The opening of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Pathway in Beckton Parks was celebrated with pupils from Ellen Wilkinson Primary School last week and is the first project to be completed in the implementation of the Beckton Parks Masterplan.
The newly formed Beckton Meadows is home to this new memorial pathway dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II.
The opening of the memorial pathway on Friday 15 March, was attended by Councillor James Asser, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainable Transport and pupils from Ellen Wilkinson Primary School amongst other guests.
Newham Council opened the new Queen Elizabeth Memorial Pathway on Friday, 15 March, joining with school children, Councillors and staff from the Parks and Green Spaces Service and Butterfly Conservation Trust. The pathway is designed by East Architecture and is situated within the newly created Beckton Meadows.
The pathway includes a play trail with accompanying benches, offering ‘play on the way’ for families walking through the parks.
Councillor James Asser, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for the Environment and Sustainable Transport, said:
"We are delighted that the new Queen Elizabeth Memorial Pathway is now open. This was a route long used by local residents to get to Beckton Park Station and they now have a new easier route to get to the DLR.
“The new pathway provides an attractive route through the park, that as well as providing a practical route to the station allows people to enjoy and explore the new wildflower meadows. This will create a beautiful and relaxing space for families as well as help the local environment.
“The late Queen celebrated her platinum jubilee with the Queen’s Green Canopy, a nationwide tree-planting programme. So this new tree-lined route in a popular park is a fitting way to remember Queen Elizabeth II and will create a lasting memorial in Newham that can be enjoyed by all generations."
The creation of Beckton Meadows and the new Queen Elizabeth Memorial Pathway has been co-designed with residents who participated in the design of the Beckton Parks Masterplan.
The meadows that will be opened in the summer, will significantly improve the biodiversity of Beckton Parks by creating new habitat that supports local nature recovery, the meadows will include a butterfly garden with educational boards and habitat features. Over 50 local residents came together to spread the wildflower seeds last Autumn and children from Ellen Wilkinson Primary School have participated in workshops with Butterfly Conservation to learn about the importance of the meadows and the butterflies and moths that they will support.
Beckton Meadows will be completed by the summer when the meadow grasses and flowers will be in bloom.