More than 230 garden squares will open to the public across the Capital next weekend as part of Open Garden Squares Weekend and the Square Mile is home to some of the best in bloom. From historic churchyards to cutting edge green roofs, here are five gardens in the City to see this weekend.
The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers
This small courtyard is dominated by a giant London plane tree, planted in 1837 and believed to be fertilised by the ashes of illegal books burned by the livery company. Clearly those immoral pages did the trick as the tree is thriving and offers a gorgeous example of an inner-City shade garden.
Ave Maria Lane, EC4M 7DD
Open Sunday, 10.30am to 4pm
Inner Temple Garden
There has been a garden in Inner Temple since the 12th century, but limited weekday public opening hours means this three-acre oasis is usually reserved for the legal eagles in the surrounding chambers. The gates will open for just a few hours to reveal an early summer border of alliums, inter-planted with delicate forms of aquilegia.
Crown Office Row, via Tudor Street security gate EC4Y 7HL.
Open Sunday, 1pm to 5pm
Eversheds Sutherland
What else would you expect on the roof for this award-winning environmental building than an award-winning green roof? Volunteers have planted up the rooftop of the Wood Street offices of law firm Eversheds Sutherland with sedum and wild plants to encourage biodiversity in the City and provide plenty of pollen for its two bee hives.
Open Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm
Vestry House
One of a pair of gardens created on the site of the 12th century churchyard of St Laurence Pountney and the College of Corpus Christi, which were both destroyed in the Great Fire. Now privately owned, it combines traditional parterre planting with contemporary design woven around tombs and headstones.
Laurence Pountney Hill, EC4R 0EH
Open Sunday, 11.30am to 3pm
Beech Gardens
This delicately balanced rooftop plot of plantings designed by Dr Nigel Dunnett aims to brighten up the Brutalist estate with ‘successive waves of colour”. Expect to see the giant beds of grasses and perennials taking on the character of sparkling dry meadows, full of pink, blue and mauve flowers for early summer.
Barbican Estate EC2Y 8DE
Open Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm
