| Shepherd's Bush Green | |
|---|---|
 Shepherd's Bush Green war memorial | |
 | |
| Type | Public Park |
| Location | Shepherd's Bush,London,England |
| Coordinates | 51°30′15″N0°13′22″W / 51.50413°N 0.22284°W /51.50413; -0.22284} |
Shepherd's Bush Green (also known as Shepherd's Bush Common) is an approximately 8-acre (3.2 ha) triangular area of open grass surrounded by trees and roads with shops inShepherd's Bush, an area ofwest London which takes its name from the Green. The Green is also a ward of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The population of the ward at the 2011 Census was 12,175.[1]
The origins of the nameShepherd's Bush are obscure. The name may have originated from the use of thecommon land as a resting point forshepherds on their way toSmithfield Market in theCity of London. There appears to have been an ancient custom of pruning a hawthorne bush to provide a shelter for shepherds protecting them from the elements as they watched their flocks. Alternatively the Green may simply be named after a local landowner. In any event, in 1635 it was recorded as "Sheppards Bush Green".[2]
At the turn of the 20th century Hammersmith MPSir William Bull was appalled to see Shepherd's Bush Green become home to destitute unemployed sleeping rough, gambling, and playingpitch and toss.[3]
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Today the Green is surrounded by busy roads on all three sides. Four main roads radiate from the western side of the Green and three roads approaching its eastern apex, meeting at the large Holland Park Roundabout. This position makes it an important node of thebus network, with eighteen bus routes arriving there. It is also near fiveLondon Underground stations; Shepherd's Bush (Central line), White City (Central line), Shepherd's Bush Market (Hammersmith & City line), Goldhawk Road (Hammersmith & City line) and Wood Lane (Hammersmith & City line).
On the north side of the Green is theUxbridge Road, and beyond that theWestfield London shopping centre. To the east, the Green is bounded by the physical barrier of theWest London Line and the grade-separatedWest Cross Route (part of the aborted 1960sLondon Motorway Box scheme). The Holland Park Roundabout and the small Addison Bridge to the south are the only ways to cross this barrier.
To the east of the Green lies affluent and leafy Holland Park and Notting Hill; although the Edward Woods Estate just to the northeast of the roundabout is part of and managed by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and is therefore more closely associated with Shepherd's Bush.
TheLondon Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham substantially re-developed Shepherd's Bush Green in 2013. The plans included creating two new play areas for children, the planting of further trees and a general improvement to routes across the Green for both cyclists and pedestrians. A proposal to create a new cafe was declined by the planning authorities.[4]
The redevelopment of the Green was scheduled to be completed in time for the2012 Summer Olympics but, apparently due to high levels ofarsenic found in the soil by building contractors, the plans were substantially delayed.[5]
An Inspire Mark (awarded by theLondon Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), making it part of theCultural Olympiad) was given to public artworks created by artist Elliott Brook, entitled "Goaloids", which were installed on Shepherd's Bush Green for the duration of London 2012 and theParalympic Games. These large unique rotating football-related sculptures commemorated the history of Shepherd's Bush andWhite City, which hosted the1908 Summer Olympics football.[6] TheLondon Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is the only borough to have two football teams playing Premier League football.[7]
51°30′15″N0°13′22″W / 51.50413°N 0.22284°W /51.50413; -0.22284
