Author Archives: leafshade
Christmas De-lights in Russell Square
Lighting up the gloom of December – illuminations in Russell Square.
French help in Red Lion Square
Friends of Red Lion Square have been hosting a volunteer group of five French university students, 3 girls and 2 boys, this term. During their 2-hour sessions, they have planted over 1,000 bulbs, installed stakes for willow edging to two large beds, cleaned some benches and the history boards. In often challenging weather conditions, they […]
Dutch architects visit Bloomsbury Squares
A design team that is working on Strandeiland, a project within the Municipality of Amsterdam, where 8000 apartments are to be built on artificial islands, visited London recently to view reference projects, including the Bloomsbury Squares and Gardens. The team said ‘These squares are an iconic example of how green spaces and architecture can enter […]
More autumn colours
Tavistock Square trees, yellowing gingko and reddening acers, and a copper beech and gingko in Brunswick Square are really showing their autumn colours now, while the Cortaderia in Cartwright Gardens adds a cooler wintry note.
Russell Square news
The autumn 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.
Lend us £5m to spruce up parks
Lovers of Bloomsbury gardens who have long looked for ways of increasing funding for upkeep and inprovements will be interested in this initiative of Hammersmith and Fulham council, reported in the Evening Standard. Care of parks is not a statutory duty and the work is low on the list of essential council expenditure. “The council […]
Fiery autumn colours
This beautiful Acer rubrum (red maple) is brightening up dreary November days in Gordon square. Autumn colours are really coming through now, so snap any you spot before all the leaves come down and let us share them.
Georgian graveyards and Bloomsbury’s Best – two walks
Next Saturday, 18 November, Dr Roger Bowdler will be leading another walk around the graves in St George’s Gardens, talking about graveyard history, Georgian burial practices and famous people buried in the Gardens. Do join us – at 12.00 noon at the Handel Street entrance. Also, you might like to join Chris Foster after our event, […]
Ailanthus trees in Brunswick Square
Ailanthus altissima ‘Tree of Heaven’ trees looking amazing laden with with clusters of winged seeds in Brunswick Square, spotted by our roving photographer in October. Another name is ‘stink tree’ because of its unpleasant smell. Ailanthus is not a native tree and can be something of a weed tree, turning up and growing fast where […]
Bloomsbury Festival in the Bloomsbury Squares
The festival is well underway with many events around the area. In particular, an open air dramatic production in St George’s Gardens on Saturday 21 October at 3 pm and, all through the festival, a photographic exhibition on the railings of Brunswick Square. Deaf photographer Stephen Iliffe’s photographic portraits range from female vicar to Muslim […]
Bloomsbury Squares & Gardens 