Author Archives: leafshade
Have your say on dogs and drinking in the garden squares
Camden Council are conducting two consultations at the moment which you might like to take part in, if you use the Bloomsbury garden squares. The first is only open for comment until 26 February so there’s not much time. A public space protection order – PSPO – to address irresponsible dog ownership expires in March and Camden is consulting […]
More cheerful signs of spring around the Bloomsbury squares
The early crocus are braving the rain and starting to make a show in Gordon Square and Russell Square. Take time for a stroll to enjoy them and lift your spirits.
Quick, spot the crocus carpet in Brunswick Square
The photos just don’t do justice to the wonderful carpet of naturalised early Crocus tomasinianus all along the East Bank of Brunswick Square Gardens (by the playing fields fence). They are very pale mauve and slender, so don’t show up well in a picture. If we ever get another sunny day, when they’ll be open […]
Another Big Birdwatch invitation: St George’s Gardens
Lots of birdwatching is taking place in the Bloomsbury Squares in the RSPB Big Birdwatch week, as well as that previously announced in our last post. Friends of St George’s Gardens are joining in as a group, offering the opportunity especially for people who don’t have gardens for bird counting. A chance for young children […]
Coming soon: Join in Big Birdwatch, 23-25 January, in the Bloomsbury Squares
Your annual opportunity to check out the birds seen in our beautiful garden squares is next week. Join amateur spotters all over the country in recording birds for the RSPB Big Birdwatch 2026 and sending in your results for your location. Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. Every year, hundreds of […]
Christmas cards and carols: St George’s Gardens
Christmas is coming and Friends of St George’s Gardens have Christmas cards and carols for you. The cards show a drawing of the Gardens by FoSGG committee member Sarah Colquhoun, but with a discreet little Santa making his way down the path. The cards are 6×4 inches and cost £6 for packs of 10. If […]
Discover the Russell Square Sculptural Prize Winners at the Brunswick Art Gallery
Did you enjoy the Michael Craig-Martin sculptures in Russell Square during October’s Bloomsbury Festival, which were part of the Russell Square Sculpture Programme? The Russell Square Commissioners have also sponsored, in collaboration with CityLit, The Russell Square Commissioners’ Sculptural Prize to recognize innovation, craftsmanship and critical thinking in Sculpture – and offering students a platform to showcase their […]
Celebrate National Tree Week: visit Bloomsbury’s venerable plane
In National Tree Week, the wonderful mature trees in Bloomsbury’s squares cannot go without mention. The most venerable and celebrated of all, however, is the Great Brunswick Plane, currently showing its autumn colours. Well over 200 years old, this London plane (Platanus x hispanica) is believed to be the second oldest plane tree in central […]
Autumn’s glory in the Bloomsbury squares
Autumn colour on the Bloomsbury trees is glorious this autumn, from the red maple in Gordon Square, the autumn-yellow ginkgo in Tavistock Square and the wondrous 200+ year old plane tree in Brunswick Square -and many, many others. It’s been a firework show to lift the spirits in shorter, darker days.
Start of the festive season in the Bloomsbury Squares
The festive season got off to an early start in Russell Square on 11 November. A large crowd gathered to watch the switch on of the Christmas tree lights, visited by Father Christmas, Cinderella and Prince Charming together with several extremely tall elves. Imperial Hotels provided drinks and mincepies and there was a splendidly lit […]
Bloomsbury Squares & Gardens 