Athlete's Village Olympics 2012 - Landscaping

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) have released artistic impressions & details of the new landscaping that will be developed within the London 2012 Olympic's Athlete's Village. Vogt Landscape have designed 10ha of new landscaped & public realm space, available for use by the existing & future local communities that will live in the area. The 10ha will include parks, wetlands, play areas, & open spaces to incorporate recreational facilities.

The public realm development will include the following features;

New Parks: a series of park areas interconnected throughout the village site, including;

• a typical London square with an orchard of British fruit trees
• a formal square suitable for holding markets, with seating areas & gathering spaces
• a large main open public space in the centre of the village, suitable for picnics, recreation, etc
• a garden area with a series of ponds connected by interconnecting pathways

New Wetland Areas: construction of a large ecological wetland area;

• the wetland will contain 3 ponds & 2 marshland areas
• pathways will run throughout, with many seating areas
• a large wildflower lawn will create a suitable area for picnics
• 700 native trees will create a 'green canopy' throughout the wetland, as well as a gateway in
• more than 70,000 wildflower & aquatic plants will be introduced to the site
• new habitats will be created for native wildlife, including 60 bird boxes

New play areas & cycle facilities:

• park areas containing children's play equipment
  
• a cycle network throughout the village, including cycle parking spaces, connecting to the surrounding London Cycle Network
  

The Chairman of the ODA, John Armitt said about the development: “The Athletes’ Village will not only deliver essential new homes for Londoners, it will create new parks, trees, play areas and open spaces that can be enjoyed by new and existing communities for generations to come. The construction of the Village is firmly on track and, with landscaping works now under way, we will start to see a series of new green open spaces take shape between the new homes being built.” (http://www.london2012.com)

Boris Johnson, the Major of London said: "I am determined that London becomes the world’s best big city and that means creating fabulous places to visit and relax. We are already investing millions greening our capital, from the planting of thousands of new trees to a major programme delivering new and improved public spaces. So it is great to see new green and open space emerging from this long neglected part of London and helping to transform the look and feel of this great city."(http://www.london2012.com)