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HOBBS
AT HOME

PART 8

When she's not busy working on the next Hobbs campaign, our Head of Brand Creative, Rosarie King, likes to spend her time outdoors on her city allotment. Here, she shows us around this lush London haven.

A yellow front door surronded by greenery
A yellow front door surronded by greenery

When she's not busy working on the next Hobbs campaign, our Head of Brand Creative, Rosarie King, likes to spend her time outdoors on her city allotment. Here, she shows us around this lush London haven.

Hobbs Head Of Brand Creative, Rosarie King In Her Allotement Hobbs Head Of Brand Creative, Rosarie King In Her Allotement

LIFE ON THE ALLOTMENT

Located right behind my house, my plot sits within a small, but popular, city allotment. We are an eclectic bunch of allotmenteers with most people working full time. Since lockdown began, it’s been a great place to interact – the plots work well for social distancing!

The lush greenery of Rosarie's london allotment The lush greenery of Rosarie's london allotment
The street signage for Rosarie's allotment The street signage for Rosarie's allotment

WHEN IT’S SHOW TIME

Each year at the end of August, I organise the end of season get-together, where we have a best and worst in show competition. This picture is from last year when I won best for the worst misshapen hybrid courgette and Martyn won best for his amazing tomatoes.

Rosarie and a friend show off the fruits of their hard work in thre allotments Rosarie and a friend show off the fruits of their hard work in thre allotments

THE FLORA AND FAUNA

I find being outdoors among nature very therapeutic. The allotment is abundant with wildlife. We share it with two resident squirrels, a fox, frogs, a tortoise and all sorts of birds – they're always on the lookout for worms. There are also a couple of beehives; note the homemade bee life raft floating on the water butt.

A bee life boat Lush greenery in the allotments Lush greenery in the allotments
Purple flowers and greenery in the allotments

WHAT I'M GROWING...

The start of the season coincided with the beginning of lockdown, so there was a scramble for seeds and plants. That being said, I've managed to grow strawberries, rhubarb, miniature apples, gooseberries, lettuce, beetroot, carrots, broad beans, runner beans, courgettes and artichokes. There will be no excuses this year for my plot not to be of Chelsea Flower Show standard!

Rosarie's vegetable patch with a deck chair Rosarie's vegetable patch with a deck chair
A selection of seedlings A selection of seedlings

ROSARIE'S GARDENING TIPS

  1. Plan out where you intend to grow things for the season in a sketch, marking where you planted seeds – as this can be tricky to remember!
  2. Rosarie's plan for her allotment Rosarie's dog alongside a selection of gooseberries
  3. If the ground is bad or you haven't had enough time to tend it, plant potatoes. They'll grow anywhere (from buckets to plant pots) and will make the soil easier to grow in next time.
  4. There are lots of rules about growing. You can ignore most of them – after all, for most of us gardening is a hobby, not a competition, and we are very happy to eat misshapen odds and sods of produce.
  5. Gooseberries soaked in vodka and sugar, and rhubarb soaked in gin are a great way to use up surplus berries – and they aren't as fattening as jam, pies or crumbles!

Rosarie's dog alongside a selection of gooseberries Rosarie's dog alongside a selection of gooseberries
Pickled gooseberries and rhubarb.

“MY LITTLE CAIRN TERRIER BONNIE LIKES TO COME UP TO THE ALLOTMENT WITH ME. THIS IS A PICTURE FROM A COUPLE Of YEARS AGO AFTER HARVESTING OUR GOOSEBERRIES.”

Whether you're the mother of the bride or groom, guest or bridesmaid, our Hobbs style guide will help you find the perfect outfit

HOBBS AT HOME:
PART 7

Based in Rye with the beach and countryside on his doorstep, our Senior Womenswear Designer, Jason McGhie, shares what life in lockdown looks like for him.

READ AND SHOP NOW

HOBBS AT HOME: PART 7

Based in Rye with the beach and countryside on his doorstep, our Senior Womenswear Designer, Jason McGhie, shares what life in lockdown looks like for him.

READ AND SHOP NOW
Whether you're the mother of the bride or groom, guest or bridesmaid, our Hobbs style guide will help you find the perfect outfit
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