The Barbican is well known for its greenery. Among its Brutalist architecture, you'll find gardens, mature trees, ponds and the famous Barbican Conservatory, creating one of the most distinctive examples of urban nature in central London.
Across the Barbican, you’ll find planted gardens, trees, water and the famous Conservatory, creating a network of green spaces within one of the busiest parts of London.
The Barbican Conservatory is probably the best-known example. Built around the theatre’s fly tower, it is home to around 1,500 species of plants and trees, alongside fish and terrapins.
Outside, the gardens and Lakeside provide another type of urban habitat. The water supports wildlife including coots, mallards, herons and moorhens, while the Barbican has introduced more pollinator-friendly planting, bug hotels and bee colonies. The team also works closely with the surrounding community to look after the area.
One of the most noticeable features is the large pond in the middle of the estate. Surrounded by trees, planting and the buildings of the Barbican, it creates an important pocket of water and habitat right in the centre of the estate.
The community element is a big part of what keeps these spaces thriving. Residents have opportunities to learn about the planting and wildlife around the estate, while events and workshops bring people together around gardening and nature. The Barbican has also worked with community organisations on activities including planting workshops and nature-focused events.
It’s a good example of how urban nature can become part of a community’s everyday environment. The Barbican’s green spaces are not only places to visit, but spaces that residents, gardeners and volunteers continue to care for and shape.
What makes the Barbican interesting from an urban nature perspective is that none of these spaces are particularly removed from the city. They’re surrounded by offices, roads and buildings, but still create opportunities for plants, insects, birds and other wildlife!
In one of the most built-up parts of London, the Barbican shows what can happen when greenery is given a proper place within the city and people are given a role in looking after it!