Tuesday 24th March: Return visit to the Crossrail Roof Garden at Canary Wharf

We have decided to have a second outing at the end of March, as we did not go out last month, and we have chosen to revisit the Crossrail Place Roof Garden, as it is a different time of year from our last visit which was in the autumn. Hopefully there will be some spring blossom to challenge us, and those who have been before can consider their work from our previous session when deciding what approach/media, and so on, to take this time. We are assuming/hoping that the coronavirus continues at its present low level, if circumstances change we will cancel.

We will meet at 11 o’clock in the garden. Our previous notes say that the Roof Garden is a new public space above the Crossrail Station at Canary Wharf, and it is an exotic garden park several stories above the new railway, mainly enclosed by a deeply contemporary glass roof. Entrance is free. Lots to draw in the roof structure which is a sort of longitudinal geodesic dome, and the plant material which includes big tree ferns. The garden is divided into two sections, one containing plants from Australasia, and the other plants from China and Japan. An opportunity for plant studies if you do not want to go for the garden in the sky picture. Please have a look at this website to get an idea of the set-up: https://landezine-award.com/crossrail-place-roof-garden/

For the geography of Canary Wharf, there is a map down the page here: http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation//Crossrail-Place-Roof-Garden/4f93a/

Access: From Canary Wharf tube station (Jubilee Line) Take the large escalator up from the ticket hall. Turn right out of the main exit and walk through Reuters Plaza past the clocks. Walk straight ahead through the set of glass doors underneath the steps, and continue straight through until you come back outside. Walk through Adam’s Plaza and the entrance to Crossrail Place is in front of you. Go up the escalators to the Roof Garden.

From Canary Wharf DLR Take the exit on to the North Colonnade. Opposite One Canada Square there is a bridge leading you into the first floor of Crossrail Place. Continue up the escalators to the Roof Garden.

Lunch: Last time we had lunch in the Giant Robot next door which offers street food of various types https://canarywharf.com/eating-drinking/directory/giant-robot/   The Robot's building is cavernous and uncrowded, last time it was practically empty, so good for virus avoidance.  There are loos close by.

We suggest that you wrap up warmly, as there are gaps in the roof, so it may be draughty and a bit chilly. There are benches, but you may want to bring a sketching stool. If it turns out to be too cold, the Giant Robot offers good urban sketching opportunities amongst the various stalls selling food, the customers, and the industrial-style decor.

Sue's telephone number for the day is: 07975 864142. Happy Sketching!