There’s no place like gnome

He was there to see Mo Farah win the men’s 5,000m and 10,000m finals and saw Jonnie Peacock win gold in the men's T44 100m, but no we’re not talking about Wenlock or Mandeville the London 2012 mascots. We're talking about Impkins the gnome, the Olympic Park’s first resident who moved in shortly before the start of the Games in July.

Shy and retiring, Impkins is now rarely seen in the venues choosing instead to hide within the safety of the fabulous new parklands. He did, however, agree to be photographed for the Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA’s) new book ‘The Making of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’, which tells the story of the creation of the largest new urban park in more than a century. 

Horticulturalist Chris Collins, official gardener for BBC’s Blue Peter, said: ‘Every garden needs a gnome and the Olympic Park is no different. The challenge will now be for visitors in the future to spot Impkins.’
Originally from Essex, Impkins had been looking for a new home for some time when he was approached by a London 2012 gardener offering him residency in the Park in exchange for keeping an eye on the plants and reporting any problems to the horticulture team – an offer that Impkins found too good to refuse.  
‘With green space more limited in London, it was proving quite difficult to find the perfect garden,’ said Impkins.

‘Just as I was about to give up, I was offered the chance to move into the Olympic Park – I couldn’t believe my luck. Being asked to live in the largest new urban Park in London that’s rich with flora, fauna and wildlife – amazing! It was an absolutely fantastic summer and I feel proud to have been the first resident of the Park.’
Over the few months that Impkins has been living in the Park, he has become a valued member of the team and, at just a foot tall, earned his affectionate nickname from the gardeners.

Read more about the book ‘The Making of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’