Rave Reviews

Nestled between St Pancras and Kings Cross stations in the heart of London lies the newly redeveloped Goods Yard complex, 67 acres of former industrial buildings and structures, dating from 1852.

Originally the transfer centre for raw materials from the north of England, such as coal from Yorkshire and wheat from Lincolnshire, it was once a thriving distribution hub.

Following the decline of coal as a power source, these freight yards of the Industrial Revolution became derelict. They served as film sets and, for over a decade, hosted some of the biggest rave parties the world has seen. Recently redeveloped and reading like a who’s who of the UK’s garden design royalty, it’s the series of beautifully created gardens and pocket parks that people are now raving about.

Designs for plants and people

Running alongside the Regent’s Canal, built on what was an old railway viaduct, Dan Pearson has created a mixed planting of shrubs and flowering perennials interspersed with seating nooks made from industrial oversized wharf timbers. Reminiscent of New York’s Highline, Bagley’s Walk forms a green ribbon which links seamlessly with Gasholder Park. The original wrought iron columns of the historic gasholder guide frame encase the park. With its sculpted circular lawn, lush plantings of summer flowering perennials and grasses, it makes an ideal spot for a picnic overlooking the canal as boats navigate their way through St Pancras Lock.

Canal Reach features a central meandering spine of pin oaks (Quercus palustris), creating a shady canopy, beneath which winds a range of evergreen shrubs to provide structure and permanence year round. This is interspersed with bold patches of extraordinary seasonal interest, all punctuated with bulbs to add an extra dimension. It was created by Nigel Dunnet who also orchestrated the Superbloom in the Tower of London’s moat to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

Tom Stuart-Smith is the designer responsible for Jellicoe Gardens, a Persian inspired paradise garden and my favourite here. The gardens are a tribute to another favourite of mine, Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe, a renowned architect, town planner, and garden designer. As a Camden resident and founding member of the Landscape Institute, he was heavily involved in the 1960s campaign to save St Pancras station.

From the pavilion at the top of the garden made from laser cut steel inspired by the designs of traditional Islamic Girih tiling, a central narrow rill cascades down the stairs and serves to slice the garden into two perfectly symmetrical halves.

In contrast to the formal, mathematical layout, the planting is soft and luxurious. It has a wild, naturalistic and romantic feel, a patchwork of textural greens punctuated with bold pops of colour. The surrounding office buildings provide the walls within which this garden sits comfortably, providing a calm, contemplative space – a true oasis in the centre of the city.

A walk in the woods

A bridge spanning the canal leads to Camley Street natural park. This elongated two acre site was destined to become a lorry parking area until the Greater London Council bought it in 1981 and together with an army of volunteers, transformed the area into the wildlife haven that exists today. Walking through the woodland glades, soft bark underfoot and only the sounds of birds and insects buzzing, it’s hard to believe that just beyond the boundary fence lies the hustle and bustle of city life with the Eurostar International train terminal just a stone’s throw away.

Street plantings to inspire

Outside the park, on the walk back towards St Pancras station, the roadside planting stops me in my tracks. Solid timber edges provide a barrier against the traffic and the 100 metre stretch of pavement is abuzz with insects, seemingly oblivious to the traffic rushing past. The bed is verdant, generously planted with tough plants, nothing rare or unusual, but those reliable stalwarts that don’t need a constant gardener to look effortless and fabulous, geraniums, geum, kniphofia and nepeta.

This is just the inspiration I needed. I volunteered to plant up my brother’s London garden as a thank you for their hospitality and the brief was for flowers and colour. As neither he nor my sister-in-law are gardeners, these plants are the perfect choice – fast growing robust performers.

Four weeks on and I’m beyond thrilled to be getting regular updates of how much the plants have grown and how abundant the flowers are and subsequent wildlife that is now colonising their patch. My brother has even dusted off his Felco secateurs, and with snips in one hand, espresso in the other, his day now starts with a garden walk and deadheading session. He can’t believe how much the garden changes over the course of a day. I think he’s well and truly hooked.

St Pancras Lock