Roehampton Garden Society

Author Archives: admin


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Butterflies Back from the Brink –

Good news for butterfly enthusiasts this week – the black-veined white butterfly, previously described as extinct in Britain for nearly 100 years, has suddenly re-appeared.

First listed as a British species during the reign of King Charles II, they officially became extinct in Britain in 1925. This month they have mysteriously appeared in SE London among their favourite habitat: hawthorn and blackthorn trees.

Butterfly Conservation says that it probably does not signify a spontaneous recovery of an extinct species., but someone has re- introduced them. Read more from the BBC here

Last year the Large Blue butterfly – declared extinct in the UK in 1979, had it’s best summer yet in England as the result of re-introducing caterpillars from Sweden and a conservation project led by the Royal Entomological Society.

Read more from the BBC here

Many thanks to Bill Young


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Plot Inspections – what you need to know

Twice a year all the allotment plots are inspected by the Site Secretaries.

The purpose of these inspections is to ensure plots are being cultivated to a reasonable standard. At this time of year the team would expect your plot to:

• have plenty of crops which are being harvested
• at least 60% of the plot under cultivation
• have weeds under control, especially bindweed
• have no excessive amount of rubbish
• have the grass cut on the paths between plots (please do not use weed killer on paths)

If there is a problem with your plot, you will be contacted after the inspection. With many people on our waiting list we must ensure that allotment plots are not being wasted, but we understand that there may be temporary circumstances which are preventing your being able to cultivate your plot.

if you are having difficulty please contact your site secretary or email rgs.sw15@gmail.com


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The Proposal to Change the Name of the RGS

Voting will close immediately after 7th July

A proposal has been made to members at a special meeting last month to change the name of our society to better reflect the modern geographical spread of membership. It became clear at our public exhibition last year to celebrate our Centenary, that many Putney residents simply did not realise that the Roehampton Garden Society also served Putney, indeed that a majority of members lived in Putney, and were deterred from becoming interested in our society.

The proposal to change the name to ‘The Roehampton and Putney Garden Society’ has been put to the membership for a vote.

📚 Read the Proposal statement here 📚 Read the Opposing statement here

Please then cast your vote online. You will have received an email with the correct link.

Once you have voted, the next screen will say ‘One last step to verify your vote’ and there is a box below ‘Type email to verify’. After you have entered your email address, click on the email icon to the right of your email address. You will receive a code by email which you will need to enter in the boxes provided. Once you have done that your vote is completed. 

The final screen is a promotional one from the survey company – just ignore it.

 If you continue to have problems let us know. A paper vote is available on request.

Please remember the deadline for voting is 7th July 2023.


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Time for the RGS Summer Show 2023

Once again our Summer Show will be held on Site 2. Please have a look at the schedule and make an effort to enter the show, everyone will have something to enter, be it flowers, fruits, vegetables or even cup-cakes.

DONATIONS OF PLANTS OR PRODUCE FOR OUR POPULAR STALL WOULD BE VERY WELCOME.

Schedule & entry form summer show 2023[3831]Download

From Carol Martinez, Show Chair:

🍎 Fingers crossed for good weather. This is an opportunity for everyone gather together, see the entries and have a great time catching up with our allotment neighbours. There will be savoury snacks and Buck’s Fizz available, as well as other refreshments.


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Wildflower or weed?

As our plots abound with interesting greenery that we definitely did not plant, how can we check up whether some of these arrivals are welcome? A scorched earth strategy of pulling up everything doesn’t always pay dividends. Better a pretty wildflower in an open spot than empty earth ready for another batch of weeds to arrive and more weeding later on. It’s also the case that for every desirable wildflower there is a weed whose leaves are so very similar early on…

So, when it comes to making that decision, for those with a smart phone, help is at hand. Plant identifier apps can work very well – and some are free. Plantnet worked well last week on Site 3 – recommended by Greg’s garden designer daughter. Thank you, Laura!

Let’s see what’s available. You can read about 10 top apps here – the top 3 are featured below.

Pl@ntNet

Labelled as “a citizen science project available as an app”, the database of this app is growing continuously thanks to the contributions of people all around the world.

This app is ideal for identifying wild plants, common houseplants, trees, herbs, vegetables, weeds, etc.

Free to use, no ads, and you can skip the registration screen.
https://identify.plantnet.org/

Seek by iNaturalist

Seek does more than identify plants. It uses the power of image recognition technology to help you identify unknown plants, fungi, and animal species from photos.

For adventurers who like to spend their time exploring nature….

Free to use, no ads, and you can skip the registration screen.

https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app

Google Lens

Not just for plants, Google Lens uses the power of Google Images to enable you to identify objects, plants, text, and more, from a photo.

You can also use the image option on a Google web Search.

Free trial – but paid subscription for this app, and the usual Google requirements.

https://lens.google/

If it’s tree identification that interests you, do find out about the free app from the Woodland Trust here. Identify native and common non-native trees in the UK whatever the season using leaves, bark, twigs, buds, flowers or fruit.

The RHS have also announced their own identifier app this week. RHS Grow adds cultivation hints to identifying plants. Free at present – but do expect a subscription offer later on. Find out more here


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The Buzz Club – for Citizen Scientists

The Buzz Club is a citizen science group run by the University of Sussex and directed by Dave Goulson. They create experiments that ask important insect conservation questions, specifically based around pollinators. These experiments can then be conducted by anyone with an outdoor space and the data is then sent back to us to analyse.

These experiments are perfect to do in allotments as they all seek to improve the biodiversity and pollinator abundance, which will improve your yield. Each experiment is easy, accessible and really will enhance our scientific knowledge and your allotments ecological value.

They also hold online webinars so you can learn how to ID the species you find. Our next event is a ‘Beginner’s Bee ID Webinar with Dave Gouslon’ – find out more here:

Find out more about the BuzzClub here


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Should we be planting nettles?

It seems there is a world wide trend to plant more stinging nettles – and not just for soup! In New Zealand nettle cultivation is revitalising their red admiral butterfly population, and in the UK the Woodland Trust urges us to conserve nettle patches – home to several lovely UK butterflies. If you have a small patch of nettles, please consider leaving it alone this summer….

Butterflies on Site 3…
On Sunday last, (9th May) both Albert and myself were treated to a charming Common Blue Butterfly fluttering over both our allotments. Everyone has been telling me about Peacock Butterflies, how they for a few days and were everywhere, then suddenly disappeared. Don’t be sad, they will have mated, laid eggs, and the caterpillars from those eggs will grow over the summer, to enchant us all flying around in August and September.
Small Pearl Fritillarys are now on the wing; several can be seen on site 3. They are about the size of an old half-penny at most. In some of the ponds, damsel flies are now in residence. I’ve yet to see any dragonflies but with the expected hot weather, they will put in an appearance.

Bill Young


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Peat Free is the Future

The Government have banned retail sale of all peat containing composts from next year. Plant growers will also have to stop using peat – container plants containing peat may only be sold up until 2026.

As gardeners, we know we have a responsibility to save peatlands, but alternatives have not always proved reliable or of good quality.

A fascinating talk by Catherine Dawson, a Senior Associate of Melcourt, who make Sylvagrow, highlighted the long and difficult process of producing an effective all round peat-free compost.

Each different mix can take years to trial, so it’s no wonder that some of the products rushed to market were not top quality and gave peat-free a bad name! Much better peat-free composts are now being produced, and the challenge is to supply the ever growing market, and do so sustainably. Catherine was positive that this could be achieved.


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Success at Chelsea

One of our Plotholders, Alexander, was part of a prize winning team at the Chelsea Flower Show this year. He helped to create “The Shifting Garden”, which won a silver-gilt medal in the Container and Balcony Gardens section.

The Shifting Garden reflects the changing climate and plants that need little or no fertiliser and can cope with periods of dryness. Alexander developed a new formula for the Hypertufa material for the containers which does away with peat and is far more sustainable and eco friendly than concrete, as well as being lighter and porous, so lichens can more easily grow on it.

Many congratulations, Alexander!


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Swallows and Swifts

We can look forward to the return of our migratory birds over the next four weeks.   Swallows, swifts, wagtails et al, will arrive with one thing in their minds, to nest.  There are Swift boxes attached to the walls of a couple of houses bordering our allotments and Huntingfield Road.  The Swifts arrived last year on the seventh of May, I will report back, when I see them this year.

Bill Young

Migratory birds all need somewhere to nest. Their chicks need good shelter from sudden cold spells – which also reduce their food supply.

Swifts will come back to the same nest year after year. They like high, deep crevices to nest, but because we’ve lost many old houses and buildings, and as roof spaces are filled or mended, their numbers have declined dramatically and they are now on the UK Red list of conservation concern. Fix a wooden swift box to the outside of your home to give them somewhere to nest. You can build your own swift box, or if you are short on time or DIY skills, you can buy a ready-made swift box If you have space, a Swift box in a warm, sheltered spot might help.

RSPB

Find out how to make a swift box here


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Vanishing tadpoles – but a newt survives….

Several people have asked me why, the tadpoles within their allotment ponds, have suddenly disappeared.  Tadpoles ideal habitat is plenty of pond algae, pond weed, vitally – light and warmth.  Unfortunately the night temperatures over the last fortnight, (mid-April) have worked against them. That is the probable cause, for their sudden disappearance, small tadpoles aren’t robust enough to withstand the cold night-time temperatures.

Albert’s Pond – Its with great delight that I can report the return of Jaws!  I chucked in a handful of slugs and snails into the pond, all garnered from my allotment.  Then out from under the pond weed swam Jaws, as bold as brass, he helped himself to a nice fat juicy slug.  His spotted orange tail is quite distinctive, he must be between 12/14 cm. in length.  I’m afraid that newts are big predators of tadpoles. This is balanced out by adult frogs and toads, in turn, eating small juvenile newts. They are especially vulnerable once on land, when they are looking for a suitable place to hibernate. 

Smooth or Common Newt