Author Archives: leafshade

Nature’s confetti – virtual blossom

If you’ve missed the blossom in the garden squares, pop down to Centrepoint on Tottenham Court Rd to see Nature’s Confetti, on a big outdoor screen, courtesy of the National Trust and Outernet, until 24 April. As part of the charity’s annual Blossom campaign, ‘visitors to the space will be able to enjoy the power […]

Russell Square News

The spring newsletter from Friends of Russell Square is now out and available in the cafe -and also here to download. Open it for a good read.

Spring colour in Tavistock and Gordon Squares

A great result arising from the volunteers’ planting efforts in Tavistock Square in autumn 2023….and Gordon Square (maintained by the University of London) has had a wonderful display of spring bulbs in the grass.

Thanks to the volunteers in Bloomsbury Squares

Last autumn teams of volunteers planted large numbers of bulbs in Brunswick Square, Red Lion Square, Russell Square and Tavistock Square. In February, braving the weather, they were out clearing the way for the spring display to appear (as in Brunswick Square, below) . Despite the rain in March, the flowers were colourful and abundant […]

St George’s Gardens -Caring for the tombs talk and AGM, 21 March

On Thursday 21 March at 7pm, after a short business meeting (AGM) at the Coram Family Campus on Brunswick Square, there will be refreshments and then a guest speaker: Shane Greig. Shane’s job as Structures Manager in Camden Council includes taking care of the walls and tombs in St George’s Gardens. He’ll talk about how […]

Bloomsbury Brisk walk during Happier Outdoors Festival 18 March

A week to go till the start of the first-ever Happier Outdoors Festival. And what a festival it’s shaping up to be! Over 50 organisations – ranging from Kew Gardens and English Heritage to local parks’ Friends’ groups – are offering over 110 FREE activities across 29 London boroughs. On Monday 18 March, from the […]

Fanny Wilkinson, landscape gardener, in Camden (talk on 5 March)

Fanny Rollo Wilkinson (1855–1951), recently commemorated with a blue plaque on her former home in Shaftesbury Avenue, was probably Britain’s first professional woman landscape gardener, designing scores of public gardens and playgrounds, many of which can still be found across the city today. Friday 8 March is International Women’s Day and a few days before […]

Wellbeing Walks from the Bloomsbury Squares -spring/summer programme

Birdwatch in the Bloomsbury squares

During the Birdwatch week, the UCL Nature and Conservation Society are leading a walk on Friday 26 January 2024, 10-11am which is part of their series of regular walks. Meet at Gordon Square cafe. If you can’t join the walk, here’s how to record the birds you see.

First daffodil spotted!

The very first brave daffodil pokes out of the grass and dead leaves, under blue skies in sunny but chilly Russell Square. A welcome sign of spring to come.