Summer in the Purple Garden!!

The riverbank garden looks more and more beautiful with each passing year, as all things do as they grow and mature...

Tom's train, painted in the riverbank colours.

The fly-tipped European Larch has been lovingly brought back to life by Sõna.

Nadira planted up a couple of courgette plants this year and they were a real treat eaten in omelettes, picked fresh on the day!

Riverbank sunflowers, standing tall and proud.

Sona's stunning bug hotel...we're hoping to receive guests very soon!

Earlier this year we purchased a few unusual corn varieties...only a handful of seeds germinated and we're keeping our fingers crossed for some blue corn.

The riverbank bramble grew and grew this summer. The berries have been enjoyed by many residents...but most deliciously, by the young Leabankers!

This display contains one of our surviving Cordylines. Many gardeners reported losing theirs to the bitter Winter, but this hardly individual made it through and is thriving!

A view along the purple riverbank.


Tracie's Fig Tree is doing really well this year. It has produced many figs, however the only mature fig was sneekily enjoyed by a pigeon!

The hoverflies are beautifully camouflaged whilst enjoying one of our sunflowers.

The lavender seeds that we planted in early spring have grown! They'll be ready for planting in the Square next spring.

An Elderflower start to the Summer!!

Living in Hackney Wick means we get to experience the natural habitats around us as though we were living in rural England!

Now that summer is truly upon us, it’s the perfect time to go out and enjoy the river lee, marshes, woods, trees and orchards.

One thing we have been enjoying a lot of recently is homemade elderflower cordial.

It’s the easiest thing to make – flowerheads, lemons, sugar and water. Combine these ingredients together for a refreshing and delicious summer concoction.

This year we have managed to produce 4 batches since the flowers started blossoming at the end of May!

Sadly, I fear we have picked our last flowers as the trees are now starting to form their berries …elderberry jam anyone?

The creamy white flowers of the elderflower tree (sambucus nigra)

A beautiful summer's evening along the the towpath...

and a perfect evening for picking flowers for one last batch of cordial.

That should be enough flowers for the pot.

A delicious, fragant taste of early summer best served with chilled sparkling water!

Lang Tree Students' Geography Trip to Leabank Square!

Today Leabank Square became the focus of a Geography school trip from Reading!

The students from Lang Tree Secondary School popped in to research their Geography project – ‘the effects of the Olympics on local populations’.

When we asked if the whole class had come down from Reading, one student replied ‘No, the other half got to go on a trip to France!

Leabank Square Wildflower Meadow June 2010

The meadow is positively overflowing with colour and splendour!

Thanks again to everyone who planted this meadow way back in March.

You must agree it was worth braving that chilly Sunday morning …just take a look at the pictures we snapped earlier.

The delicate poppies are continuing to flower and other annuals such as the cornflowers are also beginning to really take off too!

It's such a pleasure returning home to the square and being greeted by the riot of colour that is our very own meadow!

Look at our Irises!

The planter with Mohammed's cherry tree in has got amazing company for a few weeks! The beautiful Irises have come up even better than last year!

Thank you to all the gardening club for getting so much done over the winter - all the planters are looking great!

Fish of Leabank Square - Carp

They're BACK!!

Maybe it's the reedbeds - or maybe it was just that awful narrowboat engine leak last year - but this year the carp are back in larger numbers than ever.

The Common carp (posh name - Cyprinus carpio) is a widespread freshwater fish in the waters of lakes and large rivers in Europe and Asia.

Although they are very tolerant of most conditions, common carp prefer large bodies of slow or standing water and soft, vegetative sediments. A schooling fish, they prefer to be in groups of 5 or more. They naturally live in a temperate climate in fresh or slightly brackish water - which makes the Lea a perfect home for them.

They normally stay all summer - so whenever you get a chance - pop up to the recycled garden - and sit still for a few minutes - and a school will be sure to come along.

Cats Dumped in Leabank Square

Fly-tipping in Leabank Square plummeted to a new low today when a pair of adolescent cats were dumped in our bin area this morning.

The terrified cats were shivering from cold & fear when Tony spotted them. Thanks to Tony and Isabel who called the RSPCA - and they were speedily picked up.

Please remain vigilant about these fly-tippers who keep returning to Leabank & making our lives a bit more challenging.

Ox-Eye Daisies

One of the first flowers shining out of the wildflower meadow in the edible garden - is the Ox-Eye Daisy.

Remember when we planned & planted up the meadow in March - we all agreed to site it here in order to attract loads of insects into the edible garden. Of course - the fact that it welcomes us into Leabank Square - right at the entrance - is a great benefit as well.

The ox-eye daisy is a typical meadow flower, growing in a variety of plant communities such as dry fields and meadows, but also under scrubs, open-canopy forests, and waste places. It thrives in a wide range of conditions and prefers heavy and damp soils.

Thanks to all who have sent messages complimenting the Gardening Club on how the meadow is looking - we really appreciate it!

Bugs of Leabank Square - Angle Shades Moth

The tongue twisting Latin name for this Angle Shades Moth is Phlogophora Meticulosa.

A highly distinctive and unusual moth, which rests with the wings folded longitudinally, looking very much like a withered autumn leaf - & has a wingspan of 45-50 mm

The adults generally fly between May and October, in at least two generations, but can be found in any month. The species is also a common migrant and can occur in large numbers at coastal & river locations - hence it being on the Bank of the Lea.

The angular markings provide excellent camouflage against foliage. The hindwings are whitish with darker venation. Two broods are produced each year, and in the British Isles, the adults are on the wing from May to October. This moth flies mainly at night and is attracted to light and sugar. It may often be seen during the day at rest on fences and garden foliage - or in our case - on the Recycled Gardens purple pots!

It occurs throughout Britain, commonly in places, and more so in the south. The larvae feed on a variety of herbaceous plants - which is why we are all finding the bright green blighters all over our plants!

Still - it is very Beautiful!!