A new two-acre garden dedicated to the memory of Queen Elizabeth II has officially opened to the public in Regent's Park, offering a sanctuary for London's flora and fauna. The space features a wildflower meadow, swift nesting boxes in a former water tower, and a range of habitats designed to boost biodiversity.
A Haven for Wildlife in Central London
The garden, covering 8,000 square metres, includes more than 40 new trees, 2,000 square metres of wildflower meadow, over 5,000 square metres of climate-resilient plants, and an additional 100 metres of native mixed hedgerow. A large ornamental pond with naturally filtered water provides a new aquatic habitat for plants, insects, and amphibians.
Designed for a Changing Climate
The garden is specifically designed to cope with the effects of climate change, including warmer, wetter winters and drier, hotter summers. Interconnected channels, known as swales, ensure rainwater flows slowly through the garden, reducing the need for irrigation and creating very wet habitats in winter that become partially dry in summer.
Matthew Halsall, the manager and landscape architect behind the project, began designing the garden three years ago. He saw the potential for the site to become a haven for biodiversity in London. 'It's right in the heart of Regent's Park, surrounded by many different habitat types, and therefore an important project in terms of wildlife-habitat reclamation,' he says.
Queen's Favourite Flowers and Wildlife Features
The flowers chosen for the garden include many of the late queen's favourites, such as Tulipa clusiana 'Cynthia', a two-tone tulip. Bees, ladybirds, and butterflies are already thriving among the 200,000 spring bulbs planted, including grape hyacinths and Tulipa linifolia. A former water storage tower now features swift nesting boxes and refuges for bats integrated into its new roof and brickwork.
The garden opened yesterday, in the same month as what would have been the queen's 100th birthday on 21 April. Gardeners from the Royal Parks worked diligently ahead of the public opening to ensure the space was ready.
Biodiversity and Habitat Variety
The garden's diverse mix of habitats, including wildflower meadows and native hedgerows, is already attracting a wide range of species. Different habitats mean visitors walk through a more formally designed landscape towards a wildflower meadow. The garden's team carried out a planting trial to see how different soil compositions affected plant growth and resilience, ensuring the new garden can thrive in a changing climate.
