Garden brings sweet smells to Olympic Park

Volunteers gathered to celebrate the launch of a community garden at the View Tube next to the Olympic Park.

The green space, which includes sculptures by artist Lisa Cheung, was created through a partnership between social enterprise The View Tube, environmental charity Groundwork London and The London Wildlife Trust.

View Tube Manager Rosie Murdoch said: “It was a fantastically successful day.

“We had almost 100 guests and our cafe prepared some special recipes from the garden, including spinach and garlic and red onion and sage treats.”

A commemorative plaque was unveiled by John Hopkins, Head of Parklands and Public Realm at the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), during the opening ceremony.

Known as View Tube Grow, the sustainable garden has been planted with fragrant flowers and scented plants to cover the smells of Basalgette’s Northern Outfall Sewer, which carries sewage beneath the site from across London to Three Mills.

A group of residents will grow vegetables and herbs in the plot, which will feature on the cafe’s menu.

The eco garden is one of the Greener Living Spaces funded by Marks & Spencer’s carrier bag charging scheme.

A series of arts events are taking place at The View Tube throughout June and July.

For more information visit, View Tube’s website at www.theviewtube.co.uk