The London Blossom Garden in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, East London, has just received a Highly Commended in the prestigious London Tree and Woodland Awards.

The annual event held at Kew Gardens featured 10 different award categories, including the Tree & Woodland Planting Award, where the London Blossom Garden received a coveted Highly Commended prize for its innovative approach to tree planting. 

Thirty-three blossom trees were planted in March 2021 by the Mayor of London in collaboration with the National Trust and Bloomberg, with each tree representing a London borough and the City of London. It was designed to be a place for reflection and remembrance of Londoners’ experiences of COVID-19.

The design was developed as part of a community engagement project with local arts organisation Rosetta Arts and co designed by The Edible Bus Stop and Davies White Landscape Architects. The judging panel cited the garden’s “inspiring design, linking to all of the London boroughs in trees and use of wood material, providing a reflective and peaceful location for the community with stunning blossom and autumn colours”.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am delighted that The London Blossom Garden at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has been highly commended at the London Tree and Woodland Awards. As a lasting living memorial to the impact of COVID-19 on our capital and tribute to the ongoing efforts of our key workers, it has become a very special place for Londoners to reflect and remember. The thoughtful design features materials and plants from each London borough, making the space even more meaningful and bringing comfort and enjoyment to all those who visit in years to come.”

Mak Gilchrist, Creative Director of The Edible Bus Stop & Andrée Davies and Adam White, Landscape Architect of Davies White Landscape Architects, said: "The Edible Bus Stop and Davies White Landscape Architects were delighted to hear the London Blossom Garden has won this highly commended award at the London Tree and Woodland Awards.

Unlike many other memorials the London Blossom Garden is a living green memorial, featuring 33 magnificent trees, peat free grown perennial planting and areas of wildflower meadow. The garden was made accessible and inclusive with sustainable bespoke seating and a wide footpath.

The collaborative and engaging design process helped foster ownership within the local community whilst reconnecting people, place and nature. As the garden neared completion, it was of particular joy to observe a robin claim one of the smaller rings of trees as their own new territory, highlighting the importance of creating new homes for nature in our urban environments”.

Annie Reilly, the National Trust’s Blossom Programme Manager, said: “We’re thrilled to have received a Highly Commended prize for the London Blossom Garden and to have collaboratively created such a special space for reflection and enjoyment. The blossom trees flowered for the first time this year, with clouds of pastel blossom as a beautiful reminder of spring and the power of nature. We’re looking forward to a stunning display of autumn colour later this year.”

For further information see The London Trees and Woodland Awards.