Temporary mortuary to be transformed into wildflower meadow as tribute to Covid-19 victims

A temporary mortuary will be turned into a wildflower meadow as a tribute to those who have died in the pandemic.

The site at Wanstead Flats in east London, one of six emergency mortuaries to be erected at the peak of the health crisis, was opened in April to help store bodies of Covid-19 victims.

However, as the death rate has fallen, the decision has been taken to dismantle the building so the four-acre spot near Epping Forest can be "reseeded with native species".

Wild flowers including sheep's sorrel, ox-eye daisy, common knapweed and heather will be planted, as well as grasses including fescues, bents and rare heath grass and mat-grass.

The City of London Corporation, which owns the land, said it expects to open the meadow to the public next summer.

Graeme Doshi-Smith, chairman of the corporation's Epping Forest and commons committee, said: "While coronavirus is likely to still be with us for a long time and we mustn't be complacent, the removal of the mortuary is a welcome sign of the green shoots of normal life beginning to return to our open spaces.

"In the weeks to come, our teams will be preparing the soil before sowing the land with a wildflower seed mix, including seeds collected from nearby areas of the forest.

"When it has grown, the grassland will provide a rich habitat for visitors and wildlife to enjoy, and will mark out a lasting, natural reminder of those who lost their lives to coronavirus."

The Wanstead Flats site was used as a prisoner of war camp during the Second World War, housing Italians and Germans.

In 2018, a grass fire on the land during a heatwave in July was tackled by more than 200 firefighters, with 40 fire engines rushing to the scene.

It was believed to be the biggest blaze of its kind dealt with by the London Fire Brigade, with the affected area the equivalent of about 150 football pitches.