The Dulwich Society Journal for Spring 2024.
The Society’s membership continues to grow and we are attracting new volunteers. In particular, we have welcomed two new charity trustees to the executive committee and are saying a sad goodbye to two others. Maintaining a balance of experience and fresh ideas is a challenge for the chair of any organisation and I am grateful for the service of the retiring members and the energy of the new that allows this renewal to happen. More of this at the AGM, but I did just want in particular to mention one of the changes here and to thank Diana McInnes for her long service as trustee and membership secretary. Diana has been a trustee for over 6 years, on the executive committee for 10 years and membership secretary for 12 years. Members with queries will have seen her diligent efficiency as she manages subscriptions, Gift Aid and Journal delivery schedules. As one of our hardest workers, her eye for detail has served the Society well over many years and she will be missed. Diana has kindly agreed to serve until the AGM and will ensure a smooth handover thereafter, so I am pleased that she will remain involved for a few months to come.
We have also welcomed to the executive committee a new development director who will coordinate our activities of member and volunteer recruitment, as well as working to enhance the diversity of our membership, in particular by attracting members from across a broader range of age groups. Our other recent appointment was the chair of the newly-formed environment committee. This new committee had its inaugural meeting in January and is already pursuing a number of worthwhile projects. Do read their report on page 9.
With a more internal eye, your Society is getting to the end of a year-long consultation on its rules. The old rules, with some minor amendments, have been in place since 1964 and were no longer suited to the modern electronic era. Also, the gold standard for charity rules has moved on in the last 60 years and we need to catch up, to stay with best governance practice. The draft new rules are closely based on the recent Charity Commission standard and an explanation of the consultation can be found on page 7. We will be voting to adopt the new rules at the AGM on 20 May. A date for your diaries.
Dr Joe Spence, Master of Dulwich College, will give a talk entitled “Shackleton and School Leadership” preceding the AGM, a timely topic, as Shackleton died just 100 years ago. Dr Spence, who became Master of the College in 1992, after previously being Headmaster of Oakham School and Master in College (housemaster to the King’s Scholars) at Eton College, has announced that he will be stepping down and this will be one of the last opportunities to hear him speak. He has a unique viewpoint, with a career in school leadership (including jointly leading Southwark Schools Learning Partnership) and as head of the alma mater of the great explorer himself.
Please do attend the AGM and you will be contributing to the advancement of your Society as well as participating at what will be a very interesting talk.
So let me sign off with a welcome to the Spring edition of the Dulwich Society’s Journal. Once again, our editors have pulled together a collection of interesting and informative articles to keep you entertained. Feast on their good work. We have articles on the new St Christopher’s shop in West Dulwich and the Dulwich parkrun. Highlighting other charities in Dulwich who are also celebrating significant anniversaries, we take a look at the Dulwich Festival and the Friends of Dulwich Picture Gallery. For those of you interested in environmental issues, you will find an article on the work of not-for-profit SE24 and their solar energy installations. Finally, the editors have commissioned the first in a series of pieces highlighting the work of some of our volunteers. In this edition you can learn a bit about the prolific output of Sue Badman, our vice-chair.
If you are interested in getting involved in the work of the Society, we always have lots to do and appreciate all the help we can get. Please do contact me at
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Controlled Parking Zones
Following its withdrawal of the CPZ proposals in Dulwich Wood and Dulwich Hill Wards, the Council held an online consultation on a more defined CPZ area in Dulwich Village. It was planned to run for six weeks between 7 December and 17 January, though the time period was extended to 28 January after it was discovered that Southwark had failed to notify all the residents likely to be affected. The original plan, to deliver booklets by hand, had not ensured proper coverage and many houses had been missed. A further 8,000 letters had to be sent out.
Consultation on Works in Dulwich Village
The Southwark Council online consultation on the proposed works in Dulwich Village, at the bottom of Calton Avenue, ran for six weeks between 7 December and 17 January. If agreed, construction is expected to take place this summer. Work outside the North Parade of shops, re-laying the pavement and adding new trees, lighting and seating is also expected in the summer. To protect the interests of the local retailers, Southwark and Estate contractors will coordinate their work.
Proposed Changes on Hunts Slip Road
Following several accidents and near misses, the Dulwich Estate is funding the installation of segregated cycle paths and improved pedestrian crossings on Hunts Slip Road, between College Road and Alleyn Park. The long-term aim is to incentivise parents and teachers to use active travel or public transport, and on-street parking will also be reduced. Southwark Council and the schools have approved the plans, but there has, as yet, been no consultation with nearby residents over where the displaced parking might go in the short term. The works are planned for the summer and more information is on the Estate’s website:
www.thedulwichestate.org.uk/whats-happening
Mobile Phone Mast Application
In January, the Society and many local residents objected strongly to a proposal by telecommunications company Cornerstone to install a large mobile phone mast directly in front of the railings to the Dulwich Burial Ground in Dulwich Village. The plans not only included a 20m high monopole antenna, but also three large cabinets, which would reduce views of the Burial Ground and impact upon the width of the pavement. While there is no doubt that mobile phone coverage is poor in the Village, an obtrusive mast next to the Burial Ground was just the worst possible location. The Council rejected the application very quickly.
Paying to Park in the Village
Access to the Pay by Phone parking app in the echelon parking in front of the northern parade of shops in Dulwich Village remains variable. The Society continues to push Southwark Council and the Dulwich Estate to find a solution to this important issue.
Fix My Street
You can report issues such as graffiti, fly-tipping, dog-fouling or potholes to Southwark Council via Fix My Street (report.southwark.gov.uk). It allows you to see if the problem has already been reported and to receive updates. Although the response time may vary, the fly-tipping pictured here, in Gallery Road, on 5 February, was removed within a couple of hours of being reported.
Historical Stocks Sign
As reported previously, Southwark Diocese has granted the faculty to enable the installation of the old stocks sign in the Burial Ground. Aquinna, the developer of the new houses in Soane Place, will be carrying out the works shortly.
Bill Higman
Bill Higman, Chairman of the Society in the 1990s and stalwart member, who gave great service to Dulwich, died in January, aged 91. We send our condolences to Janet, Nick, Daniel, Penny, the rest of the family and his many friends.
Cox’s Walk Footbridge
Work started in January on the repair of the old footbridge and completion is due early in March.
Streatham and Marlborough CC Pavilion
The Streatham and Marlborough Cricket Club are raising funds for a new club house on their ground on Dulwich Common opposite the former Grove Tavern. A planning application will be made shortly.
Peckham Town Football Club Plans
Peckham Football Club want improvements to ensure the future of the club ground on Dulwich Common, including car parks, changing rooms and floodlighting. Discussions have been ongoing between the Dulwich Estate (the freeholder), PTFC (the sub-lessee) and Southwark Council (the prime leaseholder). PTFC submitted a planning application to Southwark. However, the Estate has not yet approved the plans, pending receipt of a copy of the minutes of a meeting with residents and neighbours to outline the plans.
Local History Talks Online
The popular online monthly talks will continue into the Spring:
- 5 March: A history of taste in paintings through the ages, through the lens of the Dulwich Picture Gallery collection (Jenny Scott, DPG director);
- 2 April: Dulwich Village Mansions (Ian McInnes)
Dulwich Choral Society
Mozart Requiem and Martines Dixit Dominus. Saturday 23 March 2024, 7.30pm. St Barnabas Church, 40 Calton Avenue, SE21 7DG. Tickets £20 / £10 (under 16’s) available on the door, or via dulwichchoral.com.
Final Subscription Reminder
If you have not renewed your 2024 subscription, due on 1 January, this Journal will be the last you receive and your name will be removed from the membership list on 31 March. Reminders have already been sent.
To pay your subscription by direct debit, go to www.dulwichsociety.com. At the bottom of the home page, click on “Membership Renewal”. The online form is easily completed, so that all future payments are taken automatically by direct debit. If you have not yet renewed this year, the £10.00 subscription will be taken now for the current year.
If you have any queries, please contact the membership secretary on 0208 693 6313 or email
Membership Secretary
After 12 years, our membership secretary, Diana McInnes, is stepping down and we are looking for someone to take on the role.
If any member is interested, please contact the secretary, Heather Stubbs on
Dulwich Community Patrols in Village Ward
Do you have 1.5 hours a week or more and would like to be part of something positive for Dulwich?
We are an adult presence on the streets, to help kids feel safer on their journey home from school, and we are currently looking for more volunteers to get involved. We work in partnership with the local Metropolitan Police.
Grandparents, parents and residents who just want to make Dulwich safer for the community are all welcome to take part. You must be 18 or over.
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The 61st Annual General Meeting of the Dulwich Society will be held at 7.30pm on Monday 20 May 2024 in the Function Room at The Crown & Greyhound, 73 Dulwich Village, London, SE21 7BJ. There will be a talk at 7.30pm. The formal business of the AGM will start at 8pm.
Agenda
Welcome by the President, Kenneth Wolfe
Talk by Dr Joseph Spence, Master of Dulwich College, followed by questions, on:
“Shackleton and School Leadership.”
The formal business of the AGM commences
- Introduction and apologies for absence
- Approve Minutes of the 60th Annual General Meeting held on 24 April 2023
- Matters arising from the AGM Minutes
- Chairman’s Report and Review of the Year
- Receive accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023
- Motion to adopt new Rules: Following consultation with members on new Rules during 2023, it is proposed that the Society adopts the new Rules.
- Appoint Independent Examiner. Nominee: Sally-Anne Jeffries, Chartered Accountant
- Appoint the President. Nominee: Dr Kenneth Wolfe
- Elections for 2024-2025 - Officers and Members of the Executive Committee
- Any other business/questions. Please raise any questions or AOB with the Chairman (
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) at least 7 days in advance of the meeting, copied to the Secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).
Refreshments will be served after the meeting.
Meeting papers, including the draft Rules proposed for adoption, will be available on: www.dulwichsociety.com
Nomination forms for election as an Officer or Member of the Executive Committee can be obtained from the Secretary. Nominations must be submitted in writing to the Secretary by two Society members not later than fourteen days before the AGM (i.e. by Monday 6 May 2024) and must be endorsed by the candidate in writing, (Rule 9). Candidates must be members of the Society.
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The Dulwich Society was founded just over 60 years ago and was registered as a charity soon thereafter, in May 1964. For most of this time we have managed with a set of rules that has remained more or less constant. But after 60 years, the gold standard for charity rules has progressed and we need to catch up. As well as wanting to have the best rules from the perspective of governance, we also had certain practical problems with rules that predated the advent of online meetings and electronic communications.
The Charity Commission has a model constitution which serves as a best practice template and we quickly decided to take this as our basis. We changed as little as possible to tailor the model constitution to suit the Society’s circumstances.
The one area of the rules we have left unchanged from the 1964 version is our “objects,” the text which defines what our purpose is. As a member of the Society, you can rest assured that we will continue to foster and safeguard the amenities of Dulwich, just as we have done for the past 60 years.
At the 2023 AGM we launched the new draft rules, along with a year-long consultation period. Over that period, we had a number of useful submissions, both formal and informal, from our members. Members’ suggested changes which were not consistent with the Charity Commission model, or which sought to change the objects of the Society, and were thus outside the scope of this work, were not considered. The significant change that was made was the addition of a clause to clarify the eligibility of members to apply for election as a charity trustee and the process for nomination.
The final draft set of rules is to be put to you, the members, at the 2024 AGM for approval. They can be found in full on our website, in the section “About the Dulwich Society”.
The Executive Committee proposes the adoption of the new rules and encourages you to vote in favour of the resolution. Subject to the members voting with the required 2/3rds majority, the new rules will thereafter be notified to the Charity Commission and will govern the Society from the date of registration. A notice to confirm registration will be posted promptly on the Society’s website and in the subsequent eNews.
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By Ian McInnes
After long-standing pressure from amenity societies and councillors, Southwark planners have finally come round to reviewing the local list - buildings, structures or features which are important in a local context due to their architectural or historic interest and their townscape or group value. They are not of sufficient quality to go on the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest compiled by Historic England, but they make an important contribution to the local environment. Planning applications to alter or, more particularly, to demolish a locally-listed building will come under greater Council scrutiny.
In 2023, the Council uploaded an interactive consultation map calling for nominations and the Society took the opportunity to put forward a large number of buildings which it thought should be included. We were generally successful, though, as ever with a consultation like this, there were some surprise additions and omissions.
The list was adopted in December 2023 and the local structure which featured most prominently on the Council’s press release was the wooden bus shelter on South Croxted Road. Over 70 people nominated it, with one member of the public commenting: ‘The lovely wooden bus shelter only exists as a local resident gave up their garden to support the wider schools and housing expansion in this area.’ It was the Society that secured Council funding to refurbish the structure in 2015 - and it has one of our information signs on display, telling its story and that of bus travel in the area.
Other positives were the inclusion on the list of all the local pubs (the Crown and Greyhound and the Half Moon Tavern were already on the statutory list), the historic Camberwell parish boundary stones (recently covered in the Autumn 2021 Journal), several railway bridges and a few of the schools, both public and private. Some terraces of houses in Melford Road, Nutfield Road, and Calton Avenue were included, along with several individual houses in College Road, Crescent Wood Road, Dulwich Village and Half Moon Lane. Dawson’s Heights, the 1960s houses in Tollgate Drive and the Christison Hall at Dulwich College are now also on the list.
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By Laurie Johnston, Chair
Following the Executive Committee’s decision to constitute a new group with a remit to consider environmental issues, the new Dulwich Society Environment subcommittee met for the first time in early January.
The Terms of Reference approved by the Executive mandate the group to “monitor, review, investigate and raise awareness of topics related to the environment”. As required by the Terms of Reference, each subcommittee member has knowledge, experience and/or expertise in a relevant topic. Guests with relevant knowledge and expertise may also be invited to attend future meetings, to assist members in understanding pertinent issues.
Topics which we hope to address over time include: renewable energy; energy efficiency; retrofitting; healthy streets and public health; greening and biodiversity; public transport; electric vehicles; active travel; road danger; noise and light pollution; aviation issues; air quality; recycling and waste; climate change mitigation and adaptation. In these areas, we will focus on providing ideas, evidence, examples of best practice and, where appropriate, recommendations to the Executive Committee.
At our first meeting, the atmosphere was lively and warm - there was a great deal of excitement and energy in the room and ideas flowed. We are fortunate to have recruited people with genuine enthusiasm and knowledge of their areas, who are full of ideas about how we might proceed in order to equip Dulwich to meet the environmental challenges we are all facing.
Immediate outcomes from the first meeting include a paper summarising public transport issues, a renewed look at the impact of low-flying aircraft on our area and a decision to write to the Council to explore the reasons for the high cost of charging electric vehicles from lampposts. The latter is also an important issue for pedestrian safety, as cables from homes cross the pavement, perhaps an inevitability given the cheaper cost of charging a vehicle from the home electricity supply, and then constitute a trip hazard.
Ideas for the future include exploring examples of best practice for sustainable heating, how solar panels might be implemented on the Estate, and assisting the Executive in developing practical advice as regards their design and sustainability, in order to better advise the community.
Following our first meeting, the wildlife subcommittee kindly invited me to join a discussion on how our two groups can work together. In a most engaging and informative evening, we explored areas of common interest. I very much recommend joining the wildlife subcommittee to anyone with an interest in this topic. The members are hugely knowledgeable and I learned a great deal.
It is within all of our gifts to support and improve the environment around us. There are many different small but important things we can all do to help the environment, including walking a bit more; recycling with care; letting our gardens be a bit untidy to support insects; and being thoughtful about the use of outdoor lighting at night.
We are still looking for volunteers with experience or expertise in heat pumps, recycling and waste and air pollution. Barry Coker, for many years the Society’s valued expert on public transport, wishes to retire soon and we would very much like a successor for him as well.
We are all looking forward to working with the Executive and the wider community to help meet the challenges which environmental change poses for us all and to help Dulwich become a green and sustainable community.
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Sue Badman discusses her role with the Editor
How did you become involved with the Dulwich Society?
I have lived in Dulwich most of my adult life. Early on I was tied up with a busy City career, son, childcare and didn’t have time to look up and see what was going on around Dulwich. Campaigns to tackle speeding cars, the threat of the Channel Tunnel under “a cut and cover” tunnelling arrangement, and issues in adjacent sports clubs were an eye-opener. I eventually joined the Turney Road Residents’ Association (TRRA).
I later became Chair of TRRA, helping to create codes of conduct with the local sports clubs. Over time, I found, with the Council becoming more interventionist in traffic planning on local roads, expansion of sports clubs, proliferation of basement requests, planning applications, projects on flood alleviation and telecom mast positioning - all these issues needed to be debated, petitioned and campaigned on and the work of the RA expanded. But it wasn’t all hard work. The Turney and Burbage Road RAs have had wonderful joint summer parties in the playing fields for over 20 years.
While still Chair of the TRRA, I was elected to the Society Executive Committee in 2012. I kept a monitoring brief on the developments at the Dulwich Hospital, and worked with colleagues and the council flood engineers on developing flood resilience in the area.
What roles have you had?
I became Secretary of the Society in 2015, by which time I had stood down as Chair of the TRRA, and then moved to become Society Vice-Chair in September 2021. I have focused on building a network of relationships across the Estate, Council, other amenity societies and community groups.
What does being Vice-Chair actually involve on a day-to-day basis?
I triage enquiries we receive, to ensure the right officer or committee handles them and sometimes I respond to queries myself, such as helping people to apply for grants, or advising them who to contact at the Council about specific issues. I can often provide initial advice on the Dulwich Estate and contacts there.
I keep an eye on issues such as commercial events in local parks and I attend feedback meetings with promoters and the Council, passing on details to the licensing sub-committee. When there are public consultations, I ensure these are publicised, Society responses are prepared and I liaise with the Planning Committee over proposed developments.
My responsibilities also include recording and checking on the maintenance of Dulwich Society assets (or associated assets), such as the Edward Alleyn statue, fingerposts and benches, and historical artefacts such as the ancient stocks stone.
Of course, I also support the Chair in attending meetings.
Which organisations do you meet with?
I regularly attend public Council meetings and also meet separately with ward councillors, raising issues we receive, for example about dockless bikes.
Every two months, James Thompson, the Chair, and I meet with the Dulwich Estate on issues such as commercial properties, the Grove Tavern, playing fields and other development plans.
I also attend police and crime meetings with our local Safer Neighbourhood Panel and “Cuppa with a Copper” events. In the past, I’ve participated in Community Roadwatch, regarding speeding on principal roads across Dulwich.
Sometimes I raise issues with our local MP - for example I have discussed the state of Royal Mail letter post in SE22 and SE24.
Then I meet occasionally with Residents’ Associations, who might ask for our help in engaging with the Estate or the Council, and I liaise with the Herne Hill Forum on matters which affect us all, such as crime.
I’m in touch with the Friends of Green Dale, monitoring any developments affecting them, such as the plans of Dulwich Hamlet Football Club and also the London Wildlife Trust about our woods.
We also regularly meet up with local schools to discuss matters of mutual interest, and I often make a round of social calls to members who have been unwell.
So how would you describe the Society’s relationship with the Dulwich Estate?
Evolving, with emphasis on constructive positive engagement, especially with regard to the Scheme of Management guidelines and impacts of net zero and green issues on residents. We have representatives on the Scheme of Management’s Advisory Committee. We are also actively engaging the Estate on our respective green strategies. The Estate website, surgeries and bulletins, and publication of Advisory Committee minutes are welcome enhancements to communications with residents. The Estate support for traders and events in the Village has been a positive.
I would like to see occasional public meetings with the Estate on relevant topics to improve open communications further.
What ambitions do you have for Dulwich?
I’d like to see better local public transport; we need solutions to help less-mobile groups and residents generally to make the switch away from cars. We also need better mobile phone coverage in the Village area.
There has been robust conservation of heritage and thoughtful oversight of contemporary building and architecture. I hope this will continue. However, the policies on Metropolitan Open Land and other green spaces seem easily overridden for “exceptional reasons”. It would be helpful to have a debate with the Council and other authorities about a constructive way forward that protects the green spaces but helps deliver new facilities that are needed.
As for young people, I think they are being short-changed and I wonder if there is more we can contribute? Housing availability for young people and downsizers is a major problem.
At the Dulwich Society, we must continue the many things we do well. We have an outstanding local history group, for example, and there is rising demand for information about local people and places. I’d also like to identify what members expect of the Society and see how we are meeting their expectations.
And what are your plans for the future?
With regard to the Society, I plan to contribute towards improving communications and links with stakeholders and look for opportunities for joint working. There is still a lot of basic work to do.
On a personal note, I am a retired management consultant, but active in a number of areas, including as a charity trustee and safeguarding lead. In the past couple of years, I have been teaching English as a Second Language to adults and currently teach students from around the world. This is work I hope to expand, as there is a desperate need for English teaching to hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors, to help them get more out of living in the UK and promoting society cohesion.
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By Jeremy Prescott
The Gardens Sub-Committee has progressed several local projects in 2023, aimed at improving the local environment and supporting garden-related activities.
Spring bulbs in the old Burial Ground
In the autumn, we planted over 500 bulbs (native daffodils, snowdrops, cyclamen and fritillaries) and some 40 primroses and cowslips, to add to the existing Spring display and to benefit early pollinators. The Burial Ground is one of the Amenity Areas maintained by the Dulwich Estate under the Scheme of Management, some of which could also benefit from this sort of planting. Do contact me if you would like to get involved in initiatives such as this.
Clarke’s Green benches
With the support of Dulwich Village councillors, we obtained a Cleaner, Greener, Safer (“CGS”) grant from the London Borough of Southwark to re-lay the plinths for the two sets of double benches in Clarke’s Green (the small green near the Village Way traffic lights). The work was carried out by S&S Landscapes (Sean Tong). The plinths are now all in York stone. Luckily, the four benches proved to be intact, with what we feared were some shortened legs proving to be submerged (with their underlying concrete bases) in mud.
Dulwich Village roundabout
Again, with the support of Dulwich Village councillors, we obtained a CGS grant to replace dead plants and remove the New Zealand flax on the Dulwich Village roundabout, making this safer and more visually appealing. The work was carried out by Southwark’s gardens team.
Dulwich Vegetable Garden greenhouse
The Dulwich Society was pleased to contribute towards the cost of a new and larger greenhouse for the Dulwich Vegetable Garden, which operates behind Rosebery Lodge in Dulwich Park, alongside funding from a CGS grant and the Dulwich Park Friends. Propagation in its greenhouse funds the DVG’s activities.
Elms4London (an initiative of the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association)
We planted a further two disease-resistant elms, one in the gardens of Dulwich Picture Gallery and one in the area in front of Court Lane Gardens, provided by Elms4London. More are on their way - elms were once a major feature of the local landscape.
Court Lane raised beds
We were pleased to learn that the Court Lane Residents Association has been awarded a CGS grant to repair three of the eight historic raised beds located towards the bottom of Court Lane. This is a Southwark-managed project which is in process. In the meantime, a small COLAR team has helped maintain the three “adopted” beds, and planted 24 roses in them as well as bulbs, funded by those involved.
To contact the committee, please email
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Enclosed with this Journal is a copy of our Dulwich Gardens open for Charity 2024 booklet, with details of local gardens that will be opening this year and that we hope you will take the chance to visit.
A lovely garden (or a group of two or more) showing at its best, often with home-made teas and the chance to buy plants that you may have just seen, is a winning formula and a good source of gardening ideas. It also involves a lot of behind-the-scenes work, so many thanks to the garden openers for their hard work and generosity.
Many thanks also to Ann Rutherford for producing the booklet and to colleagues on the Gardens committee for help distributing it. Further copies are available in local garden centres and other outlets, and it is also on the Dulwich Society website.
Spring Gardens Talk - Geoff Hodge on “The 12-month Garden - Colour All Year Round”
7.30pm Friday 26th April, at Bell House, 27 College Road, London SE21 7BG
Our Spring gardens talk will be by Geoff Hodge. Geoff is a freelance garden writer and broadcaster, formerly Gardening Editor of Garden Answers and Garden News magazines and the author of nine gardening books.
His illustrated talk will introduce a palette of shrubs, perennials, bulbs and annuals from which to select, with tips on how to get the best from them to provide a colourful garden throughout the year. After the talk, there will be an opportunity to meet Geoff over a glass of wine.
The talk is being given in association with Bell House Dulwich, with any surplus going towards its garden activities. Tickets, including a glass of wine, are £10 each - book through www.bellhouse.co.uk/events. Please note that spaces are limited.
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Thursday 27th June 2024
Our annual coach trip this year is to Great Comp Garden and Chartwell. Full details are in the booklet and also on the Society’s website. Great Comp Garden featured on BBC Gardeners’ World in September 2023 and is famous for its salvias, magnolias, hellebores, azaleas and rhododendrons. The RHS award winning curator, William Dyson, runs his own nursery specialising in salvias within the garden and will lead a simultaneous tour with the head gardener, Kate Harrison. We will also visit Chartwell, famously the family home of Sir Winston Churchill, with its gardens and house.
The coach will leave from the front entrance to Dulwich Picture Gallery, College Road, SE21 7BG - 8.45am for a prompt 9am departure. Return will be at around 5.30pm. Tickets, including transport, entrance to Great Comp and tours, are £34 each and may be purchased through Ticket Tailor or by sending a cheque (payable to The Dulwich Society). No refund will be given in the event of your subsequent cancellation. Entrance to Chartwell is not included in the ticket price - entrance is free for National Trust members; for non-NT members, group entrance per person is £18 which includes entrance to the house. This will be collected on the coach.
All members of Dulwich Society and friends are welcome.
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