Category Trees
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.
Hiroshima Day in Tavistock Square
The 80th anniversary of the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 was remembered in a ceremony in Tavistock Square, including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, when a new cherry tree was planted – Prunus ‘Kanzan,’ the same variety of cherry as the previous tree. The cherry tree, originally planted in 1967 by […]
The bees and the lime trees
Thanks to the Russell Square summer newsletter for this fascinating piece. The full newsletter is available in the cafe. It’s a fascinating read covering everything from roses to railings – and even managing to find a link between Russell Square and the Mad Hatter! There are more than ten lime trees in Russell Square, many […]
Spring blossom in Mecklenburgh Square Gardens
A rare glimpse, through a gate, into Mecklenburgh Square Gardens, showcasing the wonderful display of spring blossom.
Strawberry trees in Russell square
In the next few days, you might like to visit the evergreen strawberry trees (Arbutus) by the path side of the Caffè in Russell Square. The ripe ‘strawberry’ fruits are currently hanging in clusters accompanied by creamy-white flowers. But this rare sight may not last long before the birds and squirrels eat them! Birds love […]
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 […]
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.
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.
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 Squares & Gardens 