Green Spaces on London's 'South Bank'

Even without a 'garden' to plant them in many London premises achieve a colourful 'green' addition to their environment with hanging baskets full of flowers.  This example is alongside London's Borough Market; a pub called the Market Porter.  Once the watering hole of the men who lugged produce about the largely wholesale market, these days the pub (and the adjoining market) is a popular haunt of tourists and the pub is jam-packed, overspilling into the street on a balmy autumn evening

Even without earth to sink their roots into, some plants can gain a foothold in unlikely places.  Buddleia (or butterfly bush) is ubiquitous high up on old brick structures - in this case the arches that hold up a high level railway line.  I would imagine it can be quite destructive and building owners must have a regular battle on their hands to keep it under control for the sake of the weather-proof-ness of their buildings (or the stability of their brick-built railway structures).

These photographed between towering modern buildings - a mini birch forest, and towering Oyster plants (Alchemilla mollis probably)

Highlight of the warm evening was to stop at the Bernie Spain gardens which are enroute between my office and London's Waterloo Station.  I will let the local community explain the history and future of these gardens.... click the link

Bernie Spain Gardens

A place to sit, enjoy nature, smell flowers, watch the insects...  There are even some tiny (2 square meters) plots for local to grow a few of their own vegetables and herbs.  I witnessed a squirrel stealing ripe tomatoes so there is clearly some 'conflict' going on for the resources produced.

Some of the little grow plots (background) have frames and netting over them to deter the thieving grey squirrels.