Plum (Prunus cerasifera) blossom in February. Signs of spring are showing at Crabtree Fields: blossom on a plum tree, near the Colville Place gate. Plum (Prunus cerasifera) is one of the earliest trees to blossom in the park. It is native to southeast Europe and western Asia. It was introduced to Britain so long ago … Continue reading Spring blossom on a plum tree at Crabtree Fields
Over a hundred trees planted this autumn and winter at Crabtree Fields
Some of the trees we planted during the first week of December. The Friends group have now completed our sessions of winter planting in Crabtree Fields. This past week we planted nearly 100 saplings, thanks to the The Conservation Volunteers Dig Trees’ scheme which supplied the trees. In November we planted 30 trees provided by … Continue reading Over a hundred trees planted this autumn and winter at Crabtree Fields
In flower: loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)
Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) flowers in late autumn but is unlikely to bear any fruit. If you take a wander through Crabtree Fields at the moment you may be lucky to smell the fragrant blossom of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica). Native to China and widely grown in Japan it is often referred to as Japanese loquat. In … Continue reading In flower: loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)
Thirty saplings for hedges planted in Crabtree Fields
Ready to plant. 30 saplings and tree planting spade. This morning we planted 30 saplings at Crabtree Fields to increase the density and amount of native hedgerows -- including six crab apple trees. In all we planted six each of crab apple (Malus sylvestris), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), dog rose (Rosa canina), and … Continue reading Thirty saplings for hedges planted in Crabtree Fields
Autumn and winter maintenance and planting at Crabtree Fields
Vegetation around the park has been trimmed. The Friends group and Camden's contractor idverde have completed the first stage of the autumn and winter pruning of hedges at Crabtree Fields in readiness for planting of new trees and shrubs. The autumn trim will make it easier to sweep the hard surface areas. The vines on … Continue reading Autumn and winter maintenance and planting at Crabtree Fields
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
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
We are looking forward to using our Grow Wild seed kit
We are bouncing up and down with excitement as we've just received in the post our Grow Wild seed kit from Kew Gardens, ready to sow native wildflowers in Whitfield Gardens. The seed kit was the result of a successful application to improve part of one of Fitzrovia's open spaces. There are five different collections … Continue reading We are looking forward to using our Grow Wild seed kit
It’s mid-winter… but there are signs of spring in Whitfield Gardens
The days are short and the nights are still long but there are the first signs of spring in Fitzrovia's Whitfield Gardens. A clump of snowdrops have emerged from the cold soil and will be the first of the year's flowers to bloom. More snowdrops will be on their way followed by daffodils and other … Continue reading It’s mid-winter… but there are signs of spring in Whitfield Gardens
