50,000 crocuses planted in Ally Pally for anniversary

All of the bulbs were planted by seven gardeners in just one day

50,000 crocuses have been planted at Alexandra Palace to celebrate the site’s 150th birthday.

Seven members of the Alexandra Palace Garden Centre team and the palace’s grounds contractors John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance planted the bulbs in just one day ahead of spring.

The planting is part of a tradition started in the late 1950s or early ’60s by Charles Gill, former head gardener of the park.

Colin Campbell-Preston, managing director of Capital Gardens, said: “We are proud to be located in Alexandra Palace Park and excited to continue the longstanding tradition of planting Crocuses. They will look stunning and will also provide a good start for early pollinators such as bees and insects, whilst supporting our ethos to help nature and the natural world whenever we can.”

Mark Evison, head of park and environmental sustainability at Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust, commented: “The 150th anniversary of the Palace has been a great opportunity to reflect and explore the stories that make Ally Pally what it is today. So often the stories that have endured are due to one individual or group, who have a real passion for the Palace, Park and all who visit here. We hope that the crocuses fit into that category, and that they can be enjoyed by visitors both now and long into the future.”

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