Work is being carried out on former industrial land to create around 250 acres of new parklands, which will become the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park after the Games and be the largest new urban park in the UK for over a century, providing a colour festival atmosphere for the London 2012 games.

Over 2,000 tress and thousands of wetland shrubs have been planted in the Olympic Park, while the wetland bowl in the north of the Park includes 15,000 square metres of riverside spectator lawns, timber seating, frog ponds, loggeries, wetlands, woodlands, tree-lined footpaths and the largest manmade wet woodland in the UK.

Hosting the picnic and walk, Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) chairman John Armitt said: "The Olympic Park is turning green over a year out from the Games.


"It's great to welcome local people on their first picnic and walk in what will be their new local park after the Games.

"The riverside lawns, meadows, wooded hills and wetlands will help create a colourful festival atmosphere in London 2012 and become a new park for people and wildlife in legacy."

Paul Deighton, the chief executive of London 2012, said: "The Olympic Park is fast becoming a jewel in the crown of east London.

"It is a fantastic urban park which will be the backdrop to world class sporting competition in the summer of 2012 and an area which will benefit Londoners for generations to come.

"In the space of five years or so, this former industrial landscape has been completely transformed into a family friendly environment and a centre for sporting excellence."

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