Roehampton Garden Society

Category Archives: News

General news


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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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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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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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It’s No Mow May – should you let your grass grow?

We’ve lost nearly 97% of flower rich meadows since the 1970’s and with them gone are vital food needed by pollinators, like bees and butterflies.

A healthy lawn with some long grass and wildflowers benefits wildlife, tackles pollution and can even lock away carbon below ground – and best of all, to reap these benefits all you have to do is not mow your lawn in May!

With over 20 million gardens in the UK, even the smallest grassy patches add up to a significant proportion of our land which, if managed properly, can deliver enormous gains for nature, communities and the climate.

Information from the Plantlife website

The 10 most common plants recorded during the campaign last year were daisies, creeping buttercup, yellow rattle, common bird’s-foot trefoil, field forget-me-not, meadow buttercup, white clover, common mouse-ear, oxeye daisy and dandelion.

Bird’s-foot trefoil is a rich sort of food for 140 insect species! Even the humble dandelion is loved by bumble bees.

Read more about last year’s survey in this article in The Guardian

Find our more about No Mow May and join in on the Plantlife website


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Getting the grass to grow…

If you’d like advice about growing and maintaining a lawn, there’s lots to read on the RHS website.

Try this special section of the RHS website all about lawns here. Starting from Seed; Spring and Summer care and a special ‘problems’ section make this a comprehensive read.

Seed lawns, Turf lawns, Chamomile lawns……advice on your own lawn month by month here

As the RHS so rightly says, “One person’s weedy lawn is another’s wild flower meadow”….

wildflower meadow

If you feel inspired to give the wild side a chance, the RHS has very good advice about how to put away the weedkillers and fertilisers and give your mower a rest! All you need to know about Lawn and Mini Meadow Habitats from the RHS.


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An invitation from Borde Hill Garden

Borde Hill is a fascinating garden in West Sussex, not far from Wakehurst Place.
As an Affiliated Society of the RHS we have received an invitation to the following event:

Dear Affiliated Society,
Borde Hill Garden would like to invite you to an exclusive event on the 27th April for an opportunity to meet the owners and learn about the future of the garden.
The day includes lunch and a tour with the Head Gardener.

Places must be pre-booked (max 4 per group). The cost is £45 per head.

If you would like to go, and would like to be put in touch with others interested, please do let us know at rgs.sw15@gmail.com

Book directly with Borde Hill BOOK HERE

For further information please email Borde Hill Garden directly.


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How to Sow Seeds – from the RHS

Well – it’s certainly seed sowing season now! The RHS has been encouraging everyone to join in – and has produced some excellent advice with ideas for us all.

Faye, an RHS expert, is sharing seed sowing advice over on the RHS YouTube channel.
Watch her How-To videos and follow along for help and guidance sowing seeds of any size.

Here’s how to grow basil:

and here is the full play list on YouTube….


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Spring Plant Fair at the Garden Museum

On Sunday 16th April the Garden Museum is hosting a Spring Plant Fair. Expert plant growers and specialist nurseries from around the country sell some of the best garden plants you’ll find in London.

This year’s fair also features a programme of talks and workshops on growing flowery annuals, seed sowing and increasing wildlife and biodiversity in small spaces, as well as a cookery demo and tasting in our studio kitchen. Book each talk online. Find out more here

Time & Place

16 Apr 2023
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
The Garden Museum

Entry £5 (£4 members)