HEIGHT OF SUMMER: HOW TALL DOES THE SHARD'S GARDEN GROW? 800FT ABOVE LONDON

London's Highest Summer Garden to open this summer at The View from The Shard

Thursday, June 2 2016 to Sunday, September 18 2016

The View from The Shard will be transformed into the Height of Summer, London's tallest garden oasis this summer, featuring thousands of brilliant blooms in celebration of The Year of The English Garden.

The immersive garden will provide a haven for guests to enjoy 800ft above London, whilst highlighting the immense importance of UK wild flowers in pollination and elevating bee populations.

The iconic landmark has teamed up with Grow Wild, the UK's biggest-ever wild flower campaign, who have taken over a corner of the attraction with of native, pollinator-friendly wild flowers and plants. At the end of summer, these planters will be donated to local Grow Wild community projects* across London.

As well as admiring some of the country's most captivating British plants, visitors will be able to purchase a cocktail from a green-fingered inspired drinks menu at the pop-up bar on the Level 72 Skydeck whilst taking in the panoramic views of the capital. Artwork by award winning artist Rachel Gadsden, entitled the power of flowers, will also be on display by Grow Wild for guests to view throughout summer.

At almost twice the height of any other viewing platform in the capital, The View from the Shard is the tallest building in Western Europe and offers unparalleled 360-degree views for up to 40 miles. Visitors will leave the city behind as they ascend to the 72nd floor of The Shard to experience a breath-taking homage to the quintessential English garden.

A series of events to celebrate The Year of the Garden and British Summertime will be held at the garden installation space throughout the summer.

Guests can experience the summer garden installation with standard entry to The View from The Shard until September 4 2016. Tickets are on sale from 20 March priced from £25.95 per adult/£19.95 per child, and are available to book online at www.theviewfromtheshard.com.

-ends-

KEY BOOKING INFORMATION:
• The Height of Summer at The View from The Shard open: Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, 18 September 2016
• Slots available from 10:00 to 22:00 (last entry 21:30)
• Tickets from £25.95 per adult, £19.95 per child
• Best prices available online at www.theviewfromtheshard.com
• Nearest tube/train: London Bridge

NOTES TO EDITORS:
*Community projects that will receive the garden's planters include:
• Cambridge House Stand-Up Garden
o https://www.growwilduk.com/community-projects/stand-garden
• Spitalfields' Urban Farming Opportunities
o https://www.growwilduk.com/community-projects/eye-east-end-wildlife 
• Caxton Youth Organisation Vegetable Kingdom
o https://www.growwilduk.com/community-projects/caxton-vegetable-kingdom 
• Arcola Theatre, Secret Lives of Wildflowers
o https://www.growwilduk.com/community-projects/secret-lives-wildflowers 

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard is the premium attraction at the top of The Shard, London's newest landmark. The View from The Shard is the highest vantage point in Western Europe and the only place where it is possible to see all of London all at once.

For further information, please contact:
Claudia Parker/Florence Christie at Diffusion PR: theviewfromtheshard@diffusionpr.com / 0207 291 0230

Grow Wild
Supported by the Big Lottery Fund and led by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Grow Wild inspires communities, friends, neighbours and individuals across the UK to come together to transform local spaces, by sowing, growing and enjoying native wild flowers. We believe that this simple act of creativity can turn spaces into beautiful, inspiring and colourful wildlife havens; encouraging people to care for and delight in the nature around them. Any space can be transformed – from balconies to old boots, streets to shared spaces, boxes to buckets. Anything that will hold soil, water and seeds will do: just let your imagination grow wild. Fancy sowing your own UK native wild flowers this autumn then register for a free packet of native wild flowers from June 2 to Sept 18 2016. UK residents simply have to go to www.growwilduk.com/theviewfromtheshard and fill in a one-minute online form.

Alternatively, sow a virtual seed to help raise awareness of the importance of wild flowers and their impact on our wild life and wellbeing. Growwilduk.com/sowingmap. Find us on Facebook: /GrowWildUK, Instagram and Twitter @GrowWildUK.

For further information, please contact:
Nikki Mugford, Marketing Campaign Manager at Grow Wild: n.mugford@kew.org / 020 8332 5932