Stephen Middleton

"I recently did a double-take. I was at the London Archives, admiring a wall-mounted, mid-19th century panorama of the Thames, mentally ticking off the familiar features on the north bank. Then I noticed this..." londonist.com/london/history…

@crawley_mick Looks great - pre ordered

London’s Plants is the first book to give equal attention to planted and to wild plant species. It covers all of London’s surviving seminatural habitats and is uniquely detailed in its coverage of all the man-made habitats. Visit the web site for a 20%-off pre-publication offer.

Sometimes when we are botanising we can forget to look up! Which would be a shame as #treeflowers are both fascinating & beautiful! This week’s challenge is to go looking for wild & naturalised trees that are blooming. Share your finds for #WildflowerHour this Sunday 8-9pm!

@socrates2sox @Damsonplums Sorry should have read "they are first to flower".

@socrates2sox @Damsonplums Those are something else.... Prunus cerasifera and they are to flower.

How to identify Damsons, Bullaces and Sloes.. britishlocalfood.com/damson-bullace…

🌳 Urban Tree Festival 2026 – Open Call for Events 🌳 Got an idea for a tree walk, workshop, webinar, wellbeing session or community nature event? In 2025 we hosted dawn chorus walks, forest bathing, expert talks, family activities... Apply here: tinyurl.com/5c7whun9

A little video here as well: @N03/55117291710/in/album-72177720331921376" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">flickr.com/photos/4704642…

🌳✨ Urban Tree Festival 9–17 May 2026 OPEN CALL FOR EVENTS IS LIVE ✨🌳 Thread 👇

In case you missed it... we recently spent many hours colouring in this map of Pimlico and (what would become) Victoria, from the 1740s. Bigger map and high-res on link. londonist.substack.com/p/mapped-in-co…

@vivyouell In hedges they keep their leaves, younger trees also more often keep their leaves (trimming hedges keeps them like young trees). Older trees only sometimes and usually the lower down leaves.

@stephenmid Ah, you know, they are a favourite and I've not noticed with Hornbeams. Thank you 😁

Native trees are so embedded in the environment.

URGENT We’re 5 weeks out from Urban Tree Festival and still building the funding to make it happen. Please share our sponsorship call, tag us and shout about us far and wide with tree orgs, local authorities & businesses who want to make a positive contribution. Thank you!💚

The surprise star of the show today at RHS Wisley was Prinsepia utilis (Himalayan wild cherry; Roscaeae). It's a pendulous, spiny shrub with edible fruit, that looks like an overgrown, woody asparagus.

Gall of the week is a recently discovered species new to Britain, the gall wasp Andricus coriarius f. agamic on oak, Quercus robur. Discovered and photographed by Maria Fremlin.

@UrbanTreeFest Lovely dawn redwood...

Our community makes the Urban Tree Festival possible. Every ticket and donation helps us deliver inclusive, volunteer-led events and unlock match funding for new projects. Please support if you can – link below 🌳 urbantreefestival.org/donate

We asked readers: "What's always puzzled you about London's history?" Here are the responses, with attempts at answers. Including one about secret tunnels -> londonist.substack.com/p/londons-hist…

Bet you visited some of these as a child, then forgot all about them londonist.com/london/museums…

@ekarkell @TCVtweets @haringeycouncil OK thanks, I found it - Avenue Gardens on the old Palace Gates railway line near Park Avenue.

Lunchtime walk to the dingle dell in The Avenue in Bounds Green to thank residents & @TCVtweets for creating new dead hedges from old Christmas trees The area looks well cared for & will help reduce fly‑tipping while creating a greener & pleasant space for residents & nature🌳

@ekarkell @TCVtweets @haringeycouncil Where is this green space, please. I know Scout Park, Tunnel Gardens, Springfield Park and green areas lining Bounds Green Road. Is it one of those? Thanks in advance.