The greening of the Games

THESE images reveal how the Olympic Park will be transformed into a green haven for plants, wildlife and people.

Designs show how Games chiefs plan to set sports venues in Stratford and the Lower Lea Valley amid user-friendly open spaces.

They will ensure London's tradition of parks is a feature of the 2012 Games - in contrast to the Olympic Green in Beijing which was criticised for being inaccessible and lacking charm.

After the Games, the southern part of the park will retain the festival atmosphere, with riverside gardens, markets, events, cafés and bars.

The northern area will use the latest techniques to manage floodwater and rainwater, providing habitats for hundreds of species, some of them rare, from kingfishers to otters.

The green centrepiece of the park will be a half-mile-long botanical garden inspired by Britain's five centuries of collecting plants from around the world.

It will be located between the aquatics centre and Olympic stadium and divided into four zones, representing Europe, the Americas, Asia and the southern hemisphere. The project is by Sarah Price, 28, a rising star of the horticultural world based in Brixton.

The Olympic Delivery Authority said it chose Price because of her "painterly" approach, which uses her expertise in plants instead of relying on decking or water features.

There will also be flowering meadows, thousands of native trees, and several hills similar to Henman Hill at Wimbledon where spectators can watch events on giant screens.

A "smart park" will showcase environmental techniques, such as capturing rainwater through paving before cleaning it through a network of ditches, ponds, reedbeds and wet woodlands then releasing it into the river.

Plantings will be designed to create a "cool island" on hot days, and 2,000 large trees and other vegetation will protect visitors from strong sun and wind. There will also be community allotments.

Olympic Delivery Authority chief executive David Higgins said the park would be London's first for many years: "It will be a park for the 21st century, combining the best of British heritage with sustainable living.

"It will be a fantastic backdrop for the Games and the heart of the new community post-2012. It will also be designed to protect the area from floods."