Behind the Privet Hedge | Michael Gilson | Substack

Recent posts

An apple wassailing we will go to rediscover our lost connection to the land

A chance visit to the pub uncovers the revival of a fruity folk tradition

Jan 21 • Michael Gilson

Decadent Des Esseintes' horticultural monstrosities and the ravages of syphilis

The flowers eventually win in Huysmans' cult novel Against Nature

Jan 14 • Michael Gilson

Robin Hood Gardens: the Brutalist imposition of a way of living

The last concrete tombstone has been removed from a failed experiment visited upon Londoners

Jan 7 • Michael Gilson

The 12 garden and landscape days of Christmas

Will you indulge me a selection of this year's Behind the Privet Hedge essays?

Dec 17, 2025 • Michael Gilson

The garden of the gloomy Capels and a lesson from history for us

Formal garden fever among 17th Century gentry found a place in the art of the day

Dec 11, 2025 • Michael Gilson

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts