Walkie Talkie park opens amid row over public access

 
Growing up: the Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street has fig tress and tree ferns (Picture: Alex Lentati)

London's highest roof garden opened at the top of the “Walkie-Talkie” tower today amid criticism that it is a far cry from the public park developers originally promised.

The Sky Garden consists of sloping areas of vegetation, and seating, on three floors at the top of the 155-metre skyscraper at 20 Fenchurch Street.

The Standard was given a tour. Three terraces, designed by Clerkenwell-based Gillespies and installed by Willerby Landscapes of Kent, cascade down the sides of the “bubble” at the summit. The top one has tree ferns and fig trees, the middle cycads, and the lower one plants that will flourish year-round, such as the African lily and Red Hot Poker.

High in the sky: The ark at the top of the Walkie Talkie (Alex Lentati)

It offers 360-degree views and there are a two restaurants and a café. The Fenchurch Seafood Bar and Grill serves £325 caviar and £28 sea bass and the Darwin Brasserie offers mains for about £18. The café-style Sky Pod serves breakfasts, sandwiches and coffee.

Dizzying: The garden offers a panoramic view of the City (Alex Lentati)

Entry is free but visitors must book a 90-minute slot in advance and bring photo ID, and if late may not be let in. Canary Wharf Group and Land Securities secured planning permission for the £200 million tower in 2007, with the promise of a free park in the sky.

But some visitors say the site, which has no grass, is disappointing. One, Maria Clifford, said: “It’s supposed to be a park? I didn’t know that. I can’t see them letting you have a picnic here.”

Dizzying: The garden offers a panoramic view of the City (Alex Lentati)

Architect Chris Romer-Lee tweeted: “Booked tickets for public park which requires you to bring photo ID. #notparklife.” Former City of London chief planner Peter Rees said: “I can’t say nothing has been compromised. Every building is a prototype, and things have to change as they go along.”

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