The Eden Project has teamed up with Canary Wharf Group (CWG) to increase biodiversity within the financial district and provide Eden with a base in London.
Eden will create a ‘green spine’ through the centre of Canary Wharf, made up of parks, gardens, waterside access, performance spaces, new bridges, boardwalks and floating pontoons.
There will be new spaces for arts and culture, as well as water sports such as paddle boarding, open water swimming and kayaking.
“There is not a moment to waste,” said David Harland, chief executive of Eden Project International.
“CWG and Eden are primed and ready to work together not just to make Canary Wharf a greener place rich in biodiversity, but also to share what we learn in order to bring nature back to other urban developments in the UK and across the globe.”
“CWG and the Eden Project are both based on the transformational redevelopment of a former industrial site into a world-renowned icon of regeneration,” Harland said. “Our exciting new partnership feels natural and vital.”
Canary Wharf will be Eden’s base in London
“Our urbanising world cannot become sustainable until cities work for nature as well as people,” said Shobi Khan, CEO of the Canary Wharf Group.
“In partnering with biodiversity expert, the Eden Project, CWG will accelerate thinking and action on how urban environments can be redesigned with nature at the heart.”
“Sustainability has been front and centre for CWG’s buildings over the last 20 years,” Khan added. “We already have over 20 acres of parks and gardens and 5km of waterside paths.”
“Our partnership with the Eden Project will ensure these spaces and new areas support the ecosystems that people and nature depend on as we bring transformational change to the estate.”
David Harland will be speaking at greenloop 22, a conference on sustainability in visitor attractions. He will talk about Eden’s expansion, from Eden North in Morecombe Bay to the first attraction in South America.
blooloop is supporting Earth Day’s tree planting Canopy Project by donating £1 for each ticket sold, and will also give at least 5 percent of greenloop ticketing revenue to Project Seagrass.
Images: CWG/Eden
