Wembley Park has officially completed its seven-acre public green space, Union Park – the first major new park in the area in over 130 years – with the opening of the northern section.

Designed as a space for nature, culture and community to thrive side by side, the expanded park introduces wildflower meadows, water features, public art and new biodiversity infrastructure.

Its centrepiece is Threads in the Wildflower, an expansive, hand drawn mural by London-based artist Alec Saunders (ALECLDN). Spanning 75 linear metres and 180 square metres in total surface, this is now the longest mural ever painted by a single artist in the UK.

The mural is mirrored in a tranquil new pond directly in front of it, now inhabited by families of ducks and Egyptian geese who have made Wembley Park their home. Visitors will be able to admire the mural while relaxing on a new set of sun loungers positioned along the pond’s edge – offering one of the most peaceful views in the neighbourhood, set against the dramatic backdrop of the National Stadium arch.

Threads in the Wildflower draws a parallel between the park’s wildflower meadow and the diversity of the neighbourhood: in a meadow, no two flowers are alike, yet together they create something beautiful and balanced. In the mural, idealised portraits of local identities gently emerge from the floral landscape—growing within it, not dominating it. A QR code on site unlocks a short digital experience that brings the mural to life, offering visitors the chance to explore its themes, learn more about the park’s planting and discover the inspiration behind the piece.

Alec Saunders, the artist behind Threads in the Wildflower, said: “The reflections on the pond mirror the mural’s message — that identity is always shifting, yet rooted in place. Like flowers growing together in shared soil, each face represents a part of Wembley Park’s united, divergent community.”

Claudio Giambrone, Head of Cultural Programming at Wembley Park, said: “Union Park has always been about creating space for people and nature to coexist. With the northern section now open, ‘Threads in the Wildflower’ adds a thoughtful artistic layer — one that reflects the diversity of the community and sits gently within the landscape.”

A green and cultural landmark

Union Park now spans a total of seven acres across the heart of Wembley Park, just a 5-minute walk from Wembley Park Underground station and running alongside iconic Olympic Way. With the completion of its northern section, the park adds four acres of new green space to the already established southern area, which opened in 2021.

The standout feature of the northern section is a vibrant new wildflower meadow, designed to support biodiversity at every level. Planted with 27 carefully selected species, the meadow provides colour, movement and habitat from April through to October, attracting bees, butterflies and other vital pollinators. Bee hotels and bird boxes are dotted throughout the landscape, creating a rich, interdependent environment that establishes Union Park as a major ecological asset for the neighbourhood and wider London. The overall design purposefully avoids manicured lawns, favouring a wilder, more naturalistic planting scheme that prioritises sustainability and supports the needs of local wildlife.

Inspired by the landscape philosophy of Sir Humphry Repton, who first shaped Wembley Park in the 1790s, the park’s design transitions from more formal spaces near the stadium to a looser, more naturalistic feel as you move further north. It’s a modern interpretation of Repton’s signature approach—where architecture and landscape enhance one another in harmony.

Over 100 additional trees have also been planted across Union Park, contributing to a greener, more resilient neighbourhood. All planting is maintained by Quintain, the developer behind the wider regeneration of Wembley Park and long-term custodian of the park.

Julian Tollast, Head of Design and Masterplanning at Quintain, said: “We deliberately designed the northern section of Union Park to be wilder and more natural to actively support pollinators. Bees, butterflies and other insects need undisturbed habitats, and by avoiding a manicured approach, we’ve created a space where they can feed, shelter and flourish. It’s a small but important step in supporting biodiversity in the city.”

Also planned for the park is a new butterfly sculpture by Aylal Heydarova, co-created with children from refugee and asylum-seeking families across Brent, in partnership with the charity Re:Start. Blending environmental and social themes, the artwork will be installed on site in July 2025.

This autumn, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is set to relocate its headquarters to Wembley Park, reinforcing the neighbourhood’s position as a home for world-class music and creativity. Their new base will be on Allegro Lane, an aptly named new street adjacent to Union Park and one of its main entrance routes, placing the Orchestra quite literally on the park’s doorstep. That musical spirit carries through the surrounding street names – Andante Walk, Tippatone Walk, Marshalls Walk, and Marley Street – each a nod to Wembley’s musical heritage past and future.

2026 will also see a new community theatre space open, directly overlooking Union Park, offering residents, visitors and community groups an inviting place to meet, create and take part in cultural and wellbeing activities.