Roehampton Garden Society


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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


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The Start of Spring…

Spring is here – we all love to notice signs of renewal of the season – but when exactly is the start of Spring?


There are three different measures we can use:

Meteorological – fixed every year to ensure statistics are consistent throughout time. Spring in the northern hemisphere starts on 1 March and autumn on 1 September. Dates have been decided using temperature data.

Astronomical – follows the equinox and can vary slightly each year. Spring falls between 19-23 March and autumn 22-24 September. In 2025 astronomical Spring begins on the 20th March

Phenological – follows biological events and their response to weather and climate. This is a fascinating study which shows how nature reacts to changes in climate.  Nature’s Calendar uses public sightings of plants, animals and fungi to track the effects of weather and climate on nature. This is a Citizen Science project from the Woodland Trust.


To see how this works see the BBC article here . Find out more about the Nature’s Calendar project here


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Peat Free growing is here to stay…

Peat Free compost is here and ever improving – but it’s a challenge to get to grips with the changes in growing. To help, the RHS has started a ‘Peat Free’ advice service and it’s open to all, not just members. To ask your question, just send an email to Nikki Barker at peatfree@rhs.org.uk

It seems that we need to be more careful with watering – it’s not true that it doesn’t hold water well – but the top dries quickly and gives the impression of dryness. If we then water without checking further down, the waterlogged plant may die. 

How to use Peat Free Compost for seeds and cuttings

RHS Science reveals Peat Free doesn’t need more water

Peat Free Compost Choices

We all need to know more here. The RHS itself will be completely peat free by the end of this year.

Here’s more Peat Free advice for Gardeners – including helping out with your own compost….


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Ecolocal horticultural courses

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.

You may not be aware that they are also restoring the old walled garden, and have volunteering days where you could help. Find out more here

Find out about 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