Last May I was invited by Tower Bridge Moorings to a private tour to the Garden Barges at the
Tower Bridge Moorings, by the river Thames in London. It is a so very special place in London
that the minute we entered I thought I was transported to a forest and not being in a busy city.
The story of these amazing gardens started some 25 years ago and was the vision of the
architect Nicholas Lacey (his firm now runs the development), who was a neighbor of the
moorings and observing how vegetation was taking in some of the barges, he decided to work
together with nature but in a designed way. More than two decades from this initiative
floating gardens are a reality. They have received some awards for design but also for
the contribution to ecology, since the are worked following organic techniques.
But the gardens are also a community that takes care of them and open them once a year for
visitors to enjoy. Some of the barges are studios or workshops for artists that live and work
there, no need to say that there is a long waiting list to get one of the barges!
visitors to enjoy. Some of the barges are studios or workshops for artists that live and work
there, no need to say that there is a long waiting list to get one of the barges!
Above a general view from the pedestrian path from the riverside
This is the entrance to the moorings through a building at the riverside.
The visit started here and we were following the paths between barges that connect one to the others
The gardens provide a fantastic habitat for flora and fauna
Trees growing healthy and creating a green environment
One can find trees in almost all of the barges
One can find fruit trees and herbs, together with ornamentals
A beautiful maple, Acer palmatum
Flowers and flowers everywhere...
Creating masses of color
and not only for decorating the floating gardens, but also to offer food for bees
This is the view from one of the barges during low tide
A paradise, an oasis hidden in the middle of busy London!
