Highest English garden opens atop the UK’s tallest building

The UK’s biggest ever campaign to help grow the number of wild flowers across the UK will soar to new heights in London this summer as The View From the Shard, the viewing platform on the 72nd floor of The Shard, plays host to the nation’s highest English garden.

Grow Wild is the UK’s biggest-ever wildflower campaign, bringing people together to transform local spaces with native, pollinator-friendly wild flowers and plants. An increase in the number of wildflowers nationwide is need to boost the UK’s dwindling bee population – that is integral to many of the fruits and vegetables that we eat. The campaign will also bring neighborhoods together, connect people to nature and boost our wellbeing.
Since the 1930s, the UK has lost 97% of its wild flower meadows. This has had a significant impact on populations of butterflies, bees, pollinating bugs and birds, the loss of which impacts, in turn, the wider environment and the food available for many of the animals we consumer.

Supported by the Big Lottery Fund, Grow Wild is the national outreach initiative of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Every summer The View from the Shard has a summer-themed makeover. This year they plan to create a garden featuring flowers 310 metres above London. The display will feature planters of wildflowers supplied by the Grow Wild team signposting to their community projects across London.
London’s highest English Summer Garden will be open throughout the summer and visitors to The View From The Shard will be able to get their hands on their own seed kits supplied by Grow Wild to encourage them to plant wild flowers in their gardens and local spaces following their visit.
Two local schools are involved in this campaign and will be helping with the final installation as well as receiving planters at their schools in Southwark in September.