You will all know that our Autumn Show was cancelled this year to respect the mourning period for the Queen. Many members had prepared plants for sale at the show, so there was a mini plant sale at the store and lovely display of seasonal produce on the following day. Our chair, Helen Finch, writes a full report here:
Barelaas or are a Nepalese delicacy – useful in a stir fry – and growing very well on plot 68!
Barelaa (Balsam Apple) – बरेला
Barelaa is a late summer vegetable measuring between 1 to 2 inches long, slightly curved at one end with soft and delicate texture. The pale green juicy fruit looks somewhat like a pointed gourd (parwar or parvar). The vegetable is picked and cooked when it is young and tender. The mature overripe ones have numerous black rough seeds, which should be removed before cooking. Since this vegetable is very delicate, it cooks quickly.
with thanks to the Taste of Nepal blogspot… website here
Ecolocal run a wonderful range of courses on just the things horticultural that you might want to know or get better at. Based at ‘The Lodge’, a victorian walled garden in Carshalton, their courses are led by their RHS accredited tutor and help raise funds for community gardening projects benefiting people with learning difficulties and mental health problems.
See all their courses here
Accessible by train, bus or car, EcoLocal is at:
The Lodge
Honeywood Walk
Carshalton
Surrey SM5 3NX
Tel: 020 8404 1522
All the information you need here:
The show schedule of classes: flowers, veg and more… Show Schedule Autumn 2022
Entry form – (print and fill in)….Show Entry Form Autumn 2022
Guidance for entrants……Guidance for Shows Autumn 2022
Show rules…..Rules for Shows Autumn 2022
London has become the world’s first National Parks City.
Our map – available to all members to browse in the Store -shows all green spaces and water reservoirs within the M25 area.
The aim of the National Parks City is to encourage more people to enjoy the great outdoors and to support all Londoners, and the city’s businesses and institutions, in making the city greener, healthier and wilder.
More than half of the world’s population now live in cities and the trend towards more urban-living is growing; London is set to be home to over 11 million people by 2050. Cities have to adapt if we want liveable neighbourhoods in the future that respond to the challenges of climate change, help to conserve biodiversity and provide people with healthy, active lifestyles. A study has shown the capital avoids £950 million per year in health costs due to the benefits Londoners gain from using green spaces.
So many places to go and things to enjoy! See much more on this website.
Download and read the bulletin here
We are sorry to hear of the death of longstanding member and plotholder and Bruce May.
I am sorry to have to announce the death of Bruce May who was a long standing plot holder of plot 102B. His plot was always a delight particularly as it charmingly had a heart shaped narrow grass path at its centre. He was an excellent gardener so, when it became vacant, he was offered plot 103B as additional land. The plot had been horribly neglected but he quickly managed to tame it and made it very productive.
Helen Finch
Bruce was always a pleasant, calm influence on site 3. He helped with plot inspections on several occasions representing the non-committee member of the inspection team. Sadly he was very ill for a couple of years prior to his final demise but his family were able to continue to cultivate his plot and bring produce from the plot for Bruce to enjoy.
He will be missed.
The RGS Centenary Exhibition is in Putney Library from 28th May to 12th June 2022
Part of Wandsworth Heritage week, the exhibition looks at the roots of the RGS, set in local history of its times. There is quite a lot to read, and to see. There are also some lovely paintings of our allotments to see, and Andrew Wilson’s photos of wildlife on our allotments. You are warmly invited to visit. Please do sign the visitor’s book.
It’s time to rethink the bare patches in our gardens, where plants are unhappy or didn’t survive the winter.
Let’s keep greener gardening in mind….
Seven Steps to a Greener Garden is good advice from the RHS – read it here
A lovely, bright celebration from Jenny Cobb. Made with upcycled materials, too. Many, many thanks!
At our AGM last November when Fleur Anderson heard this year would be the RGS’s centenary year, she invited us to have an event at the House of Commons Jubilee Room as part of our centenary celebrations. Numbers had to be very restricted, so only members who have made a contribution to the running of RGS activities were invited. All costs were covered by those who attended the event.
It was a very special evening to remember in such an auspicious place. Fleur made it clear in her speech that she is very committed to preserving and supporting allotments and that environmental issues in general are very important to her. We are very fortunate to have Fleur as our President and MP who is so passionate about these important issues that are so in line with the values of RGS.
Fleur and her team made the evening run very smoothly and were very supportive in organising the event at our end too. The event was very enjoyable as a result – many thanks to Fleur and her team.
Helen Finch
