Horticultural attractions to be upgraded

Extra funding for six of the UKs garden and greenhouse attractions means that growers may soon be able to derive inspiration from the horticultural sites.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), a total of £13 million of Big Lottery Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund cash has been earmarked for the public green spaces, with a large proportion of the money set aside for a major London park.

Victoria Park in Tower Hamlets was opened in the 1840s to appease the 30,000 local residents who sent a petition to Queen Victoria asking for more green space in the crowded area.

It is perhaps fitting that the £4.5 million given to the attraction will be used to provide new facilities for public use.

As well as restoring the historic English Garden, Chinese bridge and pagoda, the cash will be used to create a skate park and urban beach.

The facilities will benefit local residents long after the 2012 Olympic Games; the organisers of which will use the park as a walking course for athletes.

In other news, the RHS has reported that its Daffodil Show, which took place over the past two days (April 13th and 14th), featured plenty of flowers in spite the cold winter.