Roehampton Garden Society

Author Archives: RXY


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A Rose for Remembrance

On a beautiful sunny morning members of the RGS gathered at St Margaret’s church to remember Jeannette Sweetland, a plotholder on Site 3, who died a few weeks ago. Jeanette was known for her gardening expertise, interest in art and the natural world and beautifully kept allotment plot. She is much missed by her allotment friends and neighbours. We joined her friends and colleagues from St Margaret’s to share reminiscences of Jeanette’s many kindnesses and planted a lovely rose in the church grounds in her memory.

The RGS chose to plant a Gertrude Jekyll rose, named after the famous plantswoman and garden designer, in remembrance of Jeanette, pictured here painting happily on her plot.

Photographs: Ben Speedy, Patrick Crawford.


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Music for plants to grow by?

Sound for Plants: Do your plants love a good tune?
Are you interested in supporting a research project looking at plant growth and music? Do you ever play music to your seedlings?


Studies show that 63% of home gardeners play music for their plants. Did you know that certain sound frequencies influence plant physiology. For example, some boost growth, some deter pests, some strengthen roots, whilst others increase yield!

Join Isaac Igbokwe, a london based researcher and engineer, exploring how sounds backed by plant-science can be an organic alternative to chemicals and GMOs. He need’s gardeners, farmers, and greenhouse owners to test his soundtracks for free this season!

Preview the sound tracks here (more to come): https://untitled.stream/library/project/Pibo3FhoIowxf80Kpz91k

Interested in helping? Could you participate?
Email Isaac at Imperial College: ii624@ic.ac.uk with the subject line “I’m Interested – Sound for Plants.”

Please include:

  • When you’d like to start the trial
  • A few photos or a short description of your setup (plants & sound system)
  • How you could monitor plant growth or changes


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The Art-K watercolour workshop

Art-K of Putney came to the allotments on Sunday 12 April and gave a most enjoyable Art Taster Session using watercolours to 12 RGS members. Many thanks to Sue for organising the event and to Steven, the teacher from Art-K.


“Thank you for arranging this afternoon’s art session.  I really enjoyed it and found it ever so relaxing. Stephen was lovely and it was well organised” Amanda Flint.

Art K offer adult and children’s classes at their premises in Lacy Road.

Photographs by Amanda Flint and Jackie Savage


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The latest about manure

Shan K writes:

As you will know we have been unable to source unbagged deliveries of horse manure for some time now. Carriers are understandably reluctant to use their ( relatively new )  ULEZ compliant trucks to transport fresh horse manure.  However, we have found a riding stable off the Kingston Road with a plentiful supply for those willing to go and help themselves.  All the stable ask in return in a voluntary contribution to a charity they support. Take your own bags / trugs and spades and help yourselves ! 

in addition, a local lady has offered a supply of guinea pig bedding on a weekly basis.  The guinea pigs are fed only vegetables ( no meat derivatives ) and the bedding material is either hay or flax.  As such it would be suitable for mixing as “brown” into compost bins on site and balancing out the mainly green material we generate on our plots. Please contact Shan K ( plot 127a ) karwatowski@gmail.com if interested in this material. 


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Composting workshop with the Urban Gardeners

Katy on site 3 enjoyed the composting workshop from South London Urban Growers: she writes…

I thought the composting workshop was very interesting and definitely worthwhile, despite the 4 hours on a cold, windy rainy day….I am still warming up.
Alice, the trainer knew her stuff and described it as a sharing not a lecturing format as she was keen for everyone to contribute their own experience, which we all did. And learned a lot from hearing about the involvement and roles others had in helping out or running garden communities.
It was very valuable to be given the chance to build a hot compost from scratch, all of us chipped in to build the basics for the new compost to take off once more brown and green is added.
The attendees were really keen and interesting people, some with a lot of experience in gardening projects thanks to council grants – created a very warm and friendly vibe. Age range was anything from 30 to over 70….
Read more about the workshops

S.L.U.G plan more of these workshops – keep up with them on Instagram… Here


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Tool Sharpening Day – Saturday April 25th

Our volunteers are manning another sharpening day. Bring your blunt gardening and kitchen tools to Site 2 (the Pleasance) from 9am on April 25th.
PLEASE NOTE CASH payments ONLY.

This is how the day will work:

Click to view full size

  • Adam’s price list will be displayed on gates on both sites and available on site on the day.
  • Gardening and Kitchen tools can be brought to Site 2 from 9am on that morning. 
  • Volunteers will be on site to manage the sharpening queue and answer your queries. 
  • Please report first to an allotment volunteer when you bring your tools. They will ensure you are given your correct position in the queue.   
  • Tools will be sharpened in the order that they are brought. 
  • Customers must pay Adam, IN CASH, on leaving their tools. 
  • Adam will try to give customers an approximate time for collection. 
  • Tools can be collected until 5 pm on the day. 
  • Any uncollected tools will be held in the Store for collection until the following day.


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AGM 2025 Documents to Read

These annual reports show what happens each year on our Allotments. The committee manages the RGS and the allotments, events and general maintenance.

Please read the reports and bring any questions to the AGM on 20th November, or submit by email to rgs.sw15@gmail.com.

Agenda 2025

Nominations for the Committee 2025

Committee Reports


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RGS Autumn Show 2025 – all information

Our Autumn Show will be held at St. Margaret’s Church, on Saturday 30th August.
Please have a look at the schedule and see if you can enter the show. Everyone will have something to enter: flowers, fruits, vegetables or cakes!

Entry form Autumn 2025Download
Schedule for Autumn Show 2025Download

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

We will be taking entries at the Church between 9.30 and 12.15 on the day and you will have till 1pm to arrange your display. If in doubt, ask on the day we will be there to help.

NEWS FLASH! You can now enter any number of exhibits in each of the classes (except the collections nos 19, 54 & 55). For example if you have 2 varieties of white potatoes or dessert apples you can make 2 separate entries in those classes.

VOLUNTEERS 🧓🏽🧑🏽‍🦰👩🏽‍🦳🕵🏽👩🏽‍🌾👨🏽‍🍳 WE NEED PEOPLE TO HELP WITH OUR SHOWS! Can you spare an hour on Friday 29thAugust from 5pm to move the tables (we have a truck) from the store and into the church? Or some time on the Saturday to help with the set up and/or jobs needed to help with the stalls during the show? Can you stay at 5pm to help take the tables down? Usually completed by 6pm. If so, please email rgs.sw15@gmail.com.

TEAS 🍿🍕🫓🍪We need home made CAKES to slice and serve in the afternoon. Please bring your contribution to the Church on the Saturday morning after 9.30am


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Plant and Garden Bric-a-Brac Sale 18th May

A Plant and One Off Garden Bric-a-Brac Sale is being held 10am – 12 noon, Sunday 18 May 2025 on Site 2, (The Pleasance SW15 5HF).
Find new plants and other interesting items for your plot or garden.

Donated plants: very welcome from 9.30 on the day.

Garden Bric-a-Brac – pre-loved garden items: Please bring to Site 2 at 9.30 on day of Sale.  Please put your name on the bottom of the item (so we can return if unsold) and give us an idea of what you think the value might be.

Interesting pots, old tools, useful horticultural items…

No unloved or household items please.


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Sharpening Day 2025 – Sunday 11th May

Adam, the Sharpening Man, will be tool-sharpening next to The Store on Site 2 on Sunday May 11th. This is how it will work…

Please bring gardening or kitchen tools to be sharpened from 9am.
A Site 2 allotment member will be on hand to receive your tools, label them with your name and put them in the queue to be sharpened in order of arrival.
All customers need to pay Adam, CASH ONLY, on leaving their tools. Adam will give an approximate collection time for later that day depending on the queue.
A designated allotment member will be on hand all day to manage tool pick-ups and any queries. Any tools not collected by approximately 5pm will be taken into The Store for collection the following Sunday. 

Click on the price list to view full size