Friends of Crabtree Fields

Tag: London

  • In flower: loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)

    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 Spain it is called nispero. It flowers in late autumn and early winter but […]

  • Thirty saplings for hedges planted in Crabtree Fields

    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 hazel (Corylus avellana). They were supplied free of charge […]

  • Autumn and winter maintenance and planting at Crabtree Fields

    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 the pergola have been cut back so […]

  • 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 […]

  • 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 […]

  • 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 […]

  • 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. […]

  • Why are there piles of leaves and clippings left on the ground in Whitfield Gardens?

    “Why are there piles of dead leaves and bits of plants left on the ground? It makes the park look untidy. Can’t you take them away?” This is a question someone asked us recently, and there is a simple answer. Removing the fallen leaves and cuttings from garden maintenance requires someone to bag them them […]

  • Oaks and hornbeams make a return in Whitfield Gardens and Crabtree Fields

    “By the time London was first colonised by people, it would have been covered by oak and hornbeam woodland,” says the London Wildlife Trust. Yet there are no oaks or hornbeams in Fitzrovia’s public open spaces… until this month. Now the Friends have planted saplings of English oak and hornbeam along with other native trees […]