They're turfing over Trafalgar Square tonight

grass to be ripped to shreds by FERAL YOUTHS by 12:05 max.

they need some catharsis after the cutty sark job.

my council tax dollars at work, obv.

I would go and look at this if I wasn't going to TEH FOLK.

i'll come for a kickabout!

who is doing this and why?

I think it's art.

or maybe something about climate change. I don't know.

I'm sure it's terribly Important, though.

Visit London will be kicking off its “Village London” campaign by covering Trafalgar Square with 2,000 square feet of green turf on 24-25 May, transforming one of London’s most iconic attractions into “London’s village green”.

God save tudor houses, antique tables and billiards
Preserving the old ways from being abused
Protecting the new ways for me and for you
What more can we do?
God save the Village Green.

maybe Andy Partridge is doing it?

"Heeeey!
I heard the dandelions roar in Piccadilly Circus
I heard the dandelions roar in Piccadilly Circus
Take a packet of seeds, take yourself out to play
I want to see a river of orchids where we had a motorway

Push your car from the road
Push your car from the road
Just like a mad dog you're chasing your tail in a circle
Just like a mad dog you're chasing your tail in a circle

It's all in your back yard
You've the whole world at your feet
Said the grass is always greener when it bursts up through concrete
Push your car from the road
Push your car from the road

River of orchids winding our way
Want to walk into London on my hands one day
River of orchids the road overgrows
Want to walk into London smelling like a Peckham rose

Just like a mad dog you're chasing your tail in a circle
Yeah!
Just like a mad dog you're chasing your tail in a circle
You know you can do it

I had a dream where the car is reduced to a fossil
I had a dream where the car is reduced to a fossil
Take a packet of seeds, take yourself out to play
I want to see a river of orchids where we had a motorway

It's all in your back yard
Push your car from the road
You've the whole world at your feet
Said the grass is always greener when it bursts up through concrete

Take a packet of seeds
Push your car from the road
Take yourself out to play
I want to see a river of orchids where we had a motorway"

This is who's doing it. Why, I cannot answer...

http://corporate.visitlondon.com/press_centre/press_releases/070511_village_london.html

Village London - so everyone's going up to Trafalgar Square dressed in their old school blazers and get chased around by big white balloons?

http://www.creativematch.co.uk/Images/traf300.jpg

Not a pigeon in sight.

there's something rather reminiscent of Jehovah's Witnesses' literature about that picture.

I like the multi-cultural families skipping hand-in-hand across the grass.

I reckon it'll be way more packed than that photo would suggest

Ken C speaks the truth. Add a bit of rain and it'll be like being at Glastonbury.

I think it sounds great! Wish I could be there to see it.

Anyone fancy going down there this evening armed with cans of beer?

Pls take pics if you are going.

I shall definitely take my camera down.

so was it done?

anyone got pics already?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/obrien99/511933029/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/obrien99/511935367/

I think I'm going to be there Daniel!

How long are they leaving it there for?

2 days.

I might go down and look for dogmuck.

Is that your hobby?

Hey Ken. I'll give you a call when I know what time I'll be there

ok - i'm meeting a couple of folks there too so will probably be there from around 6-630ish

Yes, it is my hobby. I think of it more as a passion than a hobby though.

"I can't stop picking up the yellow dogmuck"

A few photos from Trafalgar Square yesterday evening: http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/5664302

...please note, they're a bit unsorted at this stage, although do look out for a silly one of Ken C

I think there's going to be an exodus down there from my office this lunchtime. Pity they're not leaving it over the weekend really, I've got my brother-in-law visiting from California.

Do you know when they're removing it?

I don't, unfortunately, but it's some time today I think. Who knows, maybe it's gone already. Doesn't really matter cos it's only down the road from here.

Hey Poo, do you play football? Get to the FAKA thread if so!

It was still there about an hour ago. I must say, I was very disappointed. It wasn't even the whole square.

Colours came out pretty well in this one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ledgr/512633146/

(did that work? http://www.flickr.com/photos/ledgr/512633146/ if not)

Think it goes tonight, i.e. should still be there this eve.

xp yeah, it was smaller than I was expecting. Still, walking on it was a good feeling.

It's all a bit strange to me, as if grass is A New Thing and St James' Park isn't like a short stroll away.

Is this this year's giant elephant?

Ah, it's just an unexpected juxtaposition, or something. Spice is the life of variety. Just a bit of fun, no harm done.

xp no the giant elephant was EXTRAORDINARY! Best day I've ever had in London.

Aye, it is novel I suppose.

I'd have loved to have been there for the giant elephant, I spent ages looking through flickr sets of that.

I liked the boggy bit by the fountain, that was an unexpected juxtaposition.

People were sitting on it, I suppose that made a change.

I mean, the elephant's impact was bringing everyone together unexpectedly, just like this seems to do - albeit in a more sober & limited way, I guess.

bringing everyone together unexpectedly

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41237000/jpg/_41237962_whaleindex_pa.jpg

20/01/06 Never forget!

everyone = too many!

I went down there too, mostly to take telephoto-lens pictures of gorgeous birds sunning themselves...but there were only pigeons. The spray from the fountains was rapidly turning areas into a DEATHTRAP.

I left my camera on RAW (or ROWR) and need to install a driver on this here work PC to get it to work, so you can bloody forget instant gratification Square shots from me. Check Flickr in about a month.

Just got back via pub - echo the disappointment with pathetic area that was actually grassed over but it was nice sitting there for a bit.

I went there at about 3pm. It looks nice as a park. I think we should go and sit on the turf and refuse to move when they try and take it away.

why do they never do things properly in trafalgar square? it was the same with that dancing projection thing a couple of months ago - cool, but would be way way better if they used all the space.

My real opinion is "what a waste of money" so I suppose I should be gald that it's only part of the square, otherwise it would be an even bigger waste of money, but in a way it would be money better spent if it was the whole thing, if you know what I mean.