The Putney Exchange has turned the space beneath its central escalators into a “Pop-up Garden” — a cheerful, greenery-filled retreat offering free workshops and family activities every Saturday through to the end of August.
Designed to inspire creativity and promote eco-friendly thinking, the temporary garden features planters brimming with herbs and flowers, wooden picnic tables, and a flower-laced pergola. Colourful signs encourage visitors to sit, explore or take part in the centre’s weekly hands-on events.
The programme runs every Saturday from 11am to 3pm and is open to all on a drop-in basis. Each session offers a different eco-themed craft:
- 19 July: Wall of Flowers – contribute to a collaborative artwork representing hopes and dreams through blooming designs.
- 2 August: Upcycling and Basic Sewing – learn simple ways to repurpose and decorate old textiles.
- 9 August: Stone Painting – paint natural stones with vibrant patterns and messages.
- 16 August: Bird House Painting – build and personalise a miniature birdhouse.
- 23 August: Creative Collage – explore zine-making with sustainable materials.
- 30 August: Tote Bag Printing – use leaves, flowers and stones to create nature-inspired prints.
Extra events across the summer include Waterstones storytimes, appearances by The Gruffalo, and a performance by the Cygnet Players.
Children can also join a treasure-style trail around the shopping centre. Completed trail sheets, posted before 31 August, go into a prize draw to win £100 Kids Stuff vouchers.
The initiative marks a growing trend for shopping centres to reimagine underused indoor space as community-friendly zones. “It’s a nice change from closed-up shops,” one passerby told Putney.news. “It’s lovely to see the area being used for something fun and creative.”
More details and updates can be found at putneyexchange.co.uk.
