Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Britain's twin towers memorial garden to be open by second anniversary of attacks

Ben Russell Political Correspondent
Tuesday 13 August 2002 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A garden of remembrance bedecked with plants native to Britain and America is to be the UK's official memorial to the victims of the terrorist attacks on 11 September.

A plaque bearing the names of the 67 British victims of the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon will be at the centre of the memorial in Grosvenor Square Gardens, opposite the American embassy in central London.

The oval design, featuring an oak pergola, has been produced in consultation with the families of the victims by designers who devised the Princess Diana Memorial playground in Kensington Gardens and landscaped the Eden Project in Cornwall. The families will help to choose the plants.

Tessa Jowell, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, announced the project, which will be paid for by a £1m government grant. She said: "Our intention is to provide a garden that will be simple, dignified and designed to the highest quality. It will also allow for privacy and seclusion for visitors ... It is fitting that the garden should be complete in time for the second anniversary of this terrible tragedy."

Plans were also announced for a service of remembrance at St Paul's Cathedral, to be attended by the Prince of Wales, William Farish, the American ambassador, and relatives of the British victims on the first anniversary of the disaster.

Patricia Thompson, whose son Nigel died in the World Trade Centre, said: "I think it is a very good thing to have this garden for people to visit and remember people they lost."

Laura Eaton, from Brighton, whose son Robert, 37, worked on the 105th floor of the World Trade Centre, added: "It will be lovely to be able to go and visit the garden and sit there."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in