Author Archives: leafshade
Smallest Bloomsbury garden wins Camden in Bloom
The annual award for best communal or community garden was won this year by the Marchmont gardeners. Well done to all the volunteers who have kept it looking so great through the seasons. They also plant and maintain the beautiful tree pits on the Marchmont Parade outside the Brunswick which do so much to soften […]
New Bloomsbury Trust planned to look after local squares and gardens
A new voluntary trust has been proposed to look after the squares and gardens in the Bloomsbury area. It would cover not just those maintained by the Council, but by other landowners as well, including the University. This would take in Gordon Square and Torrington Square, for example, as well Russell Square, Bloomsbury Square and […]
Parakeets in Brunswick Square
There was a recent sighting of these birds, common now in parks over London, feeding on beechnuts on our doorstep in Brunswick Square. Thanks to Simon Lamrock for the great photo.
Bloomsbury -London’s ‘quartier des carrés’
Todd Longstaffe-Gowan, author of The London Square: gardens in the midst of town, will be talking about the history and development of these special Bloomsbury squares,one of which is the oldest to bear the name of ‘square’ at UCL School of Pharmacy, Brunswick Sq, on Tuesday, 18 October 2016 from 19:30 to 21:00. Todd is the president […]
From Fields to Fountains -the story of Bloomsbury’s Russell Square
Local historian Ricci de Freitas has produced a splendid companion volume to his earlier book ‘Tales of Brunswick Square -Bloomsbury’s Untold Past‘. It documents the development of the area from open fields where robberies and murders were committed to the spacious streets and splendid garden squares where ‘polished society’ could feel at home. In a […]
Green wall in Southampton Row
Have you noticed the new living wall above Pizza Express in Southampton Row just along from Russell Square or Bloomsbury Square ? What was a dull, even ugly, modern frontage has gained unusual interest (especially if you are on the other side of the road or upstairs on a bus). Maybe other sites in the area might […]
Parliamentary public inquiry launched on parks underfunding
Deadline for submissions to inquiry: 30 September. See link below Historic opportunity to speak out loud and clear for urgent, effective, comprehensive and long-term Government action to reverse the underfunding crisis and to protect the UK’s public green spaces for generations to come. Great news! After much lobbying and calls over the last 5 years […]
Walking the squares in summer
VAL MARTIN MEMORIAL WALKS -Dates for July to September 2016 Guided, Historic Walking Tours of our Bloomsbury Neighbourhood, Val Martin Memorial Walks are free of charge and open to the public. No need to RSVP. Just show up! Everyone is welcome. They occur every Saturday and begin at 11:00am on the front steps of The Goodenough Club, […]
Great tits nesting in Marchmont Garden
Delighted to see a pair of great tits using the nesting box in the Marchmont Community Garden – the committee’s original policy of planting for wildlife and diversity is paying off. But the birds move fast, so getting a good picture is difficult -better to come and see them and the charming garden (which is […]
Leaving the Bloomsbury squares unlocked at night
Camden are conducting a trial of leaving the gardens unlocked at night from 30 May to 26 June. If you have any comments that you want to be taken into account before the pilot starts, please share these by email to groundsmaintenance@camden.gov.uk. Any incidents of anti-social behaviour during the pilot period should be reported to the police on […]
Bloomsbury Squares & Gardens 