Loudon’s first article, on public squares

‘“It could”, drawled the President of the Royal Society, “but then the sheep would eat everything.” Mr Loudon said he would write an article as soon as possible. Sir Joseph offered to recommend him to the Literary Journal, adding that James Mill, its editor, had also studied at the University of Edinburgh. Since public squares involved both the arts and the sciences, it was a most appropriate suggestion for this aspiring author.’ This is a quote from The Claudians: gardens, landscapes, reason and faith: John Claudius Loudon and Claudius Buchanan, Tom Turner (Kindle, 2024).

More about John Claudius Loudon’s first article

The title of Loudon’s article on public squares was "Hints respecting the manner of laying out the grounds of the Public Squares in London" (The Literary Journal, 1803). Loudon argued that London's public squares are poorly designed and lack beauty. They have unnatural and repetitive planting patterns, with harsh edges and a limited selection of plants. This hinders their potential to contribute to the health and beauty of the city. Loudon recommended a new approach to planting public squares, based on the compositional principles of natural scenery and artistic design. His key points were: 

1. Walks should be raised to the level of the surrounding ground and blend seamlessly with the lawns and shrubbery.
2. Instead of random mixing, trees and shrubs should be grouped by species, creating variety and imitating natural forests. 
3. Use evergreens and plants with staggered blooming times for year-round interest.
4. Plant flowers that bloom throughout the year, offering both visual beauty and delightful fragrances.
5. Label trees, shrubs, and flowers with both common and botanical names to encourage learning and appreciation of nature.

Loudon believed this approach would be cheaper than traditional methods, avoiding unnecessary and expensive plants and focusing on design principles. The benefits would include improved public health, enhanced city beauty, and increased awareness of botany and nature.

The article on 'Hints respecting the manner of laying out the grounds of the Public Squares of London, to the utmost picturesque advantage begins as follows: 'It will be allowed by every one that the Squares of London are of the greatest consequence to the health of its inhabitants, and to the beauty of that city. The manner in which they promote the free circulation of air, cannot, or at least has not been yet been obstructed by art; in regard however, to picturesque beauty, nothing can be more absurd than the manner in which these squares have been laid out and planted.'

It is notable that (1) this was the first article Loudon ever published (2) it was about public squares, not private gardens and was thus a precuror to his work on urban landscape planning and design. (3) as always, Loudon brims with self-confidence and speaks his mind, fearlessly (4) at the age of 20 Loudon was committed to 'the picturesque' style which he developed into the 'gardenesque style' of garden design.