Guerrilla gardener transforms ugly potholes into miniature gardens (and a mini London Eye)


They are usually the scourge of motorists and result in councils up and down the country forking out millions of pounds each year to fix them.

But instead of letting himself become angered by potholes, one man has decided to embrace them.

Steve Wheen, 33, an urban guerrilla-gardener, has decided to tackle at least some of Britain’s estimated two million potholes by creating miniature gardens inside them.

Original: An urban guerrilla-gardener has decided to tackle at least some of Britain's estimated two million potholes by creating miniature gardens inside them. This garden celebrates the red phone box, near Tower Bridge in London

Nice touch: Steve Wheen, 33, decided to decorate these otherwise unloved urban spaces with plants. Guerrilla gardening is an increasingly popular trend for planting in public spaces without permission from the authorities

Some of his creations come complete with tiny furniture and even working electric lights.



Guerrilla gardening is an increasingly popular trend for planting in public spaces without permission from the authorities.

Instead of being fed-up with the state of the roads near his home in east London, Mr Wheen, originally from Australia, decided to decorate these otherwise unloved urban spaces with plants.



One of his creations includes a mini-London Eye, which he planted outside the Ministry of Defence building in the heart of Government in central London.

'My favourite garden is a re-creation of the London eye with ivy and daffodils,' he said .



'I try and choose public locations with plenty of walk-past traffic, so as many people see my gardens as possible before they get destroyed, stolen or runover.

Decorative: A mini London Eye guerrilla garden made from ivy and daffodils, outside the Ministry of Defence in London, can be seen left. Right, a tiny rocking chair, wellington boots and garden equipment in another pothole

'Outside the Ministry of Defence a policeman came up and had a chat with me. He said: "This has put a smile on my face, I’d have to be a pretty miserable person not to appreciate this, it makes me want to garden myself".



'On the other hand one bus driver loved one of my gardens so much that he decided to steal it for himself.'

From a tiny bike parking space to a mini-lounge complete with arm chair and television these little works of garden art turn crumbling roads into a homage to horticulture.



Mr Wheen explained how he become obsessed with guerrilla gardening.



'In Australia I grew up in the garden and I’ve been living in London for the past eight years,' he said. 'I found out about guerrilla gardening when I moved here.



'I don’t have a garden myself so I’ve taken my gardening to the streets. A few years ago I tried it on a much tinier scale and it seems to have had a much bigger impact.'

Detailed: This mini-guerrilla garden comes complete with armchair, television and working light, with evergreens, near the East London Mosque in London