A Special Members’ Tour of Grosvenor Square

The Residents’ Society of Mayfair and St James’s and Grosvenor Property UK welcomed a group of our members for a special members’ tour of Grosvenor Square.

This was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the £25 million transformation of our local square into a climate resilient urban garden, with 150,000 plants and bulbs, new trees, wildlife and a greener, calmer space for people in the heart of the city.

We learned that wildlife has already returned, with ducks, butterflies and dragonflies all spotted in the new landscape. The planting has been designed to evolve over time, becoming richer and more diverse as it matures.

A new education centre, with programmes funded by The Westminster Foundation and delivered by London Wildlife Trust, offers opportunities for children and adults to learn about biodiversity, the environment and climate change. Please visit London Wildlife Trust for updates on upcoming events and programmes.

There are also over 300 additional places to sit, a café kiosk, public toilets, water fountains, enhanced lighting and CCTV, creating a space that is designed to be welcoming, easier to navigate, safer after dark and more enjoyable to spend time in throughout the year.

The square also honours its rich history, with the reinstatement of the original 1720s oval at the centre of the design. Existing memorials, including those commemorating Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Eagle Squadrons and the victims of 9/11, have all been preserved and thoughtfully integrated into the new landscape.

Thank you to Grosvenor Property UK for hosting us, and thank you to our members for showing such great interest in Grosvenor Square. It was a pleasure to share this special visit with you.