Gardens

Contact: Jeremy Prescott, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dulwich and its neighbourhood is a green oasis bejewelled by its gardens - many magnificent, all inspirational, and all backed by astonishing depths of gardening knowledge. 

Each Spring the Gardens sub-committee publishes a comprehensive “Dulwich Gardens open for charity” booklet, with details of the local gardens that are open to the public during the year.

The sub-committee also organises an annual garden talk and an annual coach tour to one or more gardens of national importance, as well as occasional local visits. Details of these events, which are open to all members of the Dulwich Society and their friends, are included in the Society’s quarterly Journal and its monthly eNewsletter.

We contribute articles to the Society’s Journal, and generally we support gardening and related activities in our area. The Dulwich Society is an affiliated society of the Royal Horticultural Society. The Gardens sub-committee normally meets four times a year. If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact Jeremy Prescott.

Our brochure, Dulwich Gardens open for Charity 2021, has been distributed to all members of the Dulwich Society and to local garden centres. These gardens are one of the marvels of the area and a great source of ideas and inspiration, as well as raising significant sums for local and national charities. The brochure can be downloaded by clicking here. More photographs of each garden are included this year in an accompanying website, www.dulwichopengardens.org. In current circumstances, please check Government guidelines ahead of proposed visits. For those gardens opening for the National Gardens Scheme, pre-booking of slots may be available for openings before limits on social contact are removed - see ngs.org.uk

Nick Bailey: “Revive your garden in 2021: breathing life, style and good-health into your garden”
7.30pm, Thursday 15th April 2021

This year’s Spring garden talk will by Nick Bailey, a freelance horticulturalist, best-selling author and regular presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World, garden designer and speaker.

His illustrated online talk will provide a fresh approach to designing and planting gardens along with a host of tips on rejuvenatingtired plants, lawns and patios.  This coupled with a wide range of recommended plants for difficult situations will ensure that there is ample take-home advice for all participants. The talk will last for 45 minutes with additional time for questions.

The talk is being given in association with Bell House Dulwich, with any surplus going towards Bell House’s wildlife pond. Tickets are £10, bookable through www.bellhouse.co.uk/events or https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/revive-your-garden-in-2021-tickets-133476396495



Here are some of the gardening and wildlife organisations in and around Dulwich which would be pleased to hear from you if you would like to spend time helping them. Please check that the volunteering sessions are on the days and times shown before turning up with your wellies and gardening gloves, since they can change from time to time.

Bell House

Bell House, a volunteer-led educational charity in the heart of Dulwich Village, is surrounded by beautiful and historic gardens. Volunteers are welcomed on Saturday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 - 11:30am, and Tuesday afternoon 2-4pm.

  • Bell House Dulwich, 27 College Road, Dulwich, London SE21 7BG
  • https://www.bellhouse.co.uk/garden-volunteers
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses

Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses (BPCG) is a community garden in the centre of Lambeth’s Brockwell Park. The large site includes an orchard, a series of demonstration gardens, a walled herb garden and two commercial-sized greenhouses.
Volunteer gardeners (no experience necessary) are welcome Thursday to Sunday 10am to 5pm (summer) 4pm (winter).

  • BPCG Brockwell Hall, Brockwell Park, London SE24 0PA
  • https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk/
  • To discuss volunteering, telephone Kate on 07834 343664 or Cat on 07503 919973, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Centre for Wildlife Gardening, Peckham

Wildlife garden and award-winning visitor centre in a quiet residential street in Peckham, which is now working with Southwark Adult Learning Service as a delivery partner for family learning. Volunteer days are run on Wednesdays.

  • 28 Marsden Road, London, SE15 4EE
  • https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/nature-reserves/centre-wildlife-gardening
  • Contact Jo on 020 3897 6151 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Dulwich Park Friends

The Friends run ‘Tend the Park’ volunteer sessions on the first Saturday of every month (subject to reasonable weather), from 10am-1pm. This may involve activities as varied as bulb planting, dead heading and care of the lake

Dulwich Upper Wood Local Nature Reserve

Conservation volunteers are very welcome at Dulwich Upper Wood – part of the ancient Great North Wood.

  • Dulwich Upper Woods – TCV (The Conservation Volunteers), Farquhar Rd, Dulwich, London SE19 1SS
  • https://www.tcv.org.uk/london/urbanecology/urban-ecology-sites/dulwich-upper-wood/
  • The site warden is Michael Williams -020 8761 6230 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Twitter: @dulwichuwood

Dulwich Vegetable Garden

The DVG was established to encourage people to learn about growing their own fruit and vegetables. The produce from the garden is shared with volunteers when it is harvested. Everyone is welcome to look around or join the activities.

  • Dulwich Park, College Road, Dulwich, London SE21 7BQ (the garden is behind Rosebery Lodge in Dulwich Park).
  • https://semble.org/project/dulwich-vegetable-garden-dvg-in-dulwich-park/
  • Open Sundays and Wednesdays, 10.30am-12.30pm. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
  • The DVG sells fruit and vegetable plants every year at Dulwich Park Fair (17 May 2020)

Dulwich Village Orchard

Established in 2019 on the site of the Old Grammar School playground, the orchard features heritage apple trees from the Brogdale National Collection in Kent, wildflower meadows and seating areas. Volunteers work with the London Wildlife Trust to maintain the orchard.

  • Dulwich Village Orchard, Gallery Road, London, SE21 7AE
  • https://www.thedulwichestate.org.uk/whats-happening/new-orchard-and-heritage-trail-open-in-dulwich
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Great North Wood project (London Wildlife Trust)
The Great North Wood used to stretch between the Thames and Croydon. London Wildlife Trust is working in the areas that remain (including Sydenham Hill Wood and Dulwich Wood) to improve habitats for wildlife with well-organised volunteer workdays throughout the year.

  • Multiple sites
  • https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/great-north-wood
  • Call 020 3897 6151 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Horniman Museum Gardens
The Horniman Museum Gardens comprise 16 acres of beautifully maintained formal and natural landscapes [already said this], including a new grasslands garden, a wildlife garden, a meadow field and the oldest nature trail in London. Volunteers support the gardens team, with vacancies posted on the website.

Link Age Southwark
Link Age Southwark connects volunteers with local older people, with gardening volunteers helping them with light gardening such as weeding and tidying, allowing older people to maintain safe and tidy gardens.

  • Locations – vary (across Southwark)
  • http://linkagesouthwark.org/volunteering/gardening/
  • Call 020 8299 2623 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request a full application pack. Alternatively, fill out this online form: http://linkagesouthwark.org/volunteer-with-us/.

Old Dairy Health Centre, Croxted Road
The ODHC Gardening Group is a group of volunteers who develop and tend the gardens within the Practice complex.

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