The new planting design forms part of our initiative to increase the amount of vegetation and planting within Victoria for people and wildlife.

Plants with a variety of leaf shapes and heights such as Gertrude Jekyll (Vinca minor) and Cyclamen hederofolium enable many more invertebrates and pollinators to inhabit the garden. As urban flooding becomes increasingly frequent different forms of plants intercept and trap rainfall more effectively, channelling water down into the soil, or holding it within the rosettes and leaves of the plants themselves. Low-maintenance planting choices also reduce the amount of energy and water required to manage the garden.

The garden has been designed by Nigel Dunnett with The Landscape Agency and is being installed by Landform Consultants Ltd.

Image Source: Nigel Dunnett | Landscape Agency

It’s hard to believe that it was almost a year ago that London and the nation was brought together by the events of summer 2012, so why not take the time to relive the magic? And who knows, 2013 may just be even better.

For more information on 62 Buckingham Gate and its location to see the exhibition, please visit http://www.62bg.com

A Year In Victoria is a free exhibition in the window space at 62 Buckingham Gate that can be viewed from street level 24 hours a day.

Source: www.createvictoria.com

On the day of the funeral itself, the coffin will travel by hearse to the Church of St Clement Danes – the Central Church of the Royal Air Force – on the Strand. The coffin will then be transferred to a gun carriage drawn by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and taken in procession from St Clement Danes to St Paul’s Cathedral. The route will be lined by military personnel from all three services.

Travel disruption  

The funeral procession will mean road closures along and around the route as well as disruption to public transport.

Key road closures in place from 07:00 BST on 17 April:

Parliament Square, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, The Stand, Aldwych, Fleet Street, Ludgate Hill, Blackfriars Bridge, Westminster Bridge, Waterloo Bridge (restricted access), Farringdon Road, Kingsway, Charing Cross Road, The Mall, Victoria Street, Millbank, St Pauls Churchyard, Cannon Street.

Key bus routes affected by diversions or cancellations from 6:00 BST:

1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 43, 45, 53, 59, 63, 68, 76, 87, 88, 91, 100, 133, 139, 141, 148, 159, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 211, 242, 243, 341, 381, 388, 453, 507, 521, C10.

Underground and trains:

All Tube, Docklands Light Railway and London Overground lines will be running as normal.

Barclays Cycle Hire (“Boris Bikes”)

A number of Barclays Cycle Hire docking stations within the road closure area will be suspended all day.

Download the full business advice document here.
Full travel details are available from Transport for London.
TfL’s social media channels also provide up to the minute information on services.

You can see more images of Alien in situ on Facebook.

David Breuer-Weil, the artist, commented “I have always been fascinated by the idea that we are not alone, that a massive Alien might suddenly land on earth. I wanted to capture the sense of wonder and shock that such an arrival would generate. Every new work of art is an Alien, an unexpected arrival. But I also think that an extra-terrestrial being would look like us, but perhaps much larger or smaller. However, the title Alien also suggests something quite different: the difficulty of being an outsider. My father arrived in England from Vienna with his parents as refugees in 1938. My grandfather was interred as an enemy “Alien”, a great paradox given the reasons he had to leave Austria, something that my family often spoke about. Sometimes immigrants hide their true identity beneath the surface, like this sculpture. Many of my works, both paintings and sculptures, explore the theme of belonging or alienation. But with this work I wanted to use a vast, breathing human form to express the profound feelings associated with these themes. And I needed the massive scale to portray the intensity of these emotions.”

Each year the judge’s task of choosing a winner gets more challenging as standards continue to reach new levels and this year’s London competition was no exception. As a result, The Tea Guild has also awarded 22 special Awards of Excellence in recognition of outstanding quality and consistency.

The judges – who all dine anonymously and pay like regular customers – follow strict guidelines and criteria that cover every aspect of the Afternoon Tea experience.

The décor, the appropriateness of the crockery, staff attitude and tea knowledge are all considered, as are efficiency of service, overall ambience and very importantly how the tea itself is served.

The Goring Hotel

Afternoon Tea at The Goring Hotel The Goring Hotel in Belgravia, Central London, received the top award for London tea destinations after gaining a near perfect score by the Tea Guild’s very impressed judges. Guests can enjoy an elegant Afternoon Tea by a roaring fire in the hotel’s lounge. In more clement weather The Goring boasts a delightful garden, offering one of the few al fresco Afternoon Teas in the capital. The Afternoon Tea menu consists of dainty finger sandwiches, homemade buttery scones, and numerous hand-crafted patisseries, all served with an excellent selection of carefully selected and perfectly brewed teas.

Head of The Tea Guild Irene Gorman said: “Afternoon tea at The Goring Hotel is a truly special experience. The elegant surroundings and faultless presentation make it a memorable occasion aided by friendly, efficient and knowledgeable staff. It is easy to understand why this leading establishment attracts so many, of all ages, to take Afternoon Tea.”

Food and Beverage Manager at The Goring Stuart Geddes said “As a proud member of The Tea Guild we are delighted and honoured to receive this prestigious award. All of the staff at The Goring Hotel are passionate about creating a memorable guest experience and when it comes to serving the perfect Afternoon Tea, we strive to get every detail just right.”

Wicked has also just been shortlisted for the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award – the only Olivier Award to be decided solely by public vote. Named ‘Best Musical of the Decade’ by Entertainment Weekly, Wicked continues its openended run as “one of the biggest hits of our age” (The Observer):

• Recently acclaimed as “one of the most popular West End musicals ever” (Evening Standard), the Olivier Award-winning London production of the global musical phenomenon is already the 16th longestrunning West End musical of all time.
• The London production, which is now booking into its 8th year, has broken countless Box Office records since its premiere in 2006 and still holds the all-time record for the highest weekly gross in West End history (taking in £1,002,885 during week ending January 2, 2011).
• While continuing its open-ended run at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, a major new production will tour the UK and Ireland, opening at Manchester’s Palace Theatre in September 2013.
• “The international blockbuster” (The New York Times) has now been seen by over 36 million people around the world and won 90 awards. The original Broadway production, which is now in its 10th Anniversary Year, has remained Broadway’s highest grossing show for an unprecedented 9 consecutive years.
• Wicked has been shortlisted as one of the four nominees for the 2013 ‘BBC Radio 2 Audience Award’. The winner will be announced at this year’s Olivier Awards on Sunday 28 April 2013 at the Royal Opera House in London. Wicked previously won this award in 2010 and was shortlisted in 2012.

UK Executive Producer Michael McCabe said: “All long-running shows depend as much on audiences coming back for more as they do on first-time visitors, and Wicked is no exception. We have been swept along to the incredible milestone of 5 million visitors by passionate fans and incredible word-of-mouth that inspires new ticket buyers every day. We are truly grateful to everyone who continues to make Wicked such a popular and enduring success and to all those who supported Wicked in the public vote for the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award. We are all delighted to be shortlisted for this very special Olivier Award for a third time”.

Based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire that ingeniously re-imagines the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Wicked has music and lyrics by multi GRAMMY® and Academy Award® winner Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman, musical staging by Wayne Cilento and is directed by two-time Tony Award® winner and Olivier Award nominee Joe Mantello. Wicked is based on the acclaimed novel, ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’, by Gregory Maguire.

Wicked is produced by: Marc Platt, Universal Pictures Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Executive Producer (UK): Michael McCabe.

TICKETS ARE CURRENTLY ON SALE TO SATURDAY 26 APRIL 2014

Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG
1 minute from London Victoria Mainline and Underground Stations.

Official UK website: www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk

Wicked spearheads and supports a range of good causes born out of the themes of the award-winning musical. Discover more at: www.WickedForGood.co.uk

Find out in this cheeky yet affectionate cabaret with the award-winning singer, West End actress and Fascinating Aida star Sarah-Louise Young, who was recently picked by Time Out as one of London’s topten cabaret performers. Julie’s songs from musicals including Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady are intertwined with stories and anecdotes about Andrews’ own life, from her beginnings as a child star to the recent challenges of losing her famous singing voice. What emerges is a delightfully funny and candid love letter to a true show business survivor.

Starring Sarah-Louise Young Accompanied by musical director Michael Roulston Seabright Production

Julie Madly Deeply runs on 13th and 14th April 2013 at the St James Studio. For more information and to book, please visit http://www.stjamestheatre.co.uk/events/julie-madly-deeply/.