Membership subscriptions
Subscriptions are due on 1 January 2025. Members are encouraged to pay by direct debit to simplify admin for the Society. The fee remains at £10 - great value for our monthly eNews, quarterly Journal and access to outings and activities. To change from standing order to direct debit, go to dulwichsociety.com/membership-renewal or scan the QR code below. Once you receive confirmation, cancel your standing order with your bank.
If your Journal comes in the post, we would really appreciate a voluntary contribution of £5 on top of the £10 fee if you are able. If you already pay by direct debit (and thank you if you do), contact us so that we can set up the additional contribution.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show Garden arrives in Dulwich
Those walking along Alleyn Park recently may have noticed the surprising appearance of The Spirit of Partnership Garden in the grounds of Dulwich College. Designed by Helen Olney, the astonishing garden contains many plants which grow in Myanmar but are equally suited to the UK. Hidden behind the trees are a traditional Burmese stilt-house and a partially ruined stupa. The garden was donated to the school by alumnus Professor Chris Griffiths OBE, Emeritus Professor of Dermatology at the University of Manchester and Dr Su Lwin, dermatologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital. Professor Griffiths and Dr Lwin are co-founders of the Burma Skincare Initiative, the main sponsor of the garden.
Cox’s Walk Footbridge
Having closed for safety reasons in January 2020, the work on the historic footbridge is finally complete after almost 5 years and the bridge has reopened. In the last couple of months, the refurbishment of the abutments and parapets has been completed, the deck has been refurbished and waterproofed and the lighting leading to the footbridge has been replaced.
St Barnabas
The Revd. Liz Barnett has been appointed by the Bishop of Southwark and was licensed in September by the Bishop of Woolwich, the Right Revd. Alistair Cutting, as Vicar of St Barnabas with Christ’s Chapel and Foundation Schools’ Chaplain. Having come to the parish as curate in 2019, she is delighted to take up her new role and is looking forward to continuing and nurturing the relationship with the Society and local community.
Community Patrol Scheme
The Dulwich Community Patrol scheme was launched in November 2023 with the support of the Metropolitan police, in response to increasing robberies affecting school children in the area. Following a successful pilot in North Dulwich, a patrol was also established in West Dulwich and an East Dulwich patrol is coming soon. More volunteers are desperately needed, to support children with a friendly adult presence after school. No one is expected to intervene in a dangerous situation - the presence of patrollers often provides a sufficient deterrent.
The North Dulwich patrol meets at Megan’s (Dulwich Village) and runs from 3:30pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday. The patrol covers Dulwich Village and Herne Hill including pedestrian routes around Alleyn’s, with patrols lasting around 60-90 mins depending on patroller availability. They need a minimum of 4 patrollers per day, so your support (even if just for one patrol a month) is invaluable.
Please email
Dulwich Park Playground
Dulwich Park Friends are planning a major fundraising effort to refurbish the children’s playground in Dulwich Park. This is a much-loved facility for children and grandchildren from all over the Borough.
It’s more than 25 years since the playground received a major overhaul and, although smaller work has been undertaken in the meantime (such as the replacement of some swings as pictured), it’s badly in need of a refresh. The Friends are hopeful of a measure of matched support from Southwark Council. More details will be announced early next year but, in the meantime, if you’d like to donate to or get involved in this project in any way, please do let the Friends know by emailing
Sculpture Garden
The new sculpture garden at Dulwich Picture Gallery is progressing apace. In the meantime, we congratulate the Gallery on their fantastic hoarding, which screens the unsightliness of the building work while simultaneously allowing for visitors to peep through the empty picture frames and spy on developments. The hoarding alone is well worth a visit!
The Gallery is currently fundraising to plant new trees in the Lovington Sculpture Meadow to create an art forest. Support a tree from £650 and you will receive a personalised certificate and dedication engraved on a bespoke tag on a tree in the Art Forest.
To find out more or secure a tree, go to dpg.art/support-a-tree or email the gallery on
Police ‘Walk and Talk’
On 14 September 2024, the police undertook a “walk and talk” in local residential roads. There was a good turnout on a sunny Saturday lunchtime with nearly thirty residents and six local police constables, ward councillor Margy Newens and representatives from the Dulwich Society and Safer Neighbourhood Panel. Residents had reported concerns about theft from motor vehicles, and the local RA asked the police to visit.
Key messages on the day were:
- Always lock your car and leave it visibly empty (no plastic bags, no wires, no parcels, nothing).
- Parcels delivered to your doorstep - if you are not going to be in, click and collect at one of the many local drop points.
- Report every crime to the police so they can identify hotspots and thus allocate resources.
- Turn out at the local Safer Neighbourhood Panel meetings to contribute your views on police priorities.