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Grosvenor Square reopens as biodiverse city haven

Victoria Cook,Grosvenor Square in Mayfairand
James W Kelly,London
Grosvenor A gravel pathway in a garden setting. Several hollowed-out log sections are placed along the path, with some positioned horizontally and others carved into upright chairs. The area is bordered by green shrubs, ornamental grasses, and mature trees, with a stone building visible in the background.Grosvenor
The climate-focused redesign has been in the works for 10 years

One of central London's oldest and most famous public spaces is set to reopen on Monday following an "extraordinary transformation" that's been a year in the making.

The new-look Grosvenor Square boasts more than 150,000 new plants chosen to withstand rising urban temperatures, alongside 40 new trees, two new wetland areas, a café kiosk and 300 extra seats.

The project represents the culmination of a decade of planning aimed at turning the square's original simple lawn into a biodiverse haven, those behind the project said.

Until it was closed for works last year, the square was primarily made up of traditional manicured grass and intersecting tarmac paths.

Jamie Whitty-Lewis, chief executive of Grosvenor Property UK, said: "We've truly revitalised it into a really special garden now."

Grosvenor An oval-shaped grass lawn bordered by a paved pathway. In the foreground, there is a dense planting of green ferns, shrubs, and low-lying vegetation. Mature trees cast shadows across the lawn, and a multi-storey brick building is visible in the background.Grosvenor
Landscape architect Chris Stanton says the park brings "countryside back into the West End"

He said the changes would help the West End adapt to extreme weather, adding: "We are feeling the summers getting warmer and the winters getting wetter.

"The planting here has a cooling effect, so you'll feel right now it's actually quite cool here under the shade of the trees."

Maddie Cook Sadiq Khan, Hugh Grosvenor (the Duke of Westminster), and Olivia Grosvenor (the Duchess of Westminster) standing side-by-side on a paved pathway, holding a long garland made of green foliage and small flowers. Sadiq Khan on the left and Hugh Grosvenor in the middle wear dark suits and collars, while Olivia Grosvenor on the right wears a light-coloured dress. They are positioned between two small, pruned potted trees, with a park lawn and trees in the background.Maddie Cook
Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, officially reopened the square earlier this week

Chris Stanton, the lead landscape architect on the project, described it as an "extraordinary transformation".

"When we started, the space was primarily just grass and tarmac paths.

"What we've managed to do is introduce a bit of the countryside back into the West End."

While the layout relies on modern environmental science, aspects of the landscaping draw inspiration from the square's original 18th-century design.

Getty Images/ Grosvenor A split-screen image showing two views of a park. The left panel shows a flat grass lawn with a wooden bench under a large tree in front of a red-brick building. The right panel shows a winding stone pathway bordered by low-growing green plants and shrubs, with trees and buildings in the background.Getty Images/ Grosvenor
The new redesign has seen 150,000 plants replace what was largely open lawns

While the layout relies on modern environmental science, aspects of the landscaping draw inspiration from the square's original 18th-century design.

The opening ceremony was marked by a welcome address from the Duke of Westminster, a direct descendant of Sir Richard Grosvenor, who first created the space for Londoners.

Grosvenor A circular wooden kiosk clad in vertical timber slats, featuring a flat, overhanging roof. Three people stand at the open counter service window. The kiosk is accessed by brick steps with a metal handrail, with green plants in the foreground and a brick building in the background.Grosvenor
Jamie Whitty-Lewis says the square has been "truly revitalised"

The duke said: "We wanted a place that basically people came and stopped and were able to relax and sit, find their own space, be curious throughout the square, and enjoy it."

He said he hoped the new design would offer a much-needed escape for people to escape the hectic atmosphere of central London.

"I hope the way we've designed Grosvenor Square presents an opportunity for people just to relax a bit and find their own little area to sit away and have a moment to themselves."

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