Denman + Gould w/ Maeve Polkinhorn: Haven
An artist-created pocket garden transforms one of our concrete spaces into a wildflower-rich sanctuary for bees, butterflies and other insects.
Haven demonstrates that even small pockets of urban space can be used to provide vital support for wildlife. All the plants are native British wildflowers and have been carefully selected to attract bees, butterflies and other insects.
The planting is punctuated by wildlife pods that can house nesting birds, drawn and hand-carved in sustainably sourced oak by Denman+Gould. The forms of the pods are inspired by the ridged and textured beauty of wildflower seed heads. Each pod contains space for birds to nest or perch and for creatures to shelter.
When colonised, the sculptures become vessels for new life, just like the seedheads they are modelled on.
The work is a collaboration between artists Denman+Gould and garden designer Maeve Polkinhorn.
When Haven’s residency comes to an end at the Southbank Centre, its substrate of wood and soil will be repurposed. Plants will be offered to local community gardens and one of the oak wildlife pods will be moved to a new home in the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden.
For your visit
This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.