a pop-up Forest for International Car-free day 2013

I have a friend called Mog with a son called Ernest, born just a few days after Euan. It’s great fun comparing notes about how our Es little brains and big personalities are developing.   I often sigh with envy when Mog shares photos of the fabulous adventures her E has simply by living in the Capital City.  Perhaps she sighs a little too when she reads about our quiet adventures away from it all at places like this and this in our amazing-in-its-own-small-way City.   I thought of Mog and Ern today as another little ”Oh to be in London” sigh slipped out of me so I thought I’d share this for all you London based adventurers.
On Saturday 21st September cars and taxis in Covent Garden’s Seven Dials shopping village will be replaced by trees when Camden Council plays host to a one-of-a-kind pop-up forest to celebrate International Car free day.  This unique event will create a car-free haven with 60 trees, all roughly 5m in height, plotted around the central dial monument.   Once the day is over all trees will be moved and planted in new plots across the borough of Camden for people to enjoy on a permanent basis.

This year’s International Car Free Day focuses on the issue of air pollution, with road closure events taking place around the world.  Camden Council predicts just one day without traffic will see pollution levels in the area drop by 50% and they’ll be showcasing their new ‘Air Quality Bubble Map’ to highlight how easy it is to walk and cycle within a one mile bubble of their homes, schools and workplaces.Within the urban forest there will be all sorts of activities to keep Ernest entertained including face painting, live music and complimentary food and drink (pizza slices from Rossopomodoro’s pop-up trailer and homemade lemonade at Patagonia). The Orchard Juice Bar will be open for first quenching drinks and information about the benefits of planting fruit trees in urban areas and Dr Bike will be offering free cycle maintenance and anti-theft marking for cyclists between 11am – 5pm.

Images – Three Pipe Digital Marketing Agency, Save the Planet, Bike Dr