Natural England - London 2012 legacy

London 2012 legacy

There is universal agreement that the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games achieved the ambition of being the most sustainable Games ever.

Flowers in bloom in the parklands area of the Olympic Park looking towards the Olympic Stadium ©ODA

David Stubbs LOCOG’s Head of Sustainability publicly acknowledged our role at post-Games events, “We are immensely proud to have achieved our sustainability goals and this would not have been possible without the proactive engagement from the Natural England team.”

A hallmark of the Games has been to ensure that learning is captured and widely shared with the public and professionals. Natural England’s work with the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and their partners has been described in four green infrastructure case studies and two micro reports. These summarise how we worked together to secure a natural environment legacy.

The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

The Olympic Park inspired millions of people, demonstrating the myriad of functions that green infrastructure delivers: flood mitigation, climate change adaptation, biodiversity and a place of inspiration. A case studyexternal link describing how the Olympic Park – now the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – is exemplary green infrastructure was commissioned by Natural England.

Natural England worked closely with ODA to meet the planning condition of creating 45 hectares of habitats and the drafting of the Olympic Park Biodiversity Action Plan  - a precedent for future Games. We are now working closely with ODA’s success, the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) which is revising the BAP and finalising the Park’s Management Plan

Opportunities for outdoor learning and play will be available to children and young people living close to the Park, enabling them to relate to their environment very differently compared to past generations. To realise this opportunity Natural England is working with partners to develop the East London Outdoor Learning Project.

Olympic Park sustainability fact sheet: (475kb)pdf document

Other Venues

Weymouth and Portland (sailing)

The cliffs of the Jurassic Coast were a stunning backdrop for the sailing events in Weymouth Bay. While the focus was on the action on the water, Natural England worked alongside Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, the London 2012 delivery bodies and Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in the development of the new marina and venue management planning, to protect and enhance the marine environment below the waves of Weymouth Bay. A micro reportexternal link summarises this work.

On land, the first stretch of the England Coast Path was completed in time for the Games and we are now piloting a barcodes project around Weymouth Bay to raise awareness of the marine environment.

There is new green infrastructure in Weymouth and Portland, at Lorton Valley Nature Parkexternal link (194 ha) and Portland Quarries Nature Parkexternal link (60ha). The two case studies describe the power of partnership working, a strong vision and a deadline for focussing effort. The two areas are linked by the Legacy Trail, a Wild About Weymouth and Portland project, which has increased access for local people and visitors with Access to Nature funding.

Weymouth and Portland sustainability fact sheet: (217kb)pdf document

Hadleigh Farm (mountain biking)

The mountain biking venue at Hadleigh Farm is adjacent to Hadleigh Country Park which lies within the Thames Gateway in South Essex. Natural England, Essex County Council and the Salvation Army worked together to increase biodiversity through the design of the Games-time elite course. The plans for two further courses and within the country park have been finalised. Through the process the quality of the Benfleet and Southend Marshes SSSI is being improved through Higher Level Stewardship agreements. The case studyexternal link summarises how this new green infrastructure, which will boost the local economy, has come into being.

Hadleigh Farm sustainability fact sheet: (567kb)pdf document

Eton Dorney (rowing and flat water canoe)

The stunning 2,200m rowing lake, set in 450 acres of parkland next to the River Thames, is owned by Eton College. The Thames Path National Trail were upgraded from Windsor to Dorney Lake, creating a legacy of improved disabled access. Eton College has entered into a Higher Level Stewardship agreement for Bray Pennyroyal SSSI, which will improve its status.

Eton Dorney sustainability fact sheet: (143kb)pdf document

Box Hill (hill climb element of the cycling road race)

The special qualities of the landscape, habitats and species of Box Hill have been increased through a joint approach taken with the National Trust and LOCOG to provide the opportunity for spectators to view the sporting spectacle. The surveys which were carried out to decide on the approach shed new light on protected species and the extent of their habitat. The micro reportexternal link describes the approach we jointly took.

Box Hill sustainability fact sheet: (1.82mb)pdf document

Further information

You can find out more about the sustainability legacy by visiting the Learning Legacy websiteexternal link.