The directory of Garden Opening and Event Dates 2009 has been compiled by the Dulwich Society Garden Group to encourage residents to visit the many delightful local gardens that are open each year to raise money for charity.
The popularity of garden visiting has grown rapidly. Last year two splendid gardens in the Village opened on two consecutive Sunday afternoons and raised over £6000 for St Christopher’s Hospice and the National Garden Scheme. Similarly, the Dulwich Garden Safari attracted 350 visitors to five different gardens and raised £3300 for the Dulwich Helpline. It’s great to be able to enjoy yourself and to help others at the same time.
But there’s much more to it than enjoyment. You can learn a lot by visiting different gardens. You find new and interesting plants and find out where and when to plant them. In this ‘going greener’ age you can find out which are the best fruit and vegetables to grow – and this can be done even if your garden is not much bigger than a window box. The momentum to grow more of our own food is gathering pace.
Lastly, a word of gratitude to the owners of the gardens that open for us. They put in a tremendous amount of work preparing their gardens for our visits: they give a great deal of helpful advice and they also raise a lot of money for charity. Without their hard work these visits could not take place. Enjoy your visits!
This Directory is published annually by the Dulwich Society. New entries are welcome. Please send details to John Ward -
2009 Calendar
Please see below for further information on each date.
March 2009
- Thursday 19 March - Dulwich Society Garden Group Lecture: ‘Gardener’s London’ 7.45 for 8.00pm St Barnabas Centre. Admission Free
April 2009
- Sunday 26 April - 5 Burbage Road
May 2009
- Friday 8 May - The Dulwich Festival - until Sunday 17th
- Sunday 10 May - 15A Sydenham Hill
- Sunday 17 May - 49 Alleyn Park
- Sunday 17 May - 13 Gipsy Hill,
- Sunday 17 May - Stoney Hill House, Rock Hill
- Thursday 21 May - South London Botanical Institute
- Saturday 23 May - Tewkesbury Lodge Group
- Sunday 24 May - Tewkesbury Lodge Group
- Sunday 31 May - 35 Camberwell grove
- Sunday 31 May - 118 Court Lane
- Sunday 31 May - 20 Rollscourt Avenue
- Sunday 31 May - South London Botanical Institute
June 2009
- Sunday 7 June - Dulwich Garden Safari
- Sunday 7 June - Ardlui Gardens, 174 Peckhaqm Rye
- Sunday 14 June - 103 & 105 Dulwich village
- Sunday 14 June - North House, 93 Dulwich Village
- Sunday 14 June - 24 Chestnut Road
- Sunday 21 June - 5 Burbage Road
- Sunday 21 June - 99 Stradella Road
- Sunday 21 June - 103 & 105 Dulwich Village
- Tuesday 23 June - Dulwich Society Garden Group Outing to Cherkley Court and Denbies Wine Estate. Bookings: Ina Pulleine Tel 8670 5477 after 11am. Price £30.
- Thursday 25 June - South London Botanical Institute
- Sunday 28 June - 5 Roseway
July 2009
- Sunday 12 July - 71 Central Hill
- Thursday 23 July - South London Botanical Institute
- Sunday 26 July - 10a The Pavement West Norwood
August 2009
- Sunday 2 August - 13 Gipsy Hill
- Thursday 27 August - South London Botanical Institute
September 2009
- Friday 4 September - The Roof Terrace at 21a Waldegrave Road
- Sunday 6 September - 24 Chestnut Road
March / April / May
Thursday, March 19th
Dulwich Society Garden Group.
Talk by Colin Jones - ‘Gardeners London’.
Find out about London’s lesser known public gardens.
London is the greenest city in the world, with over 600 public parks and gardens. Colin Jones illustrated lecture selects the best of them to visit – many of them almost unknown.
7.45 for 8.00pm at the St Barnabas Centre,
Calton Avenue. Admission free. Refreshments.
Sunday, April 26th*
5 Burbage Road,
Crawford and Rosemary Lindsay
Herne Hill, SE24. Telephone: 020 7274 5610
Opening time: 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Admission: £2.50. NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities)
Botanical artist and gardener, Rosemary Lindsay, has been opening her stunning garden for over 10 years. Divided into a series of ‘rooms’ through paths, screens and evergreen trees and shrubs, this lush and beautifully planted garden features a giant lime tree and three old apple trees as well as a number of tender plants. The garden makes great use of scented plants and in the spring and summer months the heat-loving aromatics come into their own. Spring is a time for narcissus, fritillaries, cyclamen and tulips.
*Also open on Sunday, June 21. Private visits by appointment.
Friday, May 8th – Sunday May 17th
The Dulwich Festival
Music, comedy, walks, talks, fairs and Artists Open Day.
Full details in Festival Programme.
Sunday, May 10th*
15A Sydenham Hill
Mrs Susan Marsh
London, SE26 6SH. Telephone: 020 8670 6017
Opening time: 2.00 pm – 6.00 pm
Admission: £3.00 (children free) NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities).
Refreshments available.
Parking: Unrestricted on Sydenham Hill
Sorry, wheelchair access very limited. No dogs.
Terraced, hillside, woodland garden, over _ acre, with rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and some unusual trees and shrubs and mixed herbaceous beds. Acer glade and spring planting. Gravel garden and gazebo. Secret courtyard with pergola and fountain. Willow ‘Fedge’ screening new composting area. One area awaiting development into stumpery with
ferns.
*Viewing by appointment until June 10th.
Sunday, May 10th*
13 Gipsy Hill
Eils and Jon Digby-Rogers
Crystal Palace, SE19 1QG. Telephone: 020 8766 7547
Opening time: 2.00 pm – 7.00 pm
Admission: £3.00, children free NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities).
Refreshments available, including Pimms and wine.
Parking: In side streets. Sorry no wheelchair access. No dogs
Secluded town garden, 17m x 17m, protected by a high brick wall and a steep shrub covered bank. Yorkstone terraced areas with many coloured glazed and terracotta pots. Wide variety of different shrubs, climbers and perennials for year round colour. Wiisteria-covered oak-framed pergola, summerhouse, large and small blown glass and copper fountains, all providing outside rooms for the home.
*Also open on Sunday, August 2nd.
Sunday, May 10th
49 Alleyn Park
Celia Randell
London, SE21 8AT. Telephone: 020 8670 3839
Opening time: 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Admission: £2.50 in support of NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities)
Refreshments available.
NB. Sorry, no wheelchairs. Unfenced pond.
The garden has a formal structure with trees and shrubs and other low maintenance planting, plus some sculpture.
Sunday, May 17th
Stoney Hill House, Rock Hill
Cinzia and Adam Greaves
Sydenham Hill, London, SE26 6SW. Telephone: 020 8670 3402
Opening time: 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Admission: by donation in aid of NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities).
Refreshments available.
NB. Sorry, not suitable for wheelchairs as there are steps to the main part of the garden. No dogs please.
This is an unusually large garden for London, covering approximately one acre. It is a mixture of woodland with many mature oaks and holly trees, plus a number of flower beds.
Thursday, May 21st
South London Botanical Institute
Opening time: 6.00pm – 8.00pm
Open evening - wander around the garden with a glass of
wine. Free admission.
See May 31 entry for address and garden details
Saturday, May 23rd and Sunday, May 24th
‘Tewkesbury Lodge’ garden opening
Four very different gardens in Forest Hill, SE23 will be open to the public for the National Garden Scheme, raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities. The gardens are within a few minutes walk of one another.
Opening times and combined admission: Sat 23 May, (6-9pm) £6 with glass of wine. Sun 24 May (2-6pm) £5. - buy a ticket at the first garden you visit. Refreshments: Homemade tea and cakes available. Plants for sale on both days.
NB. Sorry, no wheelchair access. Accompanied children welcome, as are well-trained dogs on leads.
27 Horniman Drive
A small, low maintenance, north-facing front garden with shrubs creating a tapestry of green. Evolving back garden with emphasis on colour harmony using perennials, roses and shrubs. Vegetable areas, greenhouse, views over London and the North Downs.
53 Ringmore Rise
Corner plot with spectacular views over London. Front garden inspired by Beth Chatto's dry garden, with stunning borders in soft mauves, yellows and white. Rear garden on three levels, with themed beds, some shady, others sunny. Large pond; patio with pergola.
Coach House, 3 The Hermitage, Westwood Park
Sculptor's mature courtyard and roof garden, crammed full of unusual plants and sculptures. Water features, wildlife interest, vegetables and decorative plants in containers large and small, many of which have been fired in the artist's kiln and are for sale
30 Westwood Park
Garden designer's sloping creation, with herb garden, water feature, and winding paths. Unusual plant combinations in the borders, and pots and hanging baskets that link patio and garden. Featured in The English Garden, Gardeners' World, Homes & Gardens, and House Beautiful.
Sunday May 31st
South London Botanical Institute
323 Norwood Road, SE24. Telephone: 020 8674 5787
Opening time: 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Admission: £2.50 in support of NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities).
Refreshments. Plants usually for sale.
Special plant sale, Saturday May 9 – 11.00 am – 1.00 pm.
Sorry, no dogs, limited wheelchair access.
London’s smallest botanical garden, formally laid out with paved paths, densely planted with 500 labelled species and many rare and interesting plants of worldwide origin, including medicinal, carnivorous British plants and ferns.
Sunday, May 31st
118 Court Lane
Margaret Evison
London, SE21 7EA. Telephone: 020 8693 2254
Opening time: 2.00pm – 5.30pm
Admission: £3.00 in support of NGS (raising moneyfor cancer, caring and gardening charities).
Refreshments available
NB. Sorry, no wheelchairs. Open pond area.
Front garden planned to give year round interest with white and green foliage. 180 foot rear garden backs onto Dulwich Park and emphasises the owner’s interest in unusual plants. Terrace, wide herbaceous borders, scented area and newly established wild life area with pond.
Sunday, May 31st
35 Camberwell Grove
Juri Gabriel and Lynette Hemmant
London, SE5 8JA. Telephone: 020 7703 6186
Opening time: 12.00 – 6.00 pm
Admission: £2.50 (children under 16, free) in support of NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities) and St Giles Church Restoration Fund.
Refreshments: Fruit juice and biscuits - 50p
NB. Sorry, no dogs, no wheelchair access.
Country-style garden with St Giles’s Church spire and trees as a backdrop. Roses rampant on artists’ studio and iron staircase. Pots overflowing. Featured in garden magazines in UK and USA. Only 20 feet wide, 120 feet long.
Sunday, May 31st
20 Rollscourt Avenue
Clare Checkland
Herne Hill, London, SE24 0EA. Telephone: 020 7733 4293
Opening time: 2.00pm – 5.00pm.
Admission: £2.00 in support of NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities).
Refreshments available. Sorry, no dogs.
Woodland garden, 90ft x 15ft, circular lawn, meandering paths with clever use of willow panels and open fencing, creating an illusion of width. Ornamental trees – Prunus maakii, multi-stemmed Betula albosinensis underplanted with ferns, euphorbia, Thalictrum aquifolium. Small vegetable/herb garden, sculptural bench and formal circular pool with fish pond.
June
Sunday, June 7th
174 Peckham Rye
Mr and Mrs I Bland
London, SE22 9QA. Telephone: 020 8299 1708
Opening time: 2.30pm – 5.30pm
Admission: £2.50 in support of St Christopher’s Hospice and the NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities).
Children free. Refreshments available. Plant sales. Wheelchair access. No dogs except guide dogs.
The garden is about the size of the inside of a tennis court. Originally designed by Judith Sharp as an easy-care, child-friendly space with year round interest, it has evolved over the years with some rarer plants spread round various habitats – shady, woodland, sunny, arid, etc.
Sunday, June 7th
‘Ardlui Gardens’
37 Towton Road jointly open with 45 Idmiston Road
Josie Slade David Aitman and Marianne Atherton
West Norwood, London, SE27. Telephone: 020 8670 5469
Opening time: 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Joint admission charge: £4.00 in support of the NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities).
Refreshments: Home made cakes, tea and ice cream.Plant sales. Sorry, no dogs. No parking restrictions.
Two gardens separated by a few yards but so different in scale and style. Towton Road, 20ft x 20ft. Decking, pergola with climbing roses, flower beds, small circle of lawn, gravel, millstone pond, potted hosta collection, carved bear. Idmiston Road, 100ft on two levels. Upper level with architectural plants, aliums, lavender and clematis. Lower level with ancient apple trees, thalictrum, eryngium and brunnera approached through wisteria and laburnum-clad pergola.
Sunday, June 7th
Dulwich Garden Safari
In aid of the Dulwich Helpline, 2.00 – 6.00pm,
For details, see advertisement on the inside of the back cover.
Saturday, June 13th and Sunday, June 14th
Open Garden Squares Weekend
The one weekend when you can visit gardens throughout London which are not usually open to the public. Visitors will have a rare opportunity to peer behind the walls of many private community gardens and squares. Last year over 170 gardens and squares took part.
Get full details from the website: www.opensquares.org
Sunday, June 14th
24 Chestnut Road
Paul Brewer and Anne Rogerson
West Norwood, SE27 9LF. Telephone: 020 8761 0647
Opening time: 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm.
Admission: £1.50. NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities), plus Sound Minds.
Refreshments available (tea and cakes).
NB. Sorry, not suitable for wheelchairs.
Front garden bed with mixed planting. Compact rear garden with an unusual gazebo made gazebo made from recycled wood, pond, patio, decking. Tropical feel with banana, palms, acer griseum, vintage ferns. Featured in House Beautiful magazine in 2008.
Sunday, June 14th and Sunday. June 21st
103 Dulwich Village*
Mr and Mrs Noel Annesley
London, SE21 7BJ
Opening time: 2.00pm - 5.00pm
Joint admission (see below): £4.50. ln aid of St Christopher'sHospice on June 14 and NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and garden charities) on June 21.
Refreshments available. Plant sales.
NB. Limited wheelchair access. No dogs.
About half an acre of 'country garden' in London. Long herbaceous border, spacious lawn, ornamental pond, roses and many and varied other plants, plus fruit and vegetable garden.
*Jointly open with 105 Dulwich Village
Sunday, June 14th and Sunday, June 21st
105 Dulwich Village
Mr and Mrs Andrew Rutherford
London, SE21 7BJ
Opening time: 2.00pm - 5.00pm
Joint admission (see above): £4.50. ln aid of St Christopher’s Hospice on June 14 and NGS (raising money far cancer, caring and gardening charities) on June 21.
Refreshments available. Plant sales.
NB. Sorry, no wheelchair access. No dogs.
About half an acre, mostly herbaceous with lawns and lots of old fashioned roses. Shrubbery, ornamental pond, water garden. Very pretty garden with many unusual plants.
*Jointly open with 103 Dulwich Village.
Sunday June 21st
5 Burbage Road
Crawford and Rosemary Lindsay
Herne Hill, SE24 9HJ. Telephone: 020 7274 5610
Opening time: 2.00 pm - 5.00pm
For full details, please see entry dated April 26
Also open - 99 Stradella Road - for details see next page.
Sunday, June 21st
99 Stradella Road
Chris and Ted Barry Herne Hill, SE24 9HL
Opening time: 2.00pm – 5.00pm. Admission: £2.50 in aid of NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities).
Refreshments available. Plant sale. Sorry, unsuitable for wheelchairs – some steps. Children welcome. No dogs.
This is a foliage garden with many architectural plants with a focus on shape and movement. Planting is dense and varied and includes ferns, grasses, annuals and agave.
Also open - 5 Burbage Road – see previous page
Tuesday, June 23rd
Dulwich Society Garden Group
Visit to Cherkley Court Gardens
and Denbies Wine Estate.
Coach from Dulwich Picture Gallery, College Road at 9.00am.
Both visits will include guided tours.
Price £30 includes transport, admissions, tours and tips.
Booking: Ina Pulleine, Tel: 8670 5477 (after 11.00am).
Thursday, June 25th
South London Botanical Institute
323 Norwood Road, SE24
Opening time: 6.00pm – 8.00pm. `Open evening’ – wander around the garden with a glass of wine. .Free.
For full details please see entry dated May 31.
Sunday, June 28th*
5 Roseway
David and Diana Smart
Dulwich Village, SE21 7JT. Telephone: 020 7733 8335 Opening Time: 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Admission: Voluntary donation to’ Medical Aid to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia’. Refreshments available.
NB. Limited parking, wheelchair access, small dog in residence.
Small cottage garden. Interesting, colourful. Garden sculpture. Small lawn for relaxation (chairs). Very large fruit and vegetable garden 300 yards behind garden. Most vegetables and a variety of fruits (seasonal).Well laid out for inspection with lawn surrounding. Compost production is important. This is a garden designed to encourage fruit and vegetable growing within the community.
*Open all the year subject to telephone appointment
July
Sunday, July 12th
71 Central Hill
Sue Williams
Upper Norwood, SE19 1B. Telephone: 020 8771 4112
Open; 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Admission £3.00 in support of NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities). Refreshments available.
NB. No parking – park in Rockmount Road. Sorry, no dogs.
This Victorian secret garden is situated at the end of an unmade- up lane between Rockmount Road and Harold Road. There are many Mediterranean plants of structural interest, large herbaceous borders and both a wildlife and a formal pond. There are several items of architectural interest around the garden.
Thursday, July 23rd
South London Botanical Institute
323 Norwood Road, SE24. Telephone: 020 8674 5787
Opening time: 6.00 – 8.00 pm. Open evening – wander around the garden with a glass of wine. Free.
For full details, please see entry dated May 31
Sunday, July 26th
10a The Pavement
Brendan Byrne
Chapel Road, West Norwood, SE27 0UN
NB. Entrance from Ladas Road, down alleyway.
Telephone: 020 8761 5651
Opening times: 10am – 12.00 noon and 2.00pm – 6.00pm.
Admission: £2.00 in support of NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities) and the local RSPCA.
Sorry, no wheelchair access.
Children and dogs (accompanied) welcome.
Described in the ‘Yellow Book’ as the smallest garden open to the public. A hidden oasis behind houses and shops. Country type of garden, with cottage style planting, mostly in containers, Shrubs, herbaceous, bedding, herbs continually changing. Of special interest to gardeners with small spaces. Has been featured in many magazines, including Country Life; and on Carlton and Sky TV.
August
Sunday, August 2nd
13 Gipsy Hill
Eils and Jon Digby-Rogers
Crystal Palace, SE19 1QG
Telephone: 020 8766 7547
Opening time: 2.00pm – 7.00pm
For full details please see entry dated May 10
Thursday, August 27th
South London Botanical Institute
323 Norwood Road, SE24. Telephone: 020 8674 5787
Opening time: 6.00pm - 8.00pm
Open evening - wander around the garden with a glass of
wine. Free admission.
For full details please see entry dated May 31
September
Friday, September 4th
The Roof Terrace at 21a Waldegrave Road
Suzie Gibbons
London, SE19 2AL
Opening time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Admission: £3.50 including a glass of wine. In support of NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities).
Sorry, no wheelchair access. Not suitable for children.No dogs. Parking in surrounding streets.Access via two flights of stairs.
Urban roof terrace 60ft x 30ft with Mary Poppins views, central rusty water feature and sedum roof. Simply planted with trees, grasses and verbena bonarienis. A calm oasis in the sky.
Sunday, September 6th
24 Chestnut Road
Paul Brewer and Anne Rogerson
West Norwood, SE27 9LF. Telephone: 020 8761 0647
Opening time: 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm.
Admission £3.00. In support of NGS (raising money for cancer, caring and gardening charities), plus Sound Minds.
Refreshments – a glass of wine included (and candlelight).
For full details please see entry dated June 14.