Category Brunswick Square
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 […]
Spring gardening dates
On the first Saturday of the month -1 April – the volunteer gardeners will be at work in the morning from 11 am in Red Lion Square (pictured) and also in Brunswick Square (2-4 pm this week, but usually 10-noon). Either group would be delighted if you want to join them for this session. They […]
New trees and shrubs in the Bloomsbury Squares
As part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, 8 wild cherry saplings (Prunus avium ‘Stella Colt’) have been planted in Woburn Square by the University of London and 3 in Gordon Square (below) over the winter. While tiny at present, they will have spring blossom as they grow, hopefully to full size. (The fruits are edible […]
Gardening – it’s good for your health, and the gardens!
Spring is on the way and the new gardening season is about to start. Friends of Brunswick Square’s gardening group have their first session of the new year, led by a professional, on Saturday 4 February, 10-12 noon – just come along and join in. No experience needed. Red Lion Square gardening group will start […]
The Queen’s Green Canopy in Brunswick Square
To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a massive tree-planting initative is being rolled out this year under the title The Queen’s Green Canopy. It can be hard to find space for a new tree in Bloomsbury, but this week, in a space left vacant by an old tree that had died, the Mayor came to […]
The Bloomsbury ‘garden gangs’
Otherwise known as the amazing volunteers who help to look after the gardens in the squares. They were out in force on the first weekend of February and would be delighted if you’d like to join them in future. The usual pattern of work is first Saturday in Brunswick and Red Lion Squares (except March […]
New season start for volunteer gardening
The new season starts in Brunswick Square and Red Lion Square on Saturday 5 February and continues on most first Saturdays of the month (see below). Just turn up and join in – bring your own gloves if you can, everything else (including advice!) is provided. Volunteers come as and when they can, not necessarily […]
Light and Shade in the Bloomsbury Gardens: View festival drawings of the squares online
The artist Nick Andrew had a busy (and exhausting!) 9 days from 16 – 24 October, drawing, demonstrating and meeting visitors in and around the Bloomsbury garden squares for the Bloomsbury Festival, with the theme of ‘Shining Light’. (See the ‘Bedford Square’ drawing below.) We’re planning an exhibition of the drawings in Bloomsbury shortly (details […]
It never rains but it pours
The recent very heavy rain has created a lake with nowhere to drain away in Brunswick Square. Russell and Regent squares have similar problems. Several squares have had their drainage improved recently, but the sumps still aren’t coping with these exceptionally heavy and concentrated downfalls.
Bloomsbury Squares & Gardens 