Trees help Olympic Park’s green spaces to flourish

Trees help Olympic Park’s green spaces to flourish

10 Jun 2009
Around 2,000 semi-mature British-grown trees have been hand-picked to form the roots of the Olympic Park’s green spaces, which will be enjoyed by spectators and become a home for wildlife.

Parkland trees

Olympic Delivery Authority Chairman John Armitt viewing the 2,000 trees at the nursery of the chosen supplier
The trees have been carefully selected to ensure they are ‘future proof’ against climate change. They are mostly native species, such as ash, alder, willow, birch, hazel, cherry, poplar, London plane and lime.

Already 4m-7m high, the trees will be planted over the next three winters. The one-off planting is thought to be the largest of its kind in the capital.

The trees will provide shelter from wind and sunshine across the Park, while species that can withstand flooding, such as willow and alder, will be planted in river areas.

Olympic Delivery Authority Chairman John Armitt said: ‘We are not only planting trees that will look fantastic and reflect the traditions of great British parks, but that also create habitats for wildlife and help “future proof” against the impacts of climate change on the Park and surrounding communities.’

Read the full media release