.

Day entry for an adult is currently £10. Check their website for more information. www.kew.org

March 7, 2023August 20, 2023

A Herd of Elephants in Green Park

Elephants in Green Park. Whatever next? We see a lot in London! I barely bat an eyelid when I come across Bengali cats being walked on leads by their owners, pirates with peg legs and squawking parrots, inflated Donald Trump balloons boasting an orange perma tan…but this herd of elephant statues really gave me pause for thought.

Elephants in Green Park Come From India

Dozens of elephants, old and young, fit and frail are crafted in the Nilgiri Hills of India out of the weedy, reed like stem, Lantana Camara. This plant poses a threat to wildlife as it is poisonous, so it’s great to seeing it being hacked down and put towards a good cause.

This exhibition is the brain child of Shubhra Nayar and Ruth Ganesh has been facilitated and promoted by HRH Prince Charles and his wife Camilla to draw attention to the elephants fragile co-existence with man. Camilla’s brother Mark Shand ran an elephant charity before his death.

The elephants in Green Park have been beautifully characterised.

Close up of the reed like stems used to make the elephants

The tails of the elephants in Green Park

But what got me thinking as I surveyed this woody procession was how we as humans depend on each other.

The Power of the Herd

Think of the solitary human, perhaps a cold and dishevelled homeless person begging on a grimy London pavement, with a paper cup containing a few coins at their feet. Or an elderly man who, after a life time of work, is cast alone on his sofa, slowly dunking digestive biscuits into his tea with daytime television as his only source of company.

Now let us transport our fictitious humans to the convivial atmospheres of outreach shelters, community cafes, tea after church on Sundays or strolling round London on a walking tour, in the background there is chatter, laughter, warmth and friendship and now you can see the power of community.

This exquisite herd of elephants in Green Park reminds us of both the vulnerability of the solitary individual and how our very survival is dependent on our proximity to each other.

If you liked this piece you may want to visit our blog post on Richmond Park where there is plenty of living wildlife.

Sadly, this was a temporary exhibition and the elephants have moved on to new pastures. Some have been sold to adorn people’s gardens and the good news is that these elephants are still available for sale if you have a spare £6k-£30k one of these elephants in Green Park could be yours! Check them out.

You may also want to donate to the Coexistence Elephant charity.

February 22, 2023August 20, 2023

Richmond Park – A Woody Safari Among Ancient Trees

Richmond Park in Richmond, the famed hunting ground of Henry VIII, is now maintained as a Royal Park yet it still feels wild and wooded. This year I have explored deeper into this vast expanse of nature.

The Different Regions of Richmond Park

Richmond Park comprises different regions each with their own character and attractions. Driving around the circumference road and dodging deer and cyclists, these are the ones that I have recently explored:

Isabella Plantation
Pen Ponds
Pembroke Lodge
Robin Hood Gate

Pembroke Lodge the Information Centre and Cafe of Richmond Park

Pembroke Lodge is the centre of the universe of Richmond Park. There is an information centre, a refreshment stand and a cafe serving classic English fayre of sandwiches, cakes and scones. Behind the wrought iron gates there are elevated formal gardens with panoramic views of Richmond and the city beyond which rival nearby Kew with an abundance of seasonal colour.

Isabella Plantation a Fenced Garden in Richmond Park

This is a wooded fenced area known for its magnificent display of camellias, azaleas and daffodils with a central pond and the cutest ducks with little hats .

The Pond at the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park

A Spring Camellia in bloom at the Isabella Plantation

Pen Ponds

These ponds are a short walk on a slight incline from the Pen Ponds car park. Geese, swans and ducks follow tourists looking for forbidden contraband and bread from soft hearted folk who have decided to ignore the advice of not feeding the ducks. You almost feel that you are on holiday at an exotic lakeside destination.

Geese and Ducks at the Water's Edge in one of the Richmond Park Lakes — Geese and Ducks at the Water’s Edge in one of the Richmond Park Lakes

Robin Hood Gate

There’s some interesting fallen trees here with exposed roots, gnarled bark and skeletal shapes in a boggy, marshy expanse of lush grass. Great for taking nature photographs and selfies. It’s a 10- 15 minute walk up to Pen Ponds from here. On my return trek, I was ecstatic to see the herd of red deer who had come out to graze. It was like being on safari in the Serengeti. Honestly, why go to Africa when you can go to Richmond Park!

Practical Advice for Visiting Richmond Park

Car Parking

Richmond Park is free to enter and free to park (we like free!) You are invited to make a donation at card reading machines at the various car parks but this is by no means obligatory.

You can only park in the car parks and if you park elsewhere you are liable for a fine. As a result, the car parks get busy, on sunny days and at weekends you are likely to have more luck parking at the furthest car parks from Pembroke Gate. Currently, you can’t drive the full circumference of the park as the road is closed just after Isabella Plantation on the anti-clockwise stretch.

Check the opening and closing times as you don’t want to get locked in overnight. These times change according to the season.

Driving and Cycling

As you would expect, Richmond Park is a popular cycling area…think lycra-clad, kamikaze lunatics riding in packs or on their phones. The road is narrow so overtaking is often not an option. Be patient. You don’t want to make the newspapers for all the wrong reasons.

If you are one of those cyclists Richmond Park is your oyster!

Toilets

There are toilets at most of the Richmond Park car parks but you’ll need to check a map to ensure that your chosen car park has those facilities.

Cafes

There are cafes with seating at Pembroke Lodge, Roehampton Gate and Pen Ponds. In the great British tradition, the smaller car parks usually have ice cream vans run by independent vendors. Think whipped ice creams with flakes, Magnums and Cornettos. And I spied bacon sandwiches. There’s tea, coffee and hot chocolate – perfect for a freezing day. You can find out more information about the cafe and see photos here.

Seating and Picnics

Dotted around Richmond Park are wooden park seats and fallen logs making it the ideal spot for a picnic. Fortunately, you can picnic near to your car so no need to lug your flasks and hampers for long distances. On New Year’s Day I see many people having tailgate picnics from the boot of their car.

My amazing and recent discovery is the wonder of the Stanley vacuum flask. I paid a fortune for this pricy British icon. I preheat it with boiling water for 5 minutes and then adding fresh boiling water and pack Yorkshire tea bags and fresh milk with an ice pack and I have perfect, scalding hot tea for the whole day.

For more information on Richmond Park including any seasonal updates see the official Royal Parks website.

We have some other great suggestions for free and nearly free days out. and we hope these practical tips will help you make the most of your day at Richmond Park.

If you have enjoyed this piece you may like our feature on the nearby botanical wonder Kew Gardens.

Maxine Morse
Sep 10, 2023 · 5 mins

Crossrail Place Roof Garden – Canary Wharf’s Hidden Leafy Spot

Crossrail Place Roof Garden is a leafy oasis hidden in the roof top of the Canary Wharf Elizabeth Line. Canary Wharf, home to...
Maxine Morse
Apr 8, 2023 · 5 mins

Queen Mary’s Rose Garden – A Sublime Floral Display

The Queen Mary’s Rose Garden is living proof that anyone can have an experience of a lifetime in London free of charge. These...
Maxine Morse
Mar 8, 2023 · 4 mins

Kew Gardens in Winter – Ducks and Dappled Light

There is something particularly invigorating about Kew Gardens in the Winter. Everyone enjoys trudging through green and mud, buffeted by cold gusts of...
Maxine Morse
Mar 7, 2023 · 3 mins

A Herd of Elephants in Green Park

Elephants in Green Park. Whatever next? We see a lot in London! I barely bat an eyelid when I come across Bengali cats...
Maxine Morse
Feb 22, 2023 · 5 mins

Richmond Park – A Woody Safari Among Ancient Trees

Richmond Park in Richmond, the famed hunting ground of Henry VIII, is now maintained as a Royal Park yet it still feels wild...