Freddie Mercury memorial garden to open in Feltham

Freddie Mercury sings on stage with his top off and holds his arm in the air Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Freddie Mercury lived in Feltham with his parents where he met Brian May, who also grew up in the town

  • Published

A memorial garden dedicated to the life of Freddie Mercury is to be officially opened in west London later.

Queen's lead guitarist, Sir Brian May, and the late singer's sister, Kashmira Bulsara, will open the green space in Feltham, which has been created as part of a local regeneration plan.

The space, in Feltham Green, includes a Green Eco Cabin, which will provide a hub for the local community.

Shantanu Rajawat, leader of Hounslow Council, said: "The Freddie Mercury Memorial Garden is a fitting tribute to one of Feltham's most iconic residents, and the Eco Cabin shows how we can deliver sustainable, community-led regeneration that leaves a real legacy."

The cabin will serve as a base for the Friends of Feltham Green, while also hosting activities ranging from gardening workshops to after-school clubs, exhibitions and community events.

Yellow roses and yellow rose budsImage source, Hounslow Council
Image caption,

Kashmira Bulsara advised on the flowers for the garden, which include a hybrid rose named after Freddie Mercury

The Eco Cabin - a brown building with a varied roofline, and glass doorsImage source, Hounslow Council
Image caption,

The Friends of Feltham Green, a registered charity, will manage the Eco Cabin for community use

The project was funded by contributions from Hounslow Council's Thriving Communities Fund, the mayor of London's Good Growth Fund and A2Dominion.

The garden's Freddie Mercury roses - a hybrid named in honour of the flamboyant frontman - will sit beside a Sakura cherry tree that was bought following crowdfunding by 185 of Queen's Japanese fans.

A composite image showing different areas of the gardens, including a Freddie Mercury star on the floor Image source, Hounslow Council
Image caption,

The council said the project had transformed a previously underused space into a "safe and vibrant" community area

The chair of the Friends of Feltham Green, Angela Parton, said the new cabin and memorial garden would be a "welcoming space" that would "radiate out positive waves" into the local community.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk, external