Images for London’s Garden Bridge have revealed plans for thousands of trees, shrubs and grasses that will flower all year round.
Designs from Southwark-based horticulturist Dan Pearson for the £175m crossing from Temple on the north of the Thames to London’s South Bank have revealed plans for 2,500m2 of planted green space.
Construction is expected to start on the crossing in early 2016 after months of setbacks. While Lambeth and Westminster councils have green lit the plans, a judicial review into a challenge against the bridge is still to be heard next month.
If, as expected, the bridge opens in 2018, the crossing will hold five landscape areas designed to reflect London’s horticultural past.
The Garden Bridge will support two woodland areas, a marshland plant zone, a cliff-top style section and a space of scented shrubs.
Green shoots: First impression of the Garden Bridge's escapist oasis
More than £125m has already been pledged towards the Garden Bridge, with Harrods due to next month hold a fundraising gala for the project.
Mr Pearson said ‘There are so many exceptional moments from gardens past and living green spaces around us today and the Garden Bridge will complement and continue this rich history of horticultural excellence in London.
‘Whatever the season, the planting will provide year round colour and interest with spring blossom and flowering bulbs, high summer flowers, autumn colour and winter interest from evergreens, scented shrubs and bulbs.
‘An abundance of nectar-rich flower, berries and fruit will also create somewhere attractive to wildlife and the planting will also enhance and frame beautiful new views up and down the river.’
Executive vice president of the Royal Horticultural Society and a Garden Bridge Trust trustee, Jim Gardiner, added: ‘We have set out to create a fantastic river crossing that takes people through a new, free public garden in the heart of urbanised London.
‘This will improve health and wellbeing by encouraging more of us to walk, regularly and for greater distances.’
