Beckton to Thames Barrier Park

A park which stays evergreen for winter is worth a walk. Thames Barrier Park has many sculptural and horticultural things to see.

We were delighted that Andrew Taylor of architects Patel Taylor agreed to join us and tell us about the inspiration behind the park when it was commissioned, 25 years ago.

Sunday 12th January 2025, 1pm

Undulating hedges of Thames Barrier Park

The London Park to Park walk started the new year with a refreshing walk across the expanses of Beckton, culminating in a guided tour of the Thames Barrier Park.

There’s quite a bit of green space in the back of Beckton including Beckton Park, Beckton District Park, New Beckton Park, and newly opened Beckton Meadows. All these parks are part of a Master Plan from Newham Council (view plan).

Lola steps through the gateway to Beckton District Park

The walk suddenly improved when the space opened up by Gallions Point Marina and we saw City Airport across the ice.

Royal Dock looking east, photo by Yutaro (map)

View west to across Royal Dock to Canary Wharf

The walk reached a wonderful crescendo with the diagonal hedges, symphonic copses and modernist café of Thames Barrier Park.

Now 25 years old and mature, the Thames Barrier Park is a dramatic, architectural garden, highly designed and considered, from the underblanket of crushed concrete that protects the top soil from the industrial chemicals beneath, to the plantings of trees and the pavilion of peace by the water.

We were delighted Andrew Taylor one of the original park designers joined us and gave an insight into the history and success of the park.

Garden designs often place a sculpture or object at the end of an avenue of greenery, to draw the eye and provide a focal point, and the Thames Barrier Park does that on huge scale, framing the massive turrets of the winch houses at the end of a dramatic boulevard of parallel yew and rosemary hedges, which cut diagonally through the garden like a sunken race track, curved and dashing like Newmarket horses down to the Thames and, King Cnut style, the mighty dam to the sea.

How the Thames Barrier was built – Youtube

Meeting place: Beckton station, E6 5PA
Arrive by tube: Docklands Light Railway
Date & time: Sunday January 12th 2025, 1 pm
Distance: 4.1 miles
End point: Lyle Park and West Silvertown DLR station
Map: Komoot map click to view
Contact: email tim.ingram-smith@outlook.com mobile: 077932 00932
Cost: £8 per adult walker PAY HERE https://paypal.me/parktopark