Trees
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Dulwich is often described as leafy, due to the large number of trees in gardens, streets, parks and green spaces. Trees make a vital contribution to the local environment and we have an exceptionally good variety of species, particularly in our local parks (Dulwich Park and Peckham Rye Park in East Dulwich) including some special and rare specimens.

The latest edition of the Committee's popular illustrated tree map of the local area, ‘Remarkable Trees of Dulwich’, can be purchased at the Art Stationers in Dulwich Village. The Committee has also produced an A4 size annotated plan of the trees in the Dulwich Picture Gallery garden - it is freely available to Gallery visitors and may be downloaded here. We have started work to produce more tree maps of the area.

The Committee monitors local trees and actively promotes interest in their preservation, and the planting of new specimens. The Society has identified suitable spaces and planted new trees in e.g. Dulwich Park, Belair Park, the Horniman Triangle, Long Meadow and other locations and we encourage the local Council to introduce additional street trees.

Work to any tree on the Dulwich Estate requires the approval of the Scheme of Management. When the Estate’s governors and tree consultant meet to decide on contested decisions for felling and lopping, a Committee member accompanies them on the site visit to the resident. (Trees in Dulwich Village are additionally protected by being in a conservation area.)

Subsidence remains a serious problem in the area, because of the clay soil, and we actively monitor and query the justification for insurance company requests for tree removal.

The Committee meets quarterly and regular contributions are made to the Society’s Journal, with illustrated articles about local trees of interest. To enable members to increase their knowledge and appreciation of our tree heritage, we arrange for qualified specialists to lead local guided walks.

Contact: David Beamish, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Guided fungi walk in Dulwich Park

The Dulwich Society Tree Committee has organised and funded a fungi walk around Dulwich Park, guided by fungi expert Daniel Greenwood. This free walk will take place on Sunday 23 October, 2022 at 11am. Meet at the Café. The walk will last about 90 minutes and you will learn about the common species of fungi found in London's parks and woodlands, with a chance to understand a bit more about their roles in the ecosystem and the significance they play in our own lives. This isn’t a culinary or foraging event but general advice about the edibility of some mushrooms can be provided. You can read some of Daniel Greenwood’s writing about fungi here.

Last Updated: 17 December 2022
Trees in Dulwich Orchard

Spring Tree articles

Spring Tree articles:

  • 2022 Evergreen sequoias by John Hughes
  • 2021 American oaks by John Hughes
  • 2020 Kentucky Coffee Tree - Gymnocladus dioicus by John Hughes
  • 2019 Alder - Alnus glutinosa by John Hughes
  • 2017 Magnolia grandiflora by Judy Marshall
  • 2017 Veteran oaks of Dulwich Park by Daniel Greenwood
  • 2016 Elms by Jill Manuel
  • 2015 Handkerchief Tree - Davidia involucrata by Valerie Hill-Archer
  • 2014 Paper-bark Maple - Acer griseum by Bill Bradbeer
  • 2013 Caucasian Wing-nut - Pterocarya fraxinifolia by Stella Benwell
  • 2012 Persian Silk Tree, or Siris - Albizia Julibrissin by Jill Manuel
  • 2011 Judas Tree - Cercis siliquastrum by Jill Manuel
  • 2010 Willows by Bill Bradbeer
  • 2009 Caucasian Elm - Zelkova carpinifolia by John Hughes and John Welton
Last Updated: 28 October 2022
Summer tree in Dulwich Park

Summer Tree articles

Summer Tree articles:

  • 2022 The Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) by David Beamish
  • 2021 Sycamore or Norway Maple? by John Hughes
  • 2020 The Dulwich Society Silver Jubilee Trees Walk updated by David Beamish
  • 2019 Hawthorn - Crataegus monogyna & Crataegus laevigata by David Beamish
  • 2018 Yoshino cherry trees Prunus x yedoensis by Paul Millington
  • 2017 Black poplar on Long Meadow - Populus nigra subspecies betulifolia by Glynis Williams
  • 2016 Cider Gum - Eucalyptus gunnii by Mary Poole-Wilson
  • 2015 False acacia - Robinia Pseudoacacia by Jeremy
  • 2014 Cabbage Palm - Cordyline Australis by Jill Manuel
  • 2013 Dawn Redwood - Metasequoia glyptostroboides by Valerie Hill-Archer
  • 2012 Bhutan Pine - Pinus wallichiana by John Hughes
  • 2011 Foxglove Tree – Paulownia tomentosa by Stella Benwell
  • 2010 Medlar Hawthorn - Crataegomespilus grandiflora by John Hughes
  • 2009 Mulberry - Morus nigra by Judy Marshall
Last Updated: 28 October 2022
Autumn trees at Dulwich tollgate

Autumn Tree articles

Autumn Tree articles:

  • 2022 Birch by David Beamish
  • 2021 The Honey Locust Tree by David Beamish
  • 2020 Henry's Lime - Tilia henryana by Mary Poole-Wilson
  • 2018 Hornbeam Carpinus betulus & hop hornbeam Ostrya carpinifolia by John Hughes
  • 2017 Dulwich Woods - Ancient woodland by Daniel Greenwood
  • 2016 Persian Ironwood - Parrotia persica by Sue Chandler
  • 2015 Dawyck beech - Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck’ by Belinda Hindley
  • 2014 Oaks by Jill Manuel
  • 2013 Sweet Gum - Liquidambar styraciflua by Belinda Hindley
  • 2012 Ash Family by John Hughes
  • 2011 Catalpa bignonioides by Mary Poole-Wilson
  • 2010 British Black Poplar, sub-species betulifolia - Populus nigra subsp. betulifolia by Glynis Williams
  • 2009 Horse-chestnut - Aesculus hippocastanum by David Nicholson-Lord
Last Updated: 28 October 2022
Winter trees in Dulwich Park

Winter Tree articles

Winter Tree articles:

  • 2021 The Strawberry Tree by David Beamish
  • 2020 The Turkey Oak by John Hughes
  • 2016 Fircones by Belinda Hindley
  • 2015 Cedars by John Hughes
  • 2014 Hollies by Valerie Hill-Archer
  • 2013 Cornelian cherry - Cornus Mas by Jill Manuel
  • 2012 Cedars by Stella Benwell
  • 2011 Monkey puzzle - Araucaria araucana by Mark Lane
  • 2010 Tulip Tree - Liriodendron tulipifera by Belinda Hindley
  • 2009 English Elms by John Welton
  • 2008 Swamp cypress - Taxodium distichum by Stella Benwell
Last Updated: 28 October 2022
Autumn trees in College Rd

Tree-related articles

Tree-related articles:

  • The Dulwich Society Silver Jubilee Trees Walk updated by David Beamish
  • Trees of Sunray Gardens by Paul Millington
  • Choose your trees carefully by Jeremy Prescott
  • Sydenham Hill Wood by Rowan Porteous
  • The Felled North Dulwich Plane Tree
  • Ash Die-back by Jill Manuel
  • Buckingham Palace Garden Trees - see Dulwich Tree Committee Visit April 2011
  • Elm hybrids planted - Ulmus Lutece Manguen by Stella Benwell
  • Wildlife areas - competition for space - Is Dulwich going Greener? by David Nicholson-Lord
  • Storm of 1987 - see The Great Storm
  • Trees and subsidence report by David Nicholson-Lord
Last Updated: 12 March 2022
Tree trail in Dulwich Park

Tree trails

Tree Trails:

  • Silver Jubilee tree trail 1977 updated 2020: College Road north of Dulwich Common (PDF)
  • Tree trail 1987: College Road south of Dulwich Common (PDF)
  • Trees in the Dulwich Picture Gallery garden (PDF)
Last Updated: 12 March 2022

The Remarkable Trees of Dulwich

10th September 2020, Zoom Talk

The following links and books were mentioned in the Dulwich Society Zoom talk “The remarkable trees of Dulwich” on 10 September 2020.

  • Treetalk website: https://www.treetalk.co.uk/map/#xyz=15.35/51.445375/-0.08514
  • Southwark Council map: https://geo.southwark.gov.uk/connect/analyst/mobile/#/main. Click on the words “Highways assets” and then on the box to the right of “Confirm Trees from Confirm”.
  • Curio (also available as an app for iPhone and Android): https://www.curio.xyz/world/tagged-trees/overview?lat=51.44566020465546&lng=-0.08103224373587237&zml=16
  • Peckham Rye Park tree trail: http://www.peckhamryepark.org/s/FOPRP-TreeTrail-Guide.pdf
  • Paul Wood’s website: https://thestreettree.com/

Books:

  • London’s Street Trees, by Paul Wood (224 pages, £14.99) https://thestreettree.com/londons-street-trees-revised-edition/
  • Collins Tree Guide, by Owen Johnson & David More (464 pages, £18.99)
  • Collins Complete Guide to British Trees, by Paul Sterry (with photographs, 320 pages, £16.99
Last Updated: 12 March 2022

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