December | 2024 | Roehampton Garden Society

December 6, 2024
by RXY

Don’t Anger the Crows

This briefing appeared in the New York Times:

Crows are ferociously intelligent. They can mimic human speech, use tools and gather for what seem to be funeral rites when another crow dies or is killed. They can identify and remember faces, even among large crowds.

And crows can also harbor resentment for longer than you might expect. When a murder (or group) of crows singles out a person as dangerous, its wrath can be passed along well beyond an individual crow’s life span — creating, in short, multigenerational grudges.

Gene Carter, a computer specialist in Seattle, saw crows encroaching on a robin’s nest in his backyard and launched a rake into the air. For the better part of a year, he said, the crows would scream at him or divebomb him. Eventually, they even learned to identify his bus — and to wait for him at the bus stop. (The harassment stopped only when he moved.)

with thanks to Helen Finch

December 6, 2024
by RXY

Michael Gilson talk and book signing

In Michael’s interesting and lively talk he first spoke about the beginnings of the RGS, in particular how Richard Sudell, the forgotten man of garden history, led the new cottage estate of Roehampton (now known as the Dover House Estate) on its garden journey in the interwar years of the last century. He explained how Roehampton became one of the leading garden estates in Britain as our country became the ‘nation of gardeners’ it is known as today.

Michael’s new book Behind the Privet Hedge: Richard Sudell, the Suburban Garden the Beautification of Britain has been highly praised by reviewers and he signed copies for members. We were delighted to welcome him to our AGM.

Photographs by Jackie Savage

December 6, 2024
by RXY

History of the RGS

At our AGM in November, author Michael Gilson, spoke about the early days of the Dover House Estate, created on ‘Garden City’ principles as part of the house building initiative after the first world war. ‘Homes for Heroes’ were declared by prime minister Lloyd-George – which would include the right to green space to grow food. Each house would have it’s own green space and allotment plots would be part of the design.

Of course, many who rented the houses were not naturally green fingered, and had never owned a garden before, so Richard Sudell, a Quaker and political firebrand as well as a well known plantsman and garden writer took on the challenge of helping. He set up training allotments and gave lessons, forming the Roehampton Estate Garden Society. It seems that meetings of the committee took place in the basement at St. Margaret’s church, just below where we have our AGM. Roehampton became one of the leading garden estates in Britain as the country became the ‘nation of gardeners’./

Our centenary exhibition featured boards about this history – which are now in PDF form. We hope you will read and enjoy them.