Lyric Theatre roof garden

Wednesday June 17, 2009

A beautiful roof garden creating a green oasis above the busy streets of the borough has opened to the public in Hammersmith.

Looking down on King Street, a flat, concrete roof area at the Lyric theatre has been transformed into a welcoming green space.  

An eye-catching six-metre tall ‘boomerang-inspired’ pergola covered with climbing plants rises from the roof garden providing a focal point for passers-by below.

The aim of the project, Lyric executive director Jessica Hepburn explained, is to provide an area for the borough’s residents and visitors to enjoy.

“The roof garden will provide a green space for everyone in Hammersmith to enjoy, both day and night,” she said.

“The garden is part of our commitment to making Hammersmith a fantastic place to live, work and relax in as well as providing a great night out for theatre-goers.”

Local children have already been getting stuck into using the public space in advance of the school holidays, with pupils from St Paul’s Primary School in Worlidge Street helping to plant some of the greenery. 

The children had four sessions with environmental charity Groundwork London’s landscape architect Adam White, who designed the green retreat with colleague Andrée Davies. 

As well as sharing their ideas for where the garden’s large magnolia and eucalyptus trees should be placed, the youngsters grew sunflowers for the space.

“A lovely bit of feedback from the children was when they asked me when they could come back to look after the garden,” said Adam. “They feel like it is their personal garden. It is about creating a sustainable and well-designed escape from the urban jungle. That doesn’t just have to be a traditional park – it is about making people aware of what is possible.”

Cash for the £200,000 project came from business group Hammersmith London, which provided £150,000, as well as the Lyric, BIG Lottery Fund, Western Riverside Environmental Fund and St Martin’s Property.

Another £25,000 was raised from proceeds from Marks & Spencer’s carrier bag charge as part of its environmental campaign.

Residents from nearby Ashcroft Square estate – who have very little green space – will be able to use the garden whenever they like, along with other borough-dwellers and workers.

Lyric Theatre operations director Keith Horwood said: “People don’t have to buy a theatre ticket or even a coffee to use the garden. It is a public oasis and anyone is welcome to bring a book, their lunch or a flask of tea here.”