Secret Gardens: Superbloom at the Tower of London
Posted by SECRET GARDENER
There is now a wildflower meadow in the middle of the City of London!
Location: Superbloom, Tower of London.
You can slide into the moat where 20 million seeds have been planted to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, and enjoy this meadow which changes throughout the summer as new plants flower.
Above: the slide for visitors
A permanent wildflower meadow in the City of London
Superbloom is actually a new and permanent feature of the moat. The flowers which have been planted for this special event will come back year after year, creating a new habitat for pollinators in the city.
Above: the winding path through the meadow for visitors in the moat
Flowers to see
Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare) a blue flowering plant native to the UK and Europe, which attracts pollinators (contrary to its name, which is actually derived from the Greek for "cow" and Latin for "tongue" in reference to the shape of the leaves which have been compared with ox tongues)Above: different varieties of wildflower will come into bloom over the Summer, so there will be areas of interest at all times during visitation
Art in the moat
If you are visiting Superbloom, listen out for the section of the path playing a soothing soundscape by composer Erland Cooper, specially commissioned for the meadow. Take a walk through the weaved tunnel The Nest by Spencer Jenkins, and see the rest of the artwork on display.
Above: metal butterfly and insect sculptures by Mehrdad Tafreshi, hand crafted in brass and copper
Above: floral glass sculptures by Max Jacquard
Facts about the Tower of London's moat
The moat was originally dug in the 1270s, to protect this famous Tower from attack. It was filled in and covered in grass in 1845, as the unsanitary water had become a health hazard. Since then it has been used for a variety of purposes, and even as an allotment during World War II.
Above: the moat has been transformed by wildflowers
How to get there
Where: Superbloom, Tower of London
When: until 18th September 2022
Follow us on Instagram to see more @stormflowersgarden
Visit the Historic Royal Palaces website for more information about Superbloom, and be the first to find out if it will reopen in the future.