Garden Square News
Dedicated to protecting London’s communal garden squares
Our mission at Garden Square News is to enhance and defend the more than 150 central London communal gardens and improve the environment for those living around them.
Our activities include:
Campaigning against encroachment and inappropriate development
Helping garden committees improve the management of their areas
Reporting local news unreported elsewhere
Developing new facilities to solve garden problems
Sharing helpful and experienced advice from garden to garden
Holding local government to account
For 26 years GSN has been building a unique reputation as the go-to publication on garden square challenges from defeating illegal construction to managing foxes and over-enthusiastic children’s football games.
Created in 1995 by seasoned international journalist Holly Smith, GSN, published twice yearly, has a dedicated readership among garden committees and concerned residents in central London, Edinburgh and New York. The magazine has received civic service awards from the Mayor of London and the Mayor of Kensington & Chelsea.
This Issue
The Spring 2024
issue is out now.
New company created to meet squares’ technical challenges
Care home on Kensington Square seeks garden access for its residents
Falcons take up residence atop controversial high-rise hotel
List of rogue landlords
Updated June 2024
How do I Subscribe?
£25 per year, or $40 for US subscribers
For individual subscribers. The fee entitles the subscriber to one copy of the spring issue and one copy of the autumn issue delivered by post or by hand.
£55 per year
For garden square committees. The fee guarantees five copies of each issue are delivered to the committee’s designated recipient.
Garden Square News
c/o Dhawan News
155 Old Brompton Road
London SW5 OLJ
Potential subscribers should write to the address above and enclose a cheque for £55 or £25 (depending on whether the subscription is for a committee or an individual) made out to Garden Square News. Please state where the subscription should be sent. There can be only one address for a garden committee, except by special arrangement. US subscribers should contact GSN for instructions on how to pay in US dollars.
Group Discussions
To submit your ideas on existing topics, click on the topic you want to discuss and add a comment. To add an article send it via our contact section.
If you don't find the topics below to be useful, please suggest others!
Back Issues
Garden Square News was first published in 1996, and back issues are available to read in the local studies sections of the Kensington Central Library and the City of Westminster library.
Printed copies of past issues can be purchased for £3 each, with special prices for large orders. Please send your order through the "Contact" section of this website. If you need help in finding a specific article, send your query via "Contact".
Digital copies of our recent issues are available below:
Autumn 2023
Spring 2023
Autumn 2022
Service Providers
Garden Square News and its readers have been pleased with the work done by the firms listed below, although the magazine can offer no guarantees.
GARDEN-RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS
Fox control
Provides non-lethal and sustainable fox control. Experienced in deterring foxes from London's communal gardens.
Garden technical services
Specialist communal garden contractors providing security cameras, access control, electrical connections, irrigation and more
Gravel
Close textured path gravel, natural brown colour, hard wearing, low maintenance.
Insurance
Keegan & Pennykid (Insurance Brokers) Ltd
Founded in Edinburgh in 1968, Keegan & Pennykid is an independent, second generation, family-owned insurance broker which provides expert advice and a highly personalised service to clients throughout the UK.
Irrigation
Irrigation systems, water storage, grey water recycling. Currently managing watering systems in 16 communal gardens.
Locks for garden gates
Installation of electronic key systems for communal garden gates.
Maintenance of gardens
Garden Associates
London's leading specialist in the maintenance of squares and communal gardens. e-mail gardenassociates@btinternet.com
Joseph Jones Contract Gardeners Limited
Over 35 years' experience in maintaining garden squares.
Management of communal gardens and property
Westbourne Block Management Limited
Managers of gardens, private houses and blocks of flats.
Notice boards for gardens
Suppliers of notice boards, signage, street furniture and cabinet-making. We have many happy garden square customers.
Plant Labels
We engrave botanical and plant labels to clients' specific orders, mainly for botanical, horticultural or arboricultural uses - but also in a range of other situations where elegant and discreet information needs to be displayed.
Playgrounds
Designers and makers of playgrounds, tree houses, bin stores, and garden compost structures.
Scaffolders
Considerate scaffolders who use traditional wrenches to assemble the scaffolding, not noisy bolt-tightening machines.
Soil aeration
Specialists in deep soil aeration and decompaction services.
Solicitors
Legal advisors to garden square committees in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Specialists in residential, private client and commercial property law. For garden issues ask for Robert Barham.
Teak garden furniture
UK's leading supplier of sustainable teak furniture, including benches and planters.
Tree surgeons and tree advice
Tim George Tree Services Limited
Local authority approved contractors, maintaining trees in communal gardens in Westminster, Kensington and Hampstead.
An expert and caring company providing tree and horticultural services to the highest standards of quality and safety for more than 40 years.
Complete aboricultural service -- consultancy, tree surveys, and tree surgery.
GENERAL SERVICE PROVIDERS
Building conservation experts
Hilary Bell, Conservation Architect
Expert advice on the alteration, refurbishment, and care of listed and period buildings.
Coffee suppliers
Located on Old Brompton Road, Sea Island Coffee specialises in sourcing an extensive range of the world's rarest single-origin coffees. From Jamaica Blue Mountain to St Helena, each coffee is freshly roasted and available as whole beans, ground coffee, and Nespresso pods.
Car repair and servicing
Your local Kensington garage. MOT repairs, servicing, electronics, and general repairs.
Framers and fine art
Master Picture Framers and Art Gallery since 1966. Your local art specialists offering handmade frames, art, fine art printing and picture hanging.
Music
For musicians for events at your home or in your garden square, please contact Georgina Colebrook: georgina.colebrook@rcm.ac.uk. For music teachers for adults and children, please contact teachingservice@rcm.ac.uk.
Newspaper delivery service
Opticians
Lauder and Rees Opthhalmic Opticians
Providing expert eye examinations and stylish glasses.
Links
Thurloe Owners & Leaseholders Association
Arlington Square
A public square but managed by the local residents
Garden Charities
Royal Borough Of Kensington & Chelsea Garden Information
rbkc.gov.uk/council-tax/garden-squares
Civic Associations And Societies
Campden Hill Residents Association
Nevern Square Residents' Association
Onslow Neighbourhood Association
Contact
Garden Square News
c/o Dhawan News
155 Old Brompton Road
London SW5 OLJ
Potential subscribers should write to the address above and enclose a cheque for £55 or £20 (depending on whether the subscription is for a committee or an individual) made out to Garden Square News. Please state where the subscription should be sent. There can be only one address for a garden committee, except by special arrangement.
US residents wishing to subscribe should send an e-mail with their contact details for pricing and payment information.
Please feel free to send Garden Square News your feedback and queries by e-mail using the contact form. The editor is not able to respond to every comment or question, but will be interested to read what you have to say.
Potential advertisers can contact the magazine via the contact form. New advertisers are required to submit references.
Holly Smith, Editor.
Contact Form