AGM 2008

2008-03-03T16:16:00.004Z

45th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Society to be held on Tuesday,
29th April, 2008 (8.00 p.m.) at St.Barnabas Centre, Calton Avenue, S.E.21.

A G E N D A

1. Introduction and welcome by our President (His Honour Michael Rich QC).

2. Apologies for absence.

3. Minutes of 44th AGM held on 27th March, 2007 to be approved (available at the Meeting and, as notified in the Spring Newsletter, available on our web-site and from Hon.Secretary).

4. Matters arising from the Minutes not covered by this Agenda.

5. Highlights of the Reports from Officers and Sub-Committees for 2007. (Reports available prior to meeting on web-site or from Hon.Secretary). Opportunity for questions.

6. Presentation of Accounts and Report for 2007 by the Hon.Treasurer (Russell Lloyd ACA) and their adoption.

7.Appointment of Hon. Auditor.

8. Elections for the year 2008/2009:-

(a) Officers

Chairman

Hon.Secretary

Hon.Treasurer

(b) Executive Committee

(c) Honorary Officers

9. Any other business.

Wine etc. will be available with the opportunity of meeting fellow members.

----------DULWICH SOCIETY

MINUTES OF THE 44th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE DULWICH SOCIETY held on Tuesday,27th March 2007 at St.Barnabas Centre, SE 21.
PRESENT : President (in chair):H.H.Michael Rich QC
Vice-Presidents:H.H.Michael Goodman, Peter Lawson, and approximately 36 members.
Apologies: G.Able,I.Dejardin,C.Diggory,M.Gibbs, R.Dawson,I.Hunter S-A Jefferies, J.Ward.
MINUTES : of the 43rd AGM (available before & at this meeting) held on 23rd March 2006 were approved and signed. There were no matters raised on them.
REPORTS For the Year 2006 were available before this Meeting on the Society's website or from the Hon.Secretary as reported in the Society's Newsletter. The following is a Summary of the points highlighted by the Committee member presenting each report:
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT: (Adrian Hill): Membership continues to
slightly increase,and stands at approx.1100 households which must represent about 2000 individuals. The Newsletter continues to attract much praise, and generally the talks and outings arranged by the sub-committees have been well attended. All this involves much work by members for which,! am sure, we are all grateful. We held a public meeting on Trees and Subsidence which is a subject of increasing worry as insurance companies are leaning on the Dulwich Estate and other owners to fell trees even where it is doubtful the trees are the main culprits - we are active in trying to combat this.
Dulwich Park: we continued to monitor the restoration, and work closely with the Dulwich Park Friends. We have helped with tree and bulb planting,and are pressing for the new Francis Peek building and the 2 vacant lodges to be used for the benefit of the community. We are concerned that Southwark will not sufficiently fund maintenance, and we will monitor this,
Crystal Palace Park: We are in a group seeking to influence the future of the Park,and the London Development Agency, which has an option to take over the management, has appointed planners.
Flooding in Dulwich: We with others have been pressing Thames Water to recognize the problem, and they have now identified over 100 streets that have been affected and are carrying out a major engineering study. It is hoped design work will be completed by July 2008 with construction completed a year later.
Southwark Licensing Policy: Currently Councils are under no obligation to inform nearby residents when an application is made for extension to drinking hours, and if as a result no objection is made the application is automatically granted. We have campaigned and as a result Southwark will notify amenity and residents organisations of applications. We have objected to certain applications but with limited success.

Advisory Committee under the Scheme of Management: We are the only amenity society represented and meet 3 times a year with an equal number of Trustees of the Dulwich Estate,and is a means of discussing items and exerting pressure to safeguard and enhance amenities; the Estate is required to give a reasoned response to matters raised and we welcome suggestions to consider from members.
Campaigning activities: over the year we have given support to attempt to save the Herne Hill sorting office, to extend the SE London Chain Link Walk, to limit the area of front gardens to form car parking, to have the listed wall rebuilt adjacent Lyndenhurst in Red Post Hill. We are exploring joint action with the Camberwell Society on matters of common interest.
SECRETARY'S REPORT: (Patrick Spencer): The Executive Committee
metIT times. The Edward Alleyn statue continues to attract favourable comment; the Appeal fund was closed having raised the balance of costs needed after the donations from the Society and the Estate. We have been able to arrange limited insurance cover. We are very grateful to Ken Jefferies who audited the accounts for over 40 years, and we presented him with an engraved decanter. lan Mclnnes also resigned on his move from Dulwich and a party was held to record our appreciation of his work on the Planning and Executive committees over many years A Southwark Blue Plaque was unveiled at 3 Court Lane Gardens to commemorate Phyllis Persall who created the A-Z Street Maps. The Society was a sponsor of the November St.Barnabas Winter Market at which we had a stall to publicize the Society.
TREASURER'S REPORT: (Rusell LLoyd): Audited accounts for the year
2006 were ciculated. The excess of income
over expenditure in the year was £9945. Subscription income increased by £1460, and Gift Aid amounted to £2563. Net assets amount to £20042. The Treasuer paid tribute to the Membership Secretary and Hon.Auditor. Accounts were approved, and Ms.S.A.Jeffries re-elected as Hon.Auditor.
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY'S REPORT: (Wilf Taylor)Membership has
increased in the year by approx.40 and
stands at a little under 1100. We are grateful to members who pay by Standing Order, and encourage the remainder to do so. We ask you to recruit friends,neighbours and new residents to join.
SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS
Traffic & Transport: (Alastair Hanton):The Committee very much
misses the wisdom and work of David Hollis
who died during the year. Specific activities have included: efforts to reduce car transport to schools by pressing for pedestrian safety measures some of which have been achieved; -continued lobbying for changes in the pedestrian traffic lights at junction of South Circular & College Road;pressing for further trains on the Victoria/Orpington line once Eurostar is re-routed; applying to Dulwich Community Council for funds to allow safety-measures at junction Hunts Slip Road & Alleyn Park;safer crossing for pedestrians at the south end of Gallery Road; measures to reduce traffic volume & speed in Court Lane; improved access for prams & cycles to Cox's Walk,Low Wood Cross Lane & other paths; continued support of Herne Hill Forum in negotiations to improve the main Herne Hill traffic junction.

Planning & Architecture Group:(David Roberts):We have appraised
in the year some 200 applications to the
Estate for consent under the Scheme of Management. The Estate has helpfully published guidelines in 14 categories covering most aspects involved in applications. Whilst we have no objection to the majority of cases we did object,for example, to planned redevelopment of 1 Fountain Drive, and to mobile'phone masts in inappropriate locations.
Trees : (Stella Benwell): The main issue has been subsidence
' and we greatly regret the loss of some finetrees as a result of insurance company pressure, and continue tocampaign against such where appropriate. We held a publicmeeting on the subject addressed by a number of experts. Otherevents included a walk as part of the Dulwich Festival, and atalk on Buying one's Own Woodland.
Wildlife: (Angela Wilks): Hard landscaping,extensions,general
redevelopment,and reduction of hedges in
public areas are all reducing the habitat for wildlife. With this in mind we successfully opposed drastic cutback of shrubs in the road area of Dulwich Village, welcomed Tree Preservation Orders on trees in the grounds of Alleyn's School & arranged for annual butterfly count, had discussions with the Dulwich & Sydenham Golf Club on future tree management on the course, and were available to give advice generally on wildlife.
Gardens^: (John Ward): We enjoyed an excellent talk by Tom Hart
Dyke on his adventures and captivity whilst
orchid hunting in Central America, and his plans for a World Garden at his family's home, Lullingstone Castle. In the summer a number of members opened their gardens,for which we are very grateful; we also visited JAGS Grade II listed Botany Garden, recently restored. In June 50 members visited in Essex Beth Chatto's Garden and Olivers. Let a member of the committee know if you wish to be informed of local garden visits, and we will particularly welcome further gardens in Dulwich to visit.
Local History: (E.G.Rep:Pat Reynolds): The Summer Evening Walk
was again led by Brian Green,assisted by
Dr.Peter Roseveare and Stella Benwell; some 50 of us walked through sports fields and other open areas including the Herne Hill Cycle Track (Velodrome). The autumn lecture was given by Stephen Henden on the VI & V2 bomb damage in Dulwich. The east end of Dulwich Hospital has now been demolished and the remains of the Great War memorial have been protected and hopefully will be restored. The achives are now with those of King College The restoration of the Village Post Cart proceeds, and the wheels have been professional restored.
ELECTIONS FOR 2007/8:
The following,having been proposed & seconded,were elected:
Officers:
Chairman: Adrian Hill Hon.Secretary: Patrick Spencer Hon.Treasurer: Russell Lloyd ACA

Executive Committee: Wilf Taylor Brian Green Alastair Hanton David Roberts Stella Benwell Angela Wilkes John Ward Pat Reynolds Bill Higman Kenneth Wolfe
Honorary Officers:
to be also Membership Secretary
to be also Newsletter Editor
to be on Traffic & Transport sub-committee
to be on Planning & Architecture sub-corn.
to be on Trees sub-committee
to be on Wildlife sub-committee
to be on Gardens sub-committee
to be on Local History sub-committee
President: His Honour Michael Rich QC Vice-Presidents:Graham Able MA.MA
lan Dejardin MA Dr.Colin Diggory Marion Gibbs BA Mlitt His Honour Michael Goodman Peter Lawson FRIBA,FRSA
Matters raised included: 1. trees and subsidence,Tree Prservation Orders,
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

prservation of street trees, and the condition of horse chestnuts 2. Mrs Elkins inquired the Executive Committee's views on the possibility of development on the perimeter of Crystal Palace Park (& which could be a precedent for other open spaces)- answer was we would not oppose limited and appropriate development if that was the only means of achieving desired improvements to the Park. 3. Possibility of having swans in Dulwich Park and Mill Pond -answer: water is not healthy enough 3. Bill Higman reported on the Dulwich Community Hospital project (Site of Dulwich Hos.) which is planned to open in 2010.

Chairman’s Report on 2007 for the AGM – 29 April 2008

The Society has had another successful year. Membership numbers are again up – over 1,100 households at the end of 2007, so probably at least 2,000 individuals. Our Sub-committees have continued to organise meetings, guided walks and excursions which continue to be well attended and popular. I would like again to take the opportunity to thank the members of our Executive Committee and the Chairs and members of our Sub-committees for the time and hard work they dedicate to the Society and its activities.

As our logo says, we exist to foster and safeguard the amenities of Dulwich and we have continued to pursue this aim as best we could over the last year. Among other things, this has involved the making of many representations to the Dulwich Estate and our local authorities on a wide variety of matters, including planning applications, tree preservation, parks and open spaces and the undesirable impact on local residents of the growth of the late-night economy.

Particular matters I would like to mention are:

Dulwich Park We have continued to be involved in de-snagging and further improvements to the Park following the restoration work funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, including working with the Dulwich Park Friends on planting new trees and bulbs to which we have donated funds and volunteer labour. We have taken part in consultations with Southwark on new uses for the College Gate and Rosebery Lodges, now back in the possession of the Park, and for the new Francis Peek Centre in the Park. We have also brought pressure on Southwark to see that they adequately maintain the recent improvements and we continue to explore the possibilities of establishing some kind of community trust to take on some aspects of the management of the Park.

Crystal Palace Park We have continued to participate in the dialogue process that was set up to monitor and influence the restoration of this Grade II* park on the borders of Dulwich in a manner broadly acceptable to the community. The present position is that the masterplan for restoration, designed by Latz and Partners, has been adobpted by the London Development Agency and is the basis of an application for planning permission submitted to Bromley Council in early November 2007. Bromley is currently consulting on this and a decision is expected in September. An article giving further information on this appeared in the Society’s Spring Newsletter.

Trees and subsidence claims Demands by insurance companies for the removal of mature trees allegedly causing subsidence in nearby buildings remains a matter of major concern in Dulwich which is fortunate in having a magnificent heritage of trees. We have supported the Dulwich Estate and Southwark, who own the majority of roadside trees, in opposing demands for removals. Nevertheless there have during the year been a number of sad losses of some splendid specimen trees. Unfortunately not only are roadside trees under threat but also trees in private gardens. We continue to be vigilant on this as the appearance of Dulwich could be irreparably damaged if these losses accelerate.

Late Night Economy We have objected to a number of applications for extensions of the hours for sale of alcohol and the provision of music and entertainment into the early hours of the morning, particularly at weekends. The problem is most marked in the Herne Hill area which becoming a centre for late night drinking and accompanying anti-social behaviour. The local councils, as the licensing authorities, seem excessively willing to allow ever-later closing hours, with at least one bar now permitted to sell alcohol until 4 am, followed by refreshments until 5 a.m. and a closing time of 5.30 a.m. A problem in Herne Hill is that is divided between two boroughs, Lambeth and Southwark, who have traditionally not co-operated in this matter, despite our efforts to get them to do so. It appears that this may now be changing and there has been evidence recently of the willingness of the two bodies to co-operate on the possible introduction of a saturation policy for the area which would raise a presumption against the grant of further new licences or extensions. A problem is that people affected by anti-social behaviour seem reluctant to complain to the authorities, which makes it more difficult for action to be taken.

Mobile Telephony Masts Dulwich is reputed to be a black-spot for mobile phone reception, particularly for the latest technology. There have therefore been numerous applications for new masts in the area, particularly in the centre of Dulwich. So far Southwark has had a good record in refusing applications. Our policy is to oppose all applications for masts near housing or schools. We reluctantly recognise, however, that blanket opposition to all masts may be unsustainable and therefore we did not oppose an application by Vodafone for a mast and base-station in the South Bank University sports ground off Turney Road as this was over 200 metres (the beam of maximum intensity) from the nearest houses and appeared to us to be the least-worst option if there had to be a mast in the area. The application was however rejected by Southwark, though an appeal is pending.

Advisory Committee under the Scheme of Management This Committee meets three times a year and gives an opportunity for approved local amenity groups to raise questions and bring pressure on the Dulwich Estate, as the Managers of the SOM, with a view to their acting in the interests of preserving the amenities of the Estate for the common benefit. At present the Dulwich Society is the only amenity group represented on the Committee. At each meeting we raise many issues and the Estate is, under the terms of a protocol governing the Committee, obliged to give a reasoned response. Matters raised in the last year include the preservation of particular trees, the avoidance of excessive conversion of front gardens to hard-standing for cars, the management of the amenity areas specified in the SOM and the monitoring of budgets and expenditure under the SOM.

Co-operation with other amenity bodies We have developed closer working relat- ionships with the Camberwell Society, the Dulwich Park Friends, the new Dulwich Going Greener group, and the Horniman Trust which plays an important role in the management of the Horniman Gardens. We intend to further develop these links.

Chairmanship After eight years in the post, I am standing down as Chair of the Society as I believe it is time for there to be new leadership. A successor will be elected at the AGM this year. May I thank everyone who has helped and encouraged me during my time in office and wish my successor same support and spirit of co-operation that I have enjoyed in carrying forward the Dulwich cause.

Adrian Hill

HON-SECRETARY'S REPORT ON 2007 FOR AGM ON 29th APRIL 2008 The Executive Committee met each month apart from August.
The Society is dependent on its volunteers; on the committees are some 70 members and some 30 are involved in the distribution of the Newsletter; we also have the benefit of advice from our Honorary Offie ars and honorary auditor. To underline our appreciation we invited them with a guest and new members of the Society to a Summer Evening Party held in the grounds of Dulwich College; approaching 100 attended despite inclement weather, and we are particularly grateful to those organising the catering.
At the last AGM we elected lan Dejardin,Director of the Dulwich Picture Gallery, a Vice-President and we welcome his interest.
Our quarterly Newsletters are,I am sure you agree, of exceptional interest and quality and we are indebited to Brian Green for this^ I am pleased to report that The London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies which presents the Walter Bor Media Awards recognised their quality and Commended the Society in the Newsletter category.
We are grateful to the Dulwich branch of NADFAS in giving us their noticeboard which will be useful on occasions such as at the St.Barnabas Winter Market where we,besides being sponsors, had a stall to publicize our activities and sell publications.
It is not all good news: a week before Christmas the 'boy' of the Edward Alleyn statue went missing; fortunately it was found a couple of days later,little damaged, in the nearby shrubbery. The sculptor,Louise Simson, and the foundry are designing a base plate which will improve security. We hope to recover some of the cost from the insurers.

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Membership Secretary's Report for 2007

Membership

Our membership numbers continued to follow the trend of recent years and rose gently to over 1100 at the end of the year. However, there is always a considerable amount of movement into and out of the Dulwich area, and as usual I would encourage members to recruit new neighbours and friends. I am happy to supply membership brochures or new members can join through our website - the address is listed in the newsletter. It is particularly heartening that a number of members who move out of the Dulwich and London area nevertheless wish to continue their membership. We have members scattered all over this country and even in Australia and the United States !

Subscriptions

We are now in the fourth year since we raised our annual subscription to £10 and there are still a very small number of members who have not increased their standing orders despite many reminders. We propose to cancel their membership if they do not do pay the full rate this year.

Charity Gift Aid

I am happy to report that we were able to claim £2,591 in Gift Aid in 2007, our largest payment so far. This continues to be a valuable addition to our income and I would encourage any member who has not signed a Gift Aid declaration to do so.

Wilfrid Taylor
27 February 2008 Membership Secretary

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ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE FOR THE SOCIETY’S AGM ON APRIL 29 2008

The year 2007-2008 has been a successful and interesting one for members of the Traffic and Transport Committee. The Committee has continued to build on progress made during 2006-2007 on local road safety, reduction of traffic congestion, improvement of conditions for walking and cycling and better public transport. Members of DGG (Dulwich Going Greener) are now kept up to date with information circulated to the Traffic and Transport Committee and an invitation has been extended to them to attend our meetings.

The most important new project, which encompasses all of the above, has been the decision to produce a Community Travel Plan for Dulwich, and a great deal of time has been spent on this during the year. The aim is to make Dulwich public space quieter, cleaner, greener, safer and healthier for leisure, shopping, play and non-motorised as well as motorised travel. It is hoped that eventually a reduction in motorised travel will be achieved which will reduce noise, pollution and danger.

Listed below are actions taken, or subjects considered, in relation to a Community Travel Plan for Dulwich :

- Several members have walked together along certain roads in Dulwich to gain first hand experience of traffic conditions at specific times of the day.
- An Open Meeting was held in October with Lynn Sloman, a well respected expert on the problems associated with transport and traffic.
- Information on Car Clubs/Car Sharing Schemes has been considered and it is hoped that further discussions on this subject will take place with Southwark Council and local representatives.
- Travel Demand Management, Green Shopping, Walking Buses, School Travel Plans, Protected Cycle Networks, Streetscapes/Infrastructure are all recognised as playing an important part in the Plan.

Additional activities have included :

- Submitting two bids to the 2007-2008 Cleaner Greener Saver scheme – one of which was successful. Putting together a list of possible bids for the CGS scheme for 2008-2009.
- Putting together a list of possible bids to be made by Southwark via the Dulwich Community Council for funds for the implementation within Southwark of the Mayor of London’s Transport Strategy.
- Liaising with TfL representatives over tightening up the junction of Gallery Road and Alleyn Park with the South Circular to make it safer.

- Supporting residents of Court Lane in their request to Southwark Council seeking an alteration to the Junction where Court Lane meets Lordship Lane, and for greater safety for pedestrians crossing from the Court Lane park gates to Eynella Road.
- Continued support for the work of the Herne Hill Forum on measures to improve the junction at Herne Hill and to regenerate the area.
- Liaising with TfL over the phasing of traffic lights at the junction of College Road and the South Circular.
- Due to the magnificent efforts of the late David Hollis, and more recently those of Isaac Marks, there is an improved train service of four trains an hour on the West Dulwich line.
- Involvement with an open meeting to discuss the Red Post Hill Bridge closure.

As always, we welcome new members onto our Committee.

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Annual Report for 2007 of the Planning and Architecture Group of the Dulwich Society

Over the year, architect David Roberts, architect Oliver Probyn and Group secretary Jean Howell have on a monthly basis appraised, on behalf of the Dulwich Society, applications for external alterations to residential property covered by the Dulwich Estate’s Scheme of Management stating either no objection or an objection with a reason.

These applications are assessed in the first instance against the Dulwich Estate’s published guidelines in 14 categories; tree works, boundary works to walls, hedges, fences, railings and gates, conservatories, hard standing in front gardens, loft conversions, external repairs and redecorations, replacement roofs, chimneys and re-pointing, satellite dish aerials, change of use where certain businesses are to be run from home, shop fronts, garden structures and solar energy panels. Neighbours of proposed alterations sometimes flag up concerns with the Group.

The most popular applications to create extra space within the home are either a rear extensions or a loft conversion with a dormer at the rear and rooflights to the side. There has been a tendency for some applications to seek to make rear extensions ever taller and ever wider. Where this is considered inappropriate relative to the size of the original house an objection is made by the Group for referral to the Dulwich Estate’s committee for a decision.

The need to allow buildings to adapt to changing lifestyle is acknowledged by the Group and where there is no negative impact on the adjoining owners and the size is proportionate there is less likelihood of an objection. Appropriate growth and change is seen by the Group as positive in giving new and better use of homes in Dulwich.

For example, the application to the Dulwich Estate for a large rear extension at 21 Frank Dixon Way ( this and adjoining houses, originally one room deep, have very wide long plots ) was revised three times before the Dulwich Estate granted a license, with the Group raising no objection. However, Southwark Council’s planning department refused the final revision. The planning officer is reported as saying, by way of explanation for the refusal, “…but your extension is larger than my flat!” The owners of the house have appealed the Council’s decision and the Group have sent a letter to the Planning Inspectorate setting out their reasons for not objecting to the proposed single storey rear extension.

The new house going up next to 37 College Road is believed to be the last replacement house within the village following destruction of the previous house on this site in the Second World War by bomb damage. Unusually, as can be seen at present, it is of steel frame construction. The high quality of design of this house by architects Knox Bhavan is novel in other respects which will reveal themselves over the coming year.

Renewal of the derelict listed garden wall along Red Post Hill adjoining Lyndenhurst, 19 Village Way : The Group, local residents, Peter Flaherty and Simon Pimblett along with Councillors, Toby Eckersley, Nick Vineall and Robin Crookshank Hilton have continued to press for the full and proper re-instatement of this listed 18th century wall. At the request of Southwark Council, the Dulwich Society made an application in October 2007 for Listed Building Consent for the reconstruction of the wall. The application was based on a Consultant Structural Engineer’s detailed report commissioned by Southwark Council Enforcement Section. Listed Building Consent was granted in December 2007.

The purpose of the consent is so that Southwark Council can serve a Section 215 notice on the current owner, Hausman Hughes to put into good order this derelict wall. While there can be a legal challenge, the bottom line is that if the wall is not re-instated the Council can do the work itself and take legal action to recover its costs from the owner. The Dulwich Society is awaiting confirmation that the Section 215 notice has been served. Optimistically, once this legal process has started it could mean that the wall will have been re-built or is being worked on by this time next year.

The Weather Vane has finally been erected on the Tollgate on College Road. The weathervane was originally designed as part of the Tollgate by architect Don Adie of Turney Road. However, it was not erected when the Tollgate was built due to lack of permission by the Dulwich Estate. The current chief executive of the Dulwich Estate, John Major agreed that the weathervane, which depicts the Dulwich Estate coat of arms, would be erected by the Estate, if it could be found. Thanks to detective work by Don Adie and the Dulwich Estate it was found in the care of Terry Kent, the former design and technology master at Dulwich College, where it was made by the boys of Dulwich College as a metalwork project some 12 years ago.

Road Bridge North Dulwich Station : Agreement has been reached that the original brick recessed brick panels that formed part of the parapet wall to the bridge are to be re-instated as part of the re-building process that is underway thanks to representations by Don Adie and chair of the Traffic and Transport sub-committee, Alistair Hanson.

The Statue of Edward Alleyn : The removal of the boy and his concealment in the bushes during December 2007 has led to a decision by the Dulwich Society executive committee to re-instate the boy with a large baseplate securely fixed to the stone plinth. The preparation for this work is being undertaken with the assistance of the sculptress, Louise Simson and the AB Fine Art foundry in Poplar who cast the two statues.

Report by David Roberts

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DULWICH SOCIETY WILDLIFE COMMITTEE REPORT for 2007

The committee has been very active, not only in fighting to preserve existing wildlife habitats locally in the face of increased “garden-grabbing” development pressures and the demands of insurance companies handling householders’ subsidence damage claims, but members have also worked to provide some brand-new places to attract and sustain our Dulwich birds, mammals, amphibians and insects.

The committee have also continued and enhanced the vital monitoring and education initiatives started in previous years.

(I) Success story of the year must be the £8,000 grant awarded as a result of the committee’s application to Southwark Council’s Cleaner, Greener, Safer scheme for the planting and development of a new Woodland Walk on the outer edges of Belair Park - supported by the Trees Committee and by the Friends of Belair Park. Work on this will be carried out by Walworth Garden Farm, under the guidance of Southwark’s ecology officer Jon Best and Dulwich Society members. It will focus particularly on providing owl and bat havens - the council’s first bat walk revealed three species of bat using the park to hunt insects (two kinds of pipistrelles and a Daubenton’s) and the area is part of a chain of habitats used by these fascinating, yet endangered tiny mammals, which includes Dulwich Upper, Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Woods and the golf course. The Dulwich Society is also supporting the scheme financially and work is due to start in April, 2008.

(2) Birdlife monitoring continues: the 2007 Spring bird count in Dulwich Park showed increased numbers of small birds - especially blue tits, blackbirds and green finches - attributable, the recorders believe, to the improved management of the park’s “woodland edge”-style perimeter.
Committee member Dave Clark, water bird recorder for Dulwich Park, now has his own British Trust for Ornithology recording grid for Dulwich, and will be monitoring this detailed area for the next four years. So, if you spot a crossbill or other unusual sighting on your patch, or have a nesting , migrant or feeding anecdote, e-mail dave@mailbox.co.uk, and you will be helping build the new national birdlife atlas upon which researchers base estimates of how well, or badly, individual bird species are faring. Dr Peter Roseveare continues to be our Wildlife Recorder and has contributed much to our knowledge and has written articles in the Newsletters.

(3) We continue to support the Trees Committee in the battle to keep Dulwich green and leafy. One mature tree was, sadly, lost as a result of a household insurance claim which affected trees bordering the Alleyn’s school sports fields. But, after considerable effort by both Wildlife and Trees committees and Southwark’s trees officers, a compromise was eventually reached which granted a reprieve - via pruning rather than removal - for two other trees on site. They are the subject of tree preservation orders.

(4) Members took part in bat-surveying, tree-tagging and a one-day workshop at The Horniman Museum. Work is ongoing in Sydenham Hill Woods and some 53 trees, mainly oaks along Cox’s Walk, have been identified as roosting, or potential roosting sites for bats. One species (brown long-eared) has been recorded for the first time in Dulwich, using the disused old railways tunnel.

(5) Members also attended bumble bee conservation workshops at Mark Carlton’s wildflower garden in Penge, organised by a new charity, Buglife. (www.buglife.org.uk).

(6) Newsletter articles during the year focused on foxes, bumble bees, wood pigeons and house sparrows and took Society members’ “problems” and queries as their basis.

(7) Education initiatives have included birdlife fact sheets for teachers visiting the Francis Peek Centre in Dulwich Park with school parties, a bird display board and a new wildlife recording book for sightings.

(8) Although most of the committee’s work has centred upon encouraging the watching and enjoyment of wildlife in Dulwich, they also sought the help of the Metropolitan Police’s wildlife crime unit and the RSPCA in investigating inappropriate methods of keeping wildlife off property. Both organisations visited the householder and were able to give advice.

TREES COMMITTEE REPORT

FOR 2007

Subsidence claims continue to be the most serious threat to trees in Dulwich.

We have lost a chestnut and an ash along College Road and other trees are threatened. We continue to attend the Estates Governors’ tree surveys and defend these trees wherever possible.

The trees map has continued to sell well and we have now reprinted it. It is given free to all new members. We have also reprinted a nature trail for Dulwich Park, which is available free at the café.

We had a well-attended walk in Sydenham Wells Park in May, led by our excellent guide, Hetta Jones, and an outing to Wakehurst Place on a beautiful day in November.

We have planted three more trees in Long Meadow, a dawn redwood and two coral bark willows. There are now 15 trees and a long stretch of hedgerow planted by us and doing well.

STELLA BENWELL,
CHAIR, TREES COMMITTEE

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Dulwich Society Garden Group

Annual Report 2007

We have had a rather disappointing year. Our first event, a lecture by Ann Bird, President of the Royal National Rose Society, who was a most interesting and entertaining speaker, attracted less than half our usual audience. And numbers were well down on previous years for most of our garden openings.

During the summer months we visited fifteen local gardens as well as the garden of the South London Botanical Institute. We are most grateful for all the hard work that was put into preparing these gardens for our visit and also for the excellent hospitality that we received.
The weather was not always on our side.. Two of the visits were held in heavy rain, but even when the weather was good, visitor numbers were down. We think this is due to the substantially increased number of other garden openings – under the ‘Yellow Book’ scheme or in support of charities or the Dulwich Festival. When our group first started, there were no other garden openings.

In June we had a most enjoyable visit to West Dean Gardens, near Chichester. The returning coach was packed with specimens purchased by members of the group. We also held a competition for a small flower arrangement, which was won by Sylvia Daniel with a display of Crocosmia. We also organised a ‘Plant Swap’ tent for the ‘Green Fair’ in Dulwich Park and donated our takings of £103 to the ‘Friends of the Park’.

The Group currently has 260 members and we would like to have more. All members of the Dulwich Society are welcome to join. There is no charge. Just let John Ward have your name and address (Email: jjbwrd@btopenworld.com or telephone 0207 274 5172) and in April you will be sent a list of invitations to next summer’s events. We are also always looking for new gardens for our members to visit. If you have, or know of an interesting garden (it doesn’t have to be big), or if a small group in one road would like to open their gardens together and raise money for charity, please contact John Ward.

We are very pleased that Josephine Lock has joined our committee. Thanks are due to all committee members, as well as to those who deliver the invitations for our garden visits. Without their hard work these events could not have taken place.
We are also grateful to our members for their support.

JBW/ 14 12 07

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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LOCAL HISTORY SUB-COMMITTEE FOR 2007

The summer walk was organised and led by Brian Green with information on trees along the way from Dr.Peter Roseveare and Stella Benwell. It was unfortunately a very wet evening but about 20 people walked from the pond on the corner of College Road, through the Dulwich College sports fields adjacent to the Golf course and up to the top of Grange Lane.

On October 12th a coachload of members enjoyed a very interesting visit to the Society of Antiquaries, thanks to Bernard Nurse, who was until very recently the Librarian of the Society. Bernard was also co-curator of the exhibition at theadjacent
Royal Academy celebrating the 300th Anniversary of the Society. After showing us the main rooms and library of the Society, Bernard accompanied us to the exhibition and kindly answered our questions about the exhibits.

In November the committee, in association with the Dulwich Players, organised a very successful evening of readings from literature referring to Dulwich in fact and fiction. This entertainment was attended by about 60 people.

Brian Green has discovered that the humps he has been investigating on the site opposite the Horniman Museum were constructed as part of a children’s play area.

The Dulwich Post Office cart is nearing the end of restoration due to the meticulous work of Graham Nash and Willis Walker; we still have to decide on its protection, particularly if displayed in such a prominent position at the forecourt of the Village Post Office.