Hammersmith Tube Station Wins Underground in Bloom Award

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TfL team create indoor garden celebrating 100 years since launch of contest

Hammersmith tube station has won first prize for best indoor garden in the Underground in Bloom competition, which this year was contested by more than 150 stations across London.

TfL employees Camelia Popa, Sid Hart and Jonathan Quilliam put their heads together to devise planting in the station below Hammersmith Broadway, based on a heritage theme to mark 100 years since the first tube gardening tournament.

On a shoestring budget, they recycled old lockers to make planters, then nursed back to health some plants which had been written off by Wheelers garden centre in Chiswick, which also runs the station’s flower stall.

Camelia Popa, customer service manager for Hammersmith stations, said: "It’s been great fun doing it, and some customers have already asked if they can buy the planters."

Customer service assistant Sid Hart painted the old lockers to look like historic tube train carriages, and did such a good job, said Camelia that 'as they were being put in position, one person asked if it was going to Earls Court... and tried to get in!'

Meanwhile, the glass brick wall near the ticket barriers has been decorated with air plants, carriage wheels and a retro sign.

"I can’t wait for the plants to flower,” said Camelia. “It all started with two little trees, and now we’ve won the award."

The first Underground in Bloom competition was contested by a handful of stations on the tube in 1919. Today it attracts entries from across the TfL network, including depots.

September 27, 2019