The Florid Burn

‘The Florid Burn’ will open on the 21st Sept in Leazes Park- in the centre of Newcastle to coincide with The British Art Show. A river of flowers following the line of the underground river the Lort Burn and is part of Newcastle’s Hidden Rivers project. Alternating paving with planting blue marble terrazzo slabs set with thousands of bright flowers act as sparring partners to the real flowers. The real flowers of the strip of meadow planting take inspiration from the schemes of Piet Odulf and Noel Kingsbury’s ‘New Perennial Garden’. Planed to develop and change throughout the year, like the river they will be constantly active, rising to the challenge of the dazzling coloured ceramic and mirror stainless steel flowers set into the adjacent paving. The whole Florid Burn scheme starts with a ‘pool’ area of large steel splashes that park visitors can sit and play on. From there it runs down through the park, under 'Wave Railings' into the lake flowing out through the 'Vortex Leaf Trap' at the other side and continuing down into the city.