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
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, demonstration gardens, a walled herb garden and two commercial-sized greenhouses. Volunteer gardeners are welcome Thursday to Sunday 10am to 5pm (summer) 4pm (winter).
- BPCG Brockwell Hall, Brockwell Park, SE24 0PA
- https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk/
- For more information 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. Volunteer days are run on Wednesdays.
- 28 Marsden Road, London, SE15 4EE
- https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/nature-reserves/centre-wildlife-gardening
- For more information email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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 and maintaining the dry and winter gardens.
- Dulwich Park, College Road, SE21 7BQ (sessions normally meet at the Francis Peek Centre)
- https://dulwichparkfriends.org.uk
Dulwich Upper Wood Local Nature Reserve
Conservation volunteers are very welcome at Dulwich Upper Wood, a Local Nature Reserve, educational facility and place of recreation.
- Dulwich Upper Woods – TCV (The Conservation Volunteers), Farquhar Rd, 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.
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, SE21 7BQ (the garden is behind Rosebery Lodge in Dulwich Park)
- Open Sundays and Wednesdays, 10.30am-12.30pm
- Just come along or email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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. A volunteer group water the fruit trees every second week (weekly in the summer) and have a pruning session twice a year.
- Dulwich Village Orchard, Gallery Road, SE21 7AE
- For details contact Paul Millington on 07939-052323
Horniman Museum Gardens
The Horniman Museum Gardens comprise 16 acres of beautifully maintained formal and natural landscapes, including the oldest nature trail in London. Volunteers support the gardens team, with vacancies posted on the website.
• The Horniman Public Museum and Public Park Trust, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ
• https://www.horniman.ac.uk/about-the-horniman/volunteering
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 on an as-needed/as-available basis.
• Locations – across Southwark
• http://linkagesouthwark.org/sos
Old Dairy Health Centre, Croxted Road
The ODHC Gardening Group is a group of volunteers, largely registered as patients at the health centre, who meet to develop and tend the gardens its grounds.
• The Old Dairy Health Centre, 19B Croxted Road, SE21 8SZ
• Twitter: @odhcgardners
• For more information, call 07956-320486
St Barnabas Dulwich
The volunteer gardening group meet every second Saturday of the month.
• St Barnabas Church, Calton Avenue, SE21 7DG
• For details contact the Parish Office, 020 8693 1524
St Clement with St Peter Church Community Orchard
Volunteers meet every second and fourth Sunday 2-4pm, come rain or shine, helping to redevelop the area.
• St Clement with St Peter, 140 Friern Road, London SE22 0AY (entrances on Friern and Barry Road)
• Just come along!
Sunray Gardens
The Friends of Sunray Gardens have a small group of volunteers who meet on Sunday mornings, and a larger group who meet on the first Sunday of each month, from 10am - 12noon. We cut back brambles, weed flower beds, water any new trees and try to keep our small park tidy and welcoming for visitors.
• Sunray Gardens, Red Post Hill, London SE24 9NZ
• Just come along; or contact Paul Millington on 07939-052323.
Sydenham Hill Wood & Dulwich Wood
London Wildlife Trust runs well-organised volunteer workdays throughout the year in Sydenham Hill Wood & Dulwich Wood to improve habitats for wildlife.
• https://wildlondon.org.uk/nature-reserves/sydenham-hill-wood-and-coxs-walk
• For details and to register (required), email Sam: