Backyard Biennial

London Parks & Gardens are very excited to be taking part in this year’s Backyard Biennial. The Biennial is part of Whitechapel Gallery’s 125th birthday celebrations and is a celebration of all things creative in the Gallery’s home borough of Tower Hamlets.

We are collaborating with the Gallery’s learning team and walking artist Clare Qualmann on a project centered around Mile End Park. Originally conceived of as part of London’s post-war redevelopment which identified the need for significant green space in this otherwise densely built up district, the park has evolved with the community over the years and reflects the changing fortunes of East London. In the 1990’s it played host to Rachel Whiteread’s iconic artwork House, and today it is perhaps best known for the spectacular Green Bridge which carries the park over the busy Mile End Road and is home to over 20 trees.

In June we are bringing together primary school educators from across Tower Hamlets in a series of workshops in the park to create Walking Scores, building on some research undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic about the relationship between walking, wellbeing, and creativity. A walking score is a set of written or spoken instructions on how to walk through a space like the park, slowing things down and taking notice of particular senses, textures, or other aspects of the experience.

SAVE THE DATE – 25 July 2026: The walking scores we are creating this month will be showcased as part of the Biennial through a public event on 25 July. Plans are still in development but this event will be open to all and will take place in Mile End Park, so please do keep an eye out for further announcements about this or keep checking our website for future updates. We’d love to take a walk with as many of you as possible!