February News from the Garden
What's Growing?
So many bulbs are peeping through this month and if you haven't done so already, check out Hilary's monthly photo montage of what's blooming in SJG on Instagram @stjohnsgarden.ec1 - it's quite incredible to see the range of shrubs and plants in flower during winter months :). We're still holding our nerve and NOT clambering around the beds removing leaves as we know how important leaves are as a habitat for pupating beetles, butterfly chrysalises and overwintering bumble bees - so much unseen life developing, growing and resting undisturbed in the leaf piles of SJG.
What's Next?
The SJG Spring Calendar is now available and we are in for a blooming treat with lots of growing activities in the garden and across the neighbourhood as part of the Clerkenwell Pollinator Path in 2026. Move over Winter Olympics, our very own Growing Champion Jess is leading the charge on community cuttings in Clerkenwell and is compiling a list of all the babies we're growing and where they're going to be planted out. If you'd like to donate your own cuttings or accept gifts of lovingly-grown community cuttings when they're ready to be planted out, please contact us on stjohnsgarden.ec1@gmail.com and Jess will be in touch.
There's also a community planting session at the new Hicks Hall Gardens on St John's Street in the works. The date is still TBD, potentially Saturday 28th February, but this date will be confirmed nearer the time. If you want to stay in the loop with Clerkenwell Pollinator Path progress and happenings over the coming months, you can join a WhatsApp Group here and help us bring nature back into our neighbourhood!
The Annual AGM of the Friends of St John's Garden is being held on a Saturday this year, March 21st 2pm-3.30pm at the Museum Learning Centre in St John's Square (under the archway leading to the cloister garden, next to where chess club takes place on Saturdays). Everyone is welcome to come along - we'll be reporting on 2025 activities and sharing plans for the year ahead! We'll also be electing new members to the committee at the AGM so if you're curious to know more about what the role involves drop us a line at stjohnsgarden.ec1@gmail.com and let's chat!
Calling bookworms and wild swans! The first meet-up of the Britton Street Book Club is April 9th at 6pm and the chosen book is Fly Wild Swans, the long-awaited sequel to Wild Swans. If you'd like to be added to the Book Club Whatsapp group, please email stjohnsgarden.ec1@gmail.com and Arvinda will be in touch :)
Sarah, Susanna, Analisa, Ian and Liz
(Friends of St John’s Garden Committee)