A hawthorn tree in Crabtree Fields is starting to blossom, yet it is only the first week of January. Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) also known as the May tree after the month it normally blooms is a common sight in the hedgerows outside London. When in bloom it is usually at a time when spring is … Continue reading Hawthorn blossom in January at Crabtree Fields
Reusing Norway spruce to help nature conservation in Crabtree Fields
A deadwood area next to a brick wall provides an important habitat for wildlife. The Friends group made light work on Saturday morning of a couple of discarded Christmas trees left on the pavement outside Crabtree Fields public open space. Twenty minutes with a pair of pruning loppers and a handsaw, and the abandoned festive … Continue reading Reusing Norway spruce to help nature conservation in Crabtree Fields
Ten beech trees planted in Crabtree Fields this autumn
The Friends group have planted ten beech trees at Crabtree Fields public open space, to restore the hedge that surrounds the eastern border of the park. The beech saplings, which are about five years old, were all planted by volunteers in November. They were bought from a nursery in Kent and paid for by a … Continue reading Ten beech trees planted in Crabtree Fields this autumn
Please keep away from fenced-off area in Crabtree Fields until repair is complete
Visitors to Crabtree Fields public open space are advised to keep away from the fenced off area under the pergola until repairs and urgent maintenance is completed. The area affected has been marked off with hazard tape. The Friends group have completed a small repair and put the hazard tape up to make the area … Continue reading Please keep away from fenced-off area in Crabtree Fields until repair is complete
Fungi pop up in Crabtree Fields
Quite a lot of fungi has emerged out of the ground in Crabtree Fields this week after all the rain. The visible part of fungi is the mushroom or toadstool and is the fruit of the underlying mycelium, a system of fine threads that stretches out beneath the mushroom in search of water and food. … Continue reading Fungi pop up in Crabtree Fields
Repairs and maintenance at Crabtree Fields this autumn and winter
The Friends group have asked Camden parks' department to make a repair to the pergola at Crabtree Fields after a section of timber broke on Friday 11 October. The Friends group fenced off the area under the pergola and alerted Camden to carry out an urgent repair. The Friends have identified further repairs where sections … Continue reading Repairs and maintenance at Crabtree Fields this autumn and winter
This is why park hedges should not be cut in the spring and summer months
Farmers are not allowed to cut hedges between 1 March and 31 August to protect the habitat of nesting birds. The same guidance should be applied to public parks in our cities, yet all too often it is ignored. Using machinery such as hedge trimmers and leaf blowers can disrupt the habitat, disturbing nests. Birds … Continue reading This is why park hedges should not be cut in the spring and summer months
Red campion flowers in a Whitfield Street tree pit
This native British wildflower, Red campion (Silene dioica), is flowering in a tree pit in Whitfield Street, Fitzrovia. This flower is one of a number of important pollinators and although not often seen on the streets of London is quite a common plant seen in woodlands and on roadside verges. The flowers have grown from … Continue reading Red campion flowers in a Whitfield Street tree pit
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossoms in Crabtree Fields
The first of our small blackthorn trees is blossoming in Crabtree Fields, adding to the variety of plants to support wildlife. Blackthorn, also known as sloe, is a small deciduous tree native to the UK and most of Europe. Because it is early flowering it provides a valuable source of nectar and pollen for bees. … Continue reading Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossoms in Crabtree Fields
Trimming the beech hedge at Crabtree Fields
Friends have this winter trimmed the large beech hedge in Crabtree Fields. We reduced the height of the hedge by about 30 cm and gave the sides a light trim to encourage thickness. Volunteers used hand tools and the work was done over a couple of weeks in February. It will need a further trim … Continue reading Trimming the beech hedge at Crabtree Fields
