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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.
Gardens Group terms of reference (PDF)
Contact: Jeremy Prescott,
Wednesday 5 July 2023
Sussex Prairie Garden is an attractive, eight-acre prairie garden, featured in The English Garden magazine. Wakehurst, “Kew’s wild botanic garden”, has 500 acres of designed gardens and landscapes. Managed by Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, it is also home to the Millennium Seedbank, the UK’s largest conservation project.
Read more: Visit to Sussex Prairie Garden & Wakehurst, West Sussex
Arundel Castle Gardens & Landscape - talk with Head Gardener Martin Duncan
7.30pm, Wednesday 29 March 2023
at Bell House, 27 College Road, SE21 7BG
The Dulwich Society’s Spring Gardens talk will be given by Martin Duncan, Head Gardener and Landscape Designer at Arundel Castle.
Our brochure, Dulwich Gardens Open for Charity 2023, has been distributed to all members of the Dulwich Society and to local garden centres and other outlets. Do visit and support the gardens, a lovely garden (or group of two, three or even more), teas and the chance to buy plants that you may just have seen, all at excellent value and for good causes, makes for a great outing.
Download the Dulwich Gardens Open for Charity brochure for more information.
7.30pm, Tuesday 28 February 2023
Changing weather patterns – in 2022, a warmer wetter winter, a hot dry summer, a mild autumn – could be a taste of the future. In her illustrated talk, Sue Fisher will look at the major impacts of climate change on gardens and how to mitigate the effects, with a wealth of tips and practical advice.
Read more: Gardening in a Changing Climate – online talk by Sue Fisher
Walking around Dulwich it is easy to miss the many allotment sites. Hidden from view from the main thoroughfares, lie over 920 of the UK’s 330,000 allotment plots, providing fresh fruit and vegetables - and a lot of enjoyment - to many local families, as well as valuable wildlife habitats and community resources.
Our brochure, Dulwich Gardens Open for Charity 2022, has been distributed to all members of the Dulwich Society and to local garden centres and other outlets. Do visit and support the gardens, a lovely garden (or group of two, three or even more), fine teas, home-made cakes and the chance to buy plants that you may just have seen, all at excellent value and for a good cause, makes for a great outing. The brochure can be downloaded by clicking here.
Wednesday 15th June 2022
RHS Garden Wisley is the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society, home to some of the largest plant collections in the world and to its research activities. The site has been transformed over the last few years, with new gardens and trial gardens, a new library and research building, and greatly enhanced plant centre and visitor facilities, with lots to see and enjoy. Extensive plant sales are available at Wisley, and plant sales are also available at Polesden Lacey - please bring bags.
11am, Friday 22nd April 2022, 51 The Chase, Clapham, SW4 0NP
We have arranged a visit to 51 The Chase, the home of Rupert Tyler, Chairman of the National Garden Scheme, and Charles Rutherfoord, a member and past Chairman of the Society of Garden Designers. The Spring display is spectacular, with over 2,000 tulips creating carpets of colour enhanced by camellias, tree peonies, irises and lilacs, all in a sheltered setting. Our visit will include an introduction to the garden and a tour of the house designed by Mr Rutherfoord and light refreshments.
7.30pm, Monday 4th April 2022
Online Spring gardens talk - Fergus Garrett: “Succession planting for a long garden season”
The Dulwich Society’s Spring garden talk this year will be by Fergus Garrett, head gardener at Great Dixter and one of the UK’s most influential gardeners. In his illustrated talk, Fergus will use the magnificent Long Border at Great Dixter as an example of how to plan a long season border using structural plants, underplanting and interplanting with bulbs, use of self-sowers, pockets of bedding, masking with climbers and good maintenance.
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, with all offering practical experience and a warm welcome. Please check that the volunteer sessions are on the days and times shown before turning up with your wellies and gardening gloves, since they can change.
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 (3-5pm in the summer).
- Bell House Dulwich, 27 College Road, SE21 7BG
- https://www.bellhouse.co.uk/garden-volunteers