The Marble Arch BID Gardening Club brings local employees together to care for the Marylebone Flyover Rain Gardens, the largest Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) in central London. Created by Transport for London and launched in October 2024, the gardens make use of the disused underground tunnels formerly known as the Joe Strummer Subway, named after the late punk frontman who busked there before forming The Clash. The old ramps and steps have become a green infrastructure network that helps to prevent localised flooding and plays a vital role in the local ecosystem through its diverse range of plant life.
The gardens feature 11 trees, over 1,100 shrubs and plants, and 2,300 bulbs, and are designed to capture approximately 3,500 square metres of stormwater run-off and hold around 30,000 gallons of rainwater.
Since the launch, the Gardening Club has given employees the chance to take time away from their desks, connect with nature and help improve the site. Over 30 volunteers from local companies, including Hilton London Metropole, Transport for London, Maxx Marketing, British Land and Berkeley Group, have joined seasonal planting sessions alongside resident gardeners Windowflowers, planting bulbs and flowers and putting up a bee post. Below you will find updates from each planting day, along with details of how Marble Arch BID members can get involved.
Gardening Club, 7 October 2026
Our employee volunteer gardening club, which helps provide seasonal planting refreshes at the Marylebone Flyover Rain Gardens, welcomed volunteers from nearby Berkeley Group and Hilton London Metropole on 7 October 2026.
Without a minute’s break from the relentless rain, seven stoic volunteers helped plant over 140 hardy species including varieties such as the autumn border plant, Sedum Spectabile, and evergreen pernnial, Astelia Silver Shadow.
Owing to the very hot summer, unfortunately, a higher-than-usual number of the spring planting did not survive. Ahead of the day resident gardeners Windowflowers removed any dead plants creating space for the new varieties, as well as supervising the planting of the new species on the day.
This was the fourth planting refresh to date at the rain gardens, the largest Sustainable urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) in central London. Not only do the gardens improve surface drainage and make the area more resilient to climate change and flooding by utilising the former subway tunnels, above ground the vast array of trees and plants boost biodiversity and make the area more attractive.
Huge thanks to the dedicated volunteers who braved the heavy showers to help tend to the rain gardens.
Updated 8 October 2026
Gardening Club, 13 May 2026
Despite blustery winds and on-off rain showers, seven volunteers from the Hilton London Metropole and Transport for London rolled up their sleeves as part of the Spring session to enhance the Marylebone Flyover Rain Gardens.
Since the launch of the gardens in 2024, the Marble Arch BID has established a Gardening Club of local employees. So far over 30 employee volunteers from five local companies have participated in planting blubs, flowers and erecting a bee post.
On 13 May 2026, under the supervision of Windowflowers, volunteers replaced under-performing and damaged plants with new species to help the gardens thrive.
Among the 50 new plants added to the north-west and south-east corners of the rain gardens were mid-to-late summer blooming plants such as Liriope grass, which is also a natural weed suppressant, and Agapanthus Headbourne Hybrids, often referred to as the African lily.
Thank you to the amazing volunteers who continued the planting with such high spirits during the bitterly cold morning and throughout intermittent rain showers.
The next session of the gardening club will take place in the autumn when volunteers will help to plant daffodil bulbs to provide a burst of colour the following spring.
Updated 26 May 2026
Gardening Club, 8 October 2025
A second planting refresh took place at the Marylebone Flyover Rain Gardens on 8 October 2025 to improve and enhance the sustainable urban drainage system (SuDS). The autumn session, supported by six green-fingered employee volunteers from the neighbouring Hilton London Metropole and Transport for London (TfL), focused on replacing a cluster of ferns that weren’t performing well, with 35 new daisy-like species of flower – Erigeron Karvinskianus.
Under the supervision of Windowflowers, volunteers helped plant approximately 250 daffodil bulbs across the southwest, northeast and northwest corners, readying the site for a springtime burst of colour in a few months’ time.
Volunteers also helped erect a new bee post in the gardens. Bee posts are important nesting sites for solitary bees, which are essential pollinators with their numbers sadly in decline due to habitat loss. The timber posts are made with small holes that mimic natural cavities solitary bees can use to lay eggs.
Pollination is a theme close to the heart of Hilton London Metropole as they host two beehives on its 6th floor terrace. ‘Buzzingham Palace’ and ‘Hive Park’ pollinate around 20 square kilometres of the surrounding area.
The Hilton London Metropole volunteer team join those from British Land, Maxx Marketing and Sowga who have all offered their support to the scheme.
Updated 8 October 2025
Gardening Club, 14 May 2025
On a hot and sunny day, green-fingered volunteers joined forces to give The Marylebone Flyover Rain Gardens a planting refresh.
On 14 May 2025, a team of 13 volunteers from Maxx Marketing, British Land and Sowga, guided by gardening experts from Windowflowers, introduced over 80 new plants to the gardens.
During the refresh, volunteers planted a variety of semi-evergreen perennials, offering an almost continuous display of foliage throughout the year.
Taking place during Mental Health Awareness Week, the popularity of this event also highlighted the importance of connection with nature and community, even in an urban setting, for mental well-being.
Updated 28 May 2025
