21 Wembley pitches laid in Hyde Park after summer of fun takes its toll

 
22 February 2013

Hyde Park is undergoing its biggest-ever makeover to repair damage caused by millions of visitors to its concerts and Olympics events last summer.

Work has begun to lay 150,000 square metres of turf — equivalent to 21 Wembley Stadium pitches — across the parade ground area of the park between the Serpentine lake and Speaker’s Corner.

It is being delivered in lorryloads from specialist grass growers in Lincolnshire and managers believe that London’s most famous park will look better than ever by the end of Easter.

Damage was caused last July when a downpour during the Wireless festival, which featured Rihanna, turned the area into a mudbath. A total of 130 lorryloads of woodchips were laid to allow the remainder of the summer’s 28 concerts, including 15 free Olympic shows, to continue.

Colin Buttery, deputy chief executive of the Royal Parks, said the £1.5 million cost was being picked up by last summer’s concert promoter Live Nation. “Because 2012 was so exceptional, it’s costing a lot more than normal,” he said. “This is such an important, iconic venue in central London. The commitment we always make is that we will return it to normal public use.”

Special machines have swept up the woodchips and the ground is being irrigated to improve drainage prior to the turf laying. Areas that have suffered less damage will be overseeded to help the grass to recover.

Hyde Park will host just six main concerts this year, with Bon Jovi the only headline act announced to date.

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