good food & healthy living

News for locals keen on good food & healthy living!
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Incredible Edible Todmorden NATIONAL conference in Peckham.
Saturday 9th October 9pm-4pm
at John Donne school, Woods Road, Peckham, LONDON SE15 2SW
For anyone interested in health, food growing, community sustainability or related things;
links to the New Peckham Experiment project.
Further information and booking form from http://www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk see also below.
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Dulwich Vegan and Vegetarian Society just launched
for people in East Dulwich & nearby neighbourhoods interested in
environmental and animal welfare & meeting to eat vegetarian / vegan food.
Contact thomasmicklewright@hotmail.com see more info below.
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The MONTPELIER PUB has had a revival! - newly refurbished, independent.
43 Choumert Rd on the corner with Costa Street, in the heart of Bellenden:
* fine local ales, organic wines, happy meat & fish
* http://www.themontpelier.net - 0207 635 9483
see also info below.
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FURTHER INFORMATION
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From Incredible Edible in Todmorden:
NATIONAL conference in Peckham.
Saturday 9th October 9am-4pm
John Donne school, Woods Road, Peckham, LONDON SE15 2SW

Come and hear an uplifting and inspiring story about a Northern town's growing success and what this could mean to us here in Peckham, in Todmorden''s own words - "the home of the world famous Peckham Experiment".
Further information and booking form from: http://www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk
Incredible Edible Todmorden aims to increase the amount of local food grown and eaten in the town. Businesses, schools, farmers and the community are all involved. Vegetables and fruit are springing up everywhere. Public flower beds are being transformed into community herb gardens and vegetable patches.
Listen to thought provoking speakers like Professor Tim Lang. Hear Pam, Mary, Nick and Paul and others talk about being sustainable the Incredible Edible way, and hear the story of IET.

They have been inspired like many people around the world by the Peckham Experiment from 1920s - 1950. Let us, in modern Peckham, honour our history and also be inspired.
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From the Dulwich Vegan and Vegetarian Society
The Society is just being set up for people who are interested in the environment and animal welfare. We will soon be meeting up for monthly social events, eating vegan and vegetarian food and discussing these issues and swapping recipes. We will also be holding a stall in East Dulwich to raise awareness about these issues and dish out some lovely free vegan food!
 
If you are interested in the environment or animal welfare (no need to be vegan or veggie) then please contact: Thomas Micklewright
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from the MONTPELIER NEWS LETTER
http://www.themontpelier.net - 0207 635 9483

The Montpelier pub on Choumert Rd has had a revival. It was recently taken over by four friends from South London who know a thing or two about running great pubs. They set the up The Roebuck & The Trinity in Borough 7 years & 3 years ago respectively and through blood sweat & tears have turned them into well loved busy pubs. They've now set their sights on making The Montpelier a truly fantastic local.
The Montpelier will still very much be an independent pub, being run by Neil Watson who's one of the owners. He says
" We had been looking for a pub in this area for a while as one of us lives on Amott Rd and we have many friends around here. We really love the community feel of the area and felt that every community needs a good local pub which it was lacking. When the Montpelier became available we jumped at the chance"

So what will The Montpelier offer? " We know that if we get all the basics right customers will want to come back. So great drinks, sourcing quality local ales, organic wines and decent lagers & ciders. Delicious traditional home cooked food using organic free-range meat, sustainable fresh fish from F.C.Sopers in Nunhead and plenty of vegetarian options. Also great service, with lovely staff who'll always give a smile and genuinely want you to have a great time. "

The Montpelier has had a great refurbishment with an eclectic mix of furniture and feels a lot more homely. The front garden has been done up too and is the best place to get the evening sun. They will be open earlier in the day soon serving brunch and light lunches and there is also a quiz night coming up.
So Neil and the guy's have done the hard work now it's your turn. Come down, try it out and make it your local.

4th & 5th September events

Some events next weekend, first weekend in September:
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FRIENDS OF PECKHAM RYE PARK SUMMER FETE
SATURDAY 4th September 12 noon till 5pm.
Our own local annual Village Fete, run by residents for residents.
For details, scroll down.
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PECKHAM EXPERIMENT ARCHIVE FILM & CELEBRATION
SUNDAY 5th September, 8.00pm - 10.00pm,
The Pioneer Centre, St Mary's Rd, London, SE15 2EE.
A rare chance to see archive film & find out what this was all about,
and why it is still important today to Peckham and the world.
For more information scroll down.
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COUNCIL DEMOCRACY COMMISSION CONFERENCE
SATURDAY 4th September 1.30pm to 5.30pm.
St George's Cathedral Southwark, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7HY.
http://southwarkcouncil.createsend1.com/t/r/l/cdjthd/hyirxlid/r
For more information scroll down.
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MORE INFORMATION
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FRIENDS OF PECKHAM RYE PARK SUMMER FETE
SATURDAY 4th September 12 noon till 5pm.
Fun Races for all the family - egg and spoon, sack races, 3 legged etc
Green gym, Face painting, Friends tea and cake marquee,
Crafts, Books, Plants, Vintage clothes, Charity and many more stalls,
Treasure map, Sparrow project,
Coconut shy, Punch and Judy,
Hog roast, PIMMS TENT, French Cider,
Doggie games
.....all at unbeatable prices!
Events:
1 pm - Children's fancy dress competition
2 pm - Fun Dog show

Organised by the residents for the residents of our local community!
Offers for help on the day to FOPRP@aol.com.
Contributions for the stalls books, plants or cakes stalls:
BOOK stall - call 0208 299 2680 for delivery or collection of books.
PLANTS - please leave outside 3 Elland Road, SE15. or call 079 684 16108.
CAKES - home-made cakes etc bring along on the day to the tea and cake marquee. Call 0770 446 3614
We welcome your support and let us all hope the SUN SHINES!!
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PECKHAM EXPERIMENT ARCHIVE FILM & CELEBRATION
SUNDAY 5th September, 8.00pm - 10.00pm,
The Pioneer Centre, St Mary's Rd, London, SE15 2EE
Special screening of archive film and reflections on the life of the Peckham Experiment.
This event launches the first Peckham Free Film Festival (www.freefilmfestivals.org).
a celebration of the life of the famous 1920s-1940s Peckham Experiment

In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Pioneer Health Centre, you are warmly invited to a special screening of archive footage and reflections on the life of the Peckham Experiment:
Sunday 5th September, 8.00pm - 10.00pm,
The Pioneer Centre, London, SE15 2EE
8.00PM: Welcome, refreshment and reflections
8.20PM: Two films:
* The Story of the Peckham Health Centre: the 1947 film of the work of the centre
* Pool of Information: film documentary by film-maker Jini Rawlings including reflections from Centre members and staff
9.15PM: Refreshments and music from the era

Please bring a picnic blanket and join current residents of the Pioneer Centre and people from Peckham and beyond for a celebration of the work of the Peckham Experiment: the inspiration it has provided over time, and the potential of a New Peckham Experiment to meet a range of contemporary challenges.
RSVP: ruthpotts@gmail.com to say if you are coming.
The Pioneer Centre is two minutes walk from Queens Road Peckham rail station

BACKGROUND see also http://thephf.org
The Peckham Experiment: An experiment in the living structure of society

Between 1926 and 1950 experimental biologists George Scott-Williamson and Innes Hope Pearce developed what was to became known as the 'Peckham Experiment', a pioneering project that set out to make health 'more contagious than disease'. Built around principles of self-organisation, local empowerment, organic farming and a holistic focus on social connection as fundamental to health, the learning from the Peckham Experiment is as relevant today as it was then.
In a time of climate change, the imminent peak and decline of fossil fuels and with levels of inequality in the UK reaching record levels (with negative impacts for all of us), the need for creative, participatory thinking about whole community well-being has never been more necessary. As the Peckham Experiment showed, healthy, equitable, economically resilient and environmentally thriving communities can be cultivated if we work together to make them happen. 70 years after the purpose-built Pioneer Health Centre opened, the legacy of the Peckham Experiment echoes through community initiatives around Peckham and beyond.
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COUNCIL DEMOCRACY COMMISSION CONFERENCE
SATURDAY 4 September from 1.30 to 5.30pm.Amigo Hall, St George's Cathedral Southwark, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7HY.

A conference getting to the heart of local democracy
Tell the Council how to improve Southwark's Council Assembly, your local parliament. They want you to tell them how you would like to get involved in the debates and decisions on issues such as housing, transport and schools.
You are invited to a community engagement conference
http://southwarkcouncil.createsend1.com/t/r/l/cdjthd/hyirxlid/r ,
hosted by Southwark's democracy commission
at Amigo Hall, St George's Cathedral Southwark, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7HY
on Saturday 4 September from 1.30 to 5.30pm.
There will be a keynote speaker and lots of opportunities to meet councillors, talk to other active citizens and for you to ask questions and give your views.

Southwark Council's democracy commission is aiming to bring the council closer to its residents, making it more accountable to them and more connected with their concerns. It was established in July this year and is made up of seven councillors.
For more details, to ask questions about the democracy commission or give your views
go to www.southwark.gov.uk/democracy
email democracy@southwark.gov.uk or
phone Julie Timbrell on 020 7525 0514.
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Rye Passage Fri 20 Aug 2.30pm

Improvements to Rye Passage: a celebration
Friday 20 August 2.30pm
in Rye Passage near the Peckham Rye end
If you are around, do come and join us to celebrate the completion of phase one of the Rye Passage improvements.

WHERE IS RYE PASSAGE?
As you walk along Nutbrook Street in the direction of Peckham Rye and pass Anstey Road, you come to a road sign saying Troy Town and a passage way called Rye Passage.
The Troy Town road name plate is all that is left of some Victorian terraced houses bombed during the second world war, and now occupied by the senior residential home formerly called Wilkinson House and now Cherrycroft. We think also that what is now Dewar Street was also called Troy Town originally. To confuse matters further about names, in 1952 after the war, the new block of flats built by Camberwell Housing Association for the elderly between Rye Passage and Nigel Road was named Troy Town flats.
Rye Passage runs alongside and between the boundaries of Cherrycroft and Troy Town flats, and crosses the end of Relf Road, and comes out opposite the Rye Hotel, at the northern triangle of Peckham Rye between East Dulwich Road and Nigel Road.

HISTORY
It has a very long history as a public right of way before the houses and streets were built in the 19th century. Now it provides a lovely oasis from traffic in the hurly burly of the surrounding roads, as well as a very important pedestrian route between Peckham Rye and the surrounding area to the west.
For many years the part of the Passage, which is near the join with the path coming from Dewar Street, has been a mess with corrugated iron, deteriorating fences, rubbish dumping, a blind corner which people could hide behind and anti social behaviour of various obnoxious sorts.
During the Bellenden Renewal Scheme (1997-2007), local residents suggested improvements to Rye Passage, especially to remove the blind spots caused by the line of the fences. But we were unsuccessful in getting it into the programme. However, we successfully applied for funding from the council's Cleaner Greener Safer initiative, for which we are very thankful.

IMPROVEMENTS
Phase one has now been completed by the Council. In agreement with the Camberwell Housing Association, there is a new fence and gates along the Troy Town flats boundary, and new gates at the entrance from Relf Road to stop car parking which was the source of some of the anti-social behaviour. Phase 2 will create improved visibility through the design of the fence on the other side of the passage once the Japanese Knotweed in the Cherrycroft garden has been eliminated.
Public safety has already been boosted, and the appearance of the area substantially improved. See the pictures in the attached poster, and also at http://www.bellenden.net/category/road/rye-passage The dream we always knew was possible is slowly taking real shape.

For further information contact: Eileen
Bellenden Residents' Group (BRG) http://www.bellenden.net

Memories campaign for the re-opening of Dulwich Leisure Centre Sept 2010

Have you ever used the Dulwich Baths in East Dulwich Road, opposite Goose Green? It was opened in 1891 so there will be people living in Peckham and nearby, or known to people living here, who have used it during the many years in the last century. If you have elderly neighbours do ask them if they have any memories of it. It is reopening, fully refurbished for this next century, in September. People with memories and stories of the pool are invited to speak to Julie Vindis asap.
See information below.
Her contact details are:
email: Julie.Vindis@southwark.gov.uk
phone: 07973 753014
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EMAIL FROM JULIE VINDIS, SOUTHWARK COUNCIL
In the run up to the re-opening of the Dulwich Leisure Centre in September I am putting together a 'Memories' campaign.

I am very keen to speak with anyone that has memories of using the Dulwich Baths since it opened on 25 June 1891.  For example:
a) Celebrations held at the baths - weddings, christenings or historical announcements
b) War time use of the baths
c) Use of the first and second class pools and washing facilities
c) Olympic training/ Guinness Book of Record attempts, swimming galas or something else perhaps covered by the media of its time?
I would be delighted to speak with people if they believe they are the longest user of the swimming baths, or have used it for a quirky reason other than swimming!

The reason for this request is that the best archive footage, photos, stories, people I can pool together (sorry about the pun!) I will be sharing with local TV, radio and the press in the run up to the re-opening and indeed well after. So please send me an email with your story and contact details and will be back to you within 24 hours or sooner. A picture says a 1000 words, so if you have a photo, old newspaper or even footage to support your story then that would be brilliant! You can contact me at: julie.vindis@southwark.gov.uk

I have to move rather quickly with this campaign and have all my editorials ready by early September, so please don't delay if you've got a story to share then send it over as soon as possible. Ask family and friends that used to live nearby, local residents, local historians - anyone with a smashing story to tell!
Best regards
Jules
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Julie Vindis, Stakeholder Communications Manager
Investing in Leisure Programme - Southwark Council
www.southwark.gov.uk/InvestingInLeisure
3C/D21 160 Tooley Street, SE1 2TZ
07973 753014

email from Burgess Park Action Group - 31 July deadline for further comments

As mentioned in the earlier email with the Council's letter, here below is the email from the Burgess Park Action Group.
Further information from: Burgess Park Action Group: contact@3acorns.co.uk
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EMAIL FROM BURGESS PARK ACTION GROUP

Dear Southwark Resident
Many thanks to those of you who have helped in so many ways over recent weeks. Following very wide community objections to various aspects of the LDA masterplan produced for Burgess Park 6 weeks ago, the council has modestly revised the plans, dropping some of the proposals.

The revised proposals are on the council's website and the deadline for responses to this new proposal is this Friday, 30th July. The email address is des.waters@southwark.gov.uk

BPAG has drafted a letter that you might like to base your responses on, following consultation on our Facebook Page. Please feel free to adapt or personalise as you see fit. The text is below. If you could get an email in, we would be very grateful.

Many thanks
Donnachadh McCarthy
Spokesperson
Burgess Park Action Group
contact@3acorns.co.uk
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DRAFT OF A POSSIBLE LETTER FOR COMMENTS ON COUNCIL'S REVISED PROPOSALS
To: Southwark Council's Burgess Park Project Board

Dear Des Waters
Re: Consultation on latest proposals for Burgess Park

Thank you for re-opening the consultation period for the proposals for Burgess Park and agreeing already to some modifications following concerns expressed by many local resident and amenity groups.

I would like to express my support for the following:
1/ Improving the Walworth Road entrance but would ask that you do not remove the healthy mature trees in this area.
2/ Proposed removal of derelict roads at New Church Road, Neate Street, Calmington and Longcroft etc
3/ Abandoning the £1 million plan to rip up the canal avenue and move it 3 meters to the north and to save the 180 cherry trees.
4/ The decision not to bulldoze the landscaped area to the north of the Wells Way Library.
5/ The decision not to destroy the western one of the two wooded hills at the western end of the lake.
6/ The decision to preserve the central wildflower meadow following your decision to locate the BMX track elsewhere.
7/ The decision to preserve all of the woodland clumps along St Georges Way.
8/ The decision not to proceed with the massive and expensive expansion of the lake to bisect the park to the south.
9/ The expansion the New Church Road wildlife area.
10/ Planting of new trees
11/ The use of a borehole to use aquifer water to fill the lake rather than tap-water as at present.
12/ The repair of the current lake and installation of nesting islands.

Things I Would NOT like to see in final master plan or Phase 1
1/ I do not want to see you bulldoze a new wide path along a straight line from Old Kent Road to St George's Church through lake and destroying two wooded wildlife areas. I see nothing wrong with the lovely meandering path there currently and fail to see the purpose of spending £200,000 on this pointless proposal.
2/ Oppose completely the proposal to bulldoze all of the existing Old Kent Road entrance and would prefer to instead to see some limited modest refurbishment.
3/ I do not want to see the central playground bulldozed on Wells Way and started from scratch on Albany Road. Please instead refurbish the current playground.
4/ I do not support the bulldozing of the beautiful glade opposite Bath House and the hill adjacent to it.
5/ I do not support your proposal to bulldoze entire mound from Bath House to Lime Kiln to Albany Road, including the woodland and cycle track.
6/ Please do not bulldoze the cycle track.
7/ I do not want the creation of 100,000 (down from 120,000), 60,000, 15,000, 20,000 and 5,000 events areas, now totalling 200,000 instead of 220,000 for largest events, as detailed in the events map in the master-plan.
8/ I would like to see the protection of a pathway from Southampton Way to Portland Street.
9/ I do not want to see removal of between 200- 600 existing trees.
10/ I do not want to see destruction of 3 existing woodland areas (the one adjacent to the cycle track mound, by western border of the lake and by the 3 meter path through the bird nesting lake by the northern lake boundary).

In addition to the above I would like to see the following positive things added to project:
1/ Please refurbish the major play area on Wells Way rather than bulldoze it
2/ Add at least a thousand new trees and improve and expand wildlife areas and links between wildlife areas of the park
3/ Complete the integration of the cleared MOL sites along New Church Road into the park.
4/ install proper entrance at Southampton Way which is a very well used but ignored entrance to the park.
5/ Provide funding to make the park an Eco-park i.e. energy efficiency, renewable heat, renewable electricity, on-site composting, recycling, elimination of pesticide use, rainwater-harvesting, borehole etc
6/ Use the money proposed to be wasted on bulldozing of hills and woodlands and OKR entrance on prioritising in Phase 1, the installation of satellite play for various communities around the park

I look forward to seeing your latest plans further improved and hope the council will continue to work to repair and improve the existing park, rather than as in the original LDA masterplan bulldoze so much of the park and starting again.

Yours sincerely,
A. R. Resident

Burgess Park - latest news from Council - 31 July deadline for comments

I have been asked by the Council to send you the latest news from them on how they have responded to recent concerns about Burgess Park, and which I circulated earlier through this email list. They point out that they can continue to receive comments on the latest developments until 31st July.
So it seems reasonable and sensible to send this latest information. I have also been asked by the Burgess Park Action Group to circulate further information from them which I will do in a separate email.

I try hard to avoid overburdening this email list and so apologise for such a lot of information in a short space of time on one topic. But once this flow started it seemed right to complete it.

EC - distributor and manager for the PRN informal voluntary email list
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From: Miller, Ruth
Cc: Waters, Des; Towers, Rebecca
Sent: Wed Jul 21 17:10:21 2010
Subject: Sent of behalf of Councillor Hargrove regarding Burgess Park


LETTER FROM COUNCILLOR HARGROVE
Dear Resident

Throughout July we've been gathering further views on the latest proposals for Burgess Park, and incorporating them with the extensive consultation we've been doing over the last 16 months (more than 25 events and over one thousand responses in various forms). Some proposals have been supported, but there are others you are unhappy with, and we have listened to you.

Public meeting on 20 July
At a public meeting on 20 July the council set out what it had heard from this consultation and the possible changes to address these, in the first part of the £4.5m project.

The meeting was well attended, with lively debate and strong views. A great many of the people there were supportive of the revisions, many saying they were happy with how the council has listened, and the changes we've incorporated. These are set out below.

I also provided, and repeated, my complete reassurance that there is no proposed amphitheatre at all in the plans for the park.

Proposals outlined at the meeting
We think there is general agreement on converting redundant roads to park, improving entrances and boundaries , improving accessibility and footpaths, planting new gardens at St. George's Way, introducing a play area for older children, and installing new signage, seating, litter bins, and new railings and so we propose these should go ahead.

However, there were mixed opinions on areas such as biodiversity and sports provision, location of play and adventure areas, when to improve the lake, and whether to do the canal, and as a result we have made some changes.

We will now not be removing the trees along Canal Walk, St George's Way and Cobourg Road, we will not be reinstating the canal, we will not be filling in the underpass and we will not be expanding the sport hub, among others.

For a full list of the elements that we propose to keep, and changes we propose to make, in the plans, click on this web page:
http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200280/burgess_park_transformation/1719/latest_developments

Extra Funding
The council will also continue to seek more funding for more improvements, which will be carried out alongside the revitalization project work. These works are food growing areas near the Surrey Canal Walk, outdoor gyms and local play areas and a national standard BMX track.

Consultation opportunities
Don't forget, you still have a chance to give us your thoughts, and we'd welcome your feedback not only on the plans, but on these recent proposed changes we've made. You have until July 31 to give us your views on the above, as well as the opportunity to give your views when the planning application of the project is submitted, later in the year.

I'm passionate about making sure we make the most of this opportunity - chances like this come around only once in a generation, and I'm determined to see that we make the most of it. With your help we can make sure this project is a success, and we can make the park something that the whole borough can be proud of. I'm grateful for the time and energy that everyone has shown in getting involved in this project, and I look forward to seeing the huge improvements these changes will bring to Burgess Park.

Councillor Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for transport, environment and recycling at Southwark Council.
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Further information from:
Ruth Miller
Burgess Park Project Manager
Southwark Council
Environment & Housing Dept
Public Realm Division
PO Box 64529
London SE1 5LX
07967 662 495

Sat 31 July Peckham Power event

Peckham Power invites you to its next meeting:
Saturday 31 July
at Bellenden Old School, 165 Bellenden Road, Peckham, SE15 4DG
All are welcome.
From 1.00pm bring and share light refreshments
2.00pm meeting with two topics
Further details below. For further information:
email info@peckhampower.org, or
phone and leave a message on 020 7617 7650.
http://peckhampower.org
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Peckham Power is a local, community-led energy infrastructure project, with the aim of helping people to use and generate energy sustainably, whatever their income.
The Peckham Power members' event on Saturday 31 July will be at Bellenden Old School, 165 Bellenden Road, Peckham, SE15 4DG, between 1-5pm  All are welcome.
1.00pm bring and share light refreshments
2.00pm meeting with two topics:

1. DOMESTIC LOFT INSULATION
practical presentation and answer and question session on domestic loft insulation from Peckham Power trustee Jack Kelly, and local architect Clyde Watson who has many years' experience of working with housing associations and on other properties.
2. PECKHAM POWER FUTURE DIRECTION
discussion of what you want from Peckham Power and Peckham Power's future irections. For instance, what are the energy needs you have right now that you want help with?

If you have ideas for what you'd like to see Peckham Power doing but can't get to the meeting, please send them to us either
email info@peckhampower.org, or
phone and leave a message on 020 7617 7650.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday 31 July,
Best wishes,
Jack, Gordon, Anna, Clyde and Lesley
part of the Peckham Power team

Bellenden Road Nature Garden opening 1st August

The Centre for Wildlife Gardening invites you to the official opening of the Bellenden Rd Nature Garden, opposite Highshore Rd school, at the Peckham High Street end of Bellenden Road.
On Sunday 1st August between 11am - 3pm
ribbon cutting at 11am by Cllr Mark Glover .

The Bellenden Road Nature Garden is a peaceful haven promoting wildlife gardening in an urban setting and will provide an opportunity for nature study by local children

All invited to celebrate the opening of the garden and participate in activities for all the family including:
Minibeast hotel making
Planting activities
Games
Face painting
Cake and refreshments
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
London Wildlife Trust has been creating a small urban community wildlife garden in Peckham. The Bellenden Road Nature Garden has been developed on the site of a former tree nursery and has recently undergone extensive re- landscaping with the aid of a grant from Southwark Council's Cleaner, Greener, Safer fund.
The Nature Garden opens on 1st August and will promote environmentally friendly and sustainable wildlife gardening practices to the wider public and provide an opportunity for nature study by local schools.
The garden has a variety of mini- habitats including native broadleaf hedgerow with emergent trees, mature broadleaf trees, Stag Beetle loggery, and wildflower borders. Features include a grassy central social mound with sleeper benches, wheelchair accessible path, raised flower beds, standing tree trunk sculpture, minibeast village and pergola for climbing plants.
The Bellenden Road Nature Garden has been established for education and amenity purposes for local schools, community groups, and for residents and workers to use and enjoy. The site is situated opposite Highshore School, a special secondary school for children of mixed needs.
Throughout the planning and development stages of the garden the London Wildlife Trust worked in consultation with students from Highshore School to generate ideas for the main features of the garden.
The garden will be open to the general public and accessible to all. Its appeal is as a relaxing and peaceful haven in the midst of a busy and built up area, where members of the community can undertake quiet recreation and environmental studies. Local schools, residents and volunteers will be involved in further development of the garden.

Further information from:
Ashley White
Conservation Projects Officer Southwark
Centre for Wildlife Gardening
28 Marsden Road
London, SE15 4EE
Tel: 020 7252 9186
Email: awhite@wildlondon.org.uk
www.wildlondon.org.uk

GARDEN FOR A LIVING LONDON
Do one thing to create a wildlife and climate friendly garden
Make your pledge at www.wildlondon.org.uk/gardening
London WildlifeTrust - Protecting London's wildlife for the future.

The London Wildlife Trust is part of a network of 47 local Wildlife Trusts across the UK, working under the umbrella of The Wildlife Trusts Partnership, the UK's leading conservation charity dedicated to wildlife protection.

Burgess Park developments

Further to the news about local concerns on the plans to develop Burgess Park, the council is holding some consultation and drop-in events. These are:

* 8 July - walkabout and workshops, 6pm, Burgess Park sports club
* 10 and 11 July - walkabout and workshops, 10am to 4pm, Chumleigh Gardens
* 20 July - public consultation event, 5pm to 7pm, Thurlow Lodge, 1 Thurlow St, London, SE17 2US
* 31 July - consultation feedback drop in session, 10am to 4pm, Chumleigh Gardens
* You can also drop in to the Chumleigh Gardens café to see the plans for the park and leave your comments in the comment book there, or email ruth.miller@southwark.gov.uk.

You can read more:
* about the plans at www.southwark.gov.uk/burgesspark.
* at www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200280/burgess_park_transformation/1719/latest scroll to the end of that page and click on:
* Response to Burgess Park Action Group consultation
* Frequently asked questions
The full letter from the Council is below.
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LETTER FROM COUNCIL
You may have heard recently in the local press and on television about plans for the redevelopment of Burgess Park. The council would like to take this opportunity to tell you directly about the next steps involved in unlocking the potential of the borough's largest green space.

For too long Burgess Park has been 'unfinished' and in the past improvements have been piecemeal and without a coherent vision. In December 2008, members of the public shared their ideas on how to improve Burgess Park through consultation and a Facebook campaign and helped support our bid to the GLA for money to invest in the park. In March 2009 it was announced that Burgess Park had won £2m from the Mayor of London, and it received a further £4m in match funding from the Aylesbury New Deal for Communities.

Since then Southwark Council's parks team has been busily working to turn the £6m into visible improvements to one of London's most deserving open spaces, extensively consulting with community groups and partners. Between May and October 2009 we ran a design competition for the park, and members of the public were invited to meet the two shortlisted designers, see their plans and ask questions. Based on residents' feedback, LDA Design was awarded the contract. In March the designs were sent out for public comment. The proposals you see now have been shaped by those comments and suggestions - there have been over 20 events, meetings and workshops since last December involving over 600 local people, plus a dedicated Facebook group.

We believe the development is an amazing opportunity to realise the full potential of Burgess Park. The plans to date propose: An increase in the amount of green space in the park for residents to enjoy The creation of new children's play facilities
A new café in Chumleigh Gardens Improvements to the lake and sports facilities
A safer park - improved entrances, redundant roads removed and a new path network created A park with richer and more diverse habitats, supporting existing biodiversity and helping new wildlife flourish

We are considering the environment at every stage of the project. Any trees, shrubs and lighting that are removed will be replaced elsewhere and land moved will be used to create new features elsewhere in the park.

The latest plan is not set in stone - there is still time for you to have your say on the future of the park, before any plans are finalised. We will also be providing you with a range of options for the phase one works, as well as the costs for each option. This will allow you to see the choices available. Throughout July we will be holding events where you can drop in and talk to someone about the plans: 8 July - walkabout and workshops, 6pm, Burgess Park sports club 10 and 11 July - walkabout and workshops, 10am to 4pm, Chumleigh Gardens 20 July - public consultation event,
5pm to 7pm, Thurlow Lodge, 1 Thurlow St, London, SE17 2US 31 July - consultation feedback drop in session, 10am to 4pm, Chumleigh Gardens. You can also drop in to the Chumleigh Gardens café to see the plans for the park and leave your comments in the comment book there, or email ruth.miller@southwark.gov.uk.

You can read more about our plans to transform the park at www.southwark.gov.uk/burgesspark.
We have included a set of 'frequently asked questions' at http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200280/burgess_park_transformation/1719/latest_developments/3. And the council's response to a set of comments from Burgess Park Action Group is also available at http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200280/burgess_park_transformation/1719/latest_developments/2

We are aware that the park plays an important role in residents' lives. This plan may not reflect everyone's personal view but we are committed to including as many ideas and suggestions as we can, in order to meet the majority's needs. Your views are valuable in finding the best plan.

I'd like to thank you for your input and your future involvement during the consultation, in what is an extremely exciting scheme and one that will release the full potential of one of London's most important parks.

Councillor Barrie Hargrove
Cabinet member for transport, environment and recycling Southwark Council.

Sun 18 July The Big Lunch in a street near you!

Hi - this is relevant for you wherever you live

The Big Lunch is happening again for the second year – on SUNDAY 18th July. It is a national one- day get together with your neighbours. It can be anything from a simple lunch to a full-blown street party with DJs and lots of food and drink.

More information from: http://www.thebiglunch.com/what-is-the-big-lunch/index.php You just have to type in your own postcode, and it will show you where the nearest Big Lunch parties are to you.

The first year, in 2009, there was just one in the Bellenden area, in Bellenden Road. This year there are several more see here for the latest list: http://www.bellenden.net/biglunch See here for some pictures and reports from last year: http://www.bellenden.net/category/road/bellenden-big-lunch

There are also Big Lunches in other parts of Peckham, Nunhead, East Dulwich and Camberwell, and elsewhere in Southwark. If you work here but live somewhere else there will no doubt be some near you!

To find out more, to make contact or to sign up with any in your own area go to: http://www.thebiglunch.com/map/find-a-big-lunch.php and type in your postcode, and follow the links to send a message to the organiser.

And you can also just turn up, preferably with something to add to the party! They are great fun, and a fantastic revival of the street party.

http://www.bellenden.net/biglunch

Peckham Power events

News from Peckham Power http://www.peckhampower.org

Peckham Power is a local energy infrastructure project, and as part of its activities is keen to showcase what local people are already doing to produce and use energy differently.

We are therefore holding a series of events called "the real thing..." in which local people, with experience of using low energy or low carbon equipment, share their experiences with others so that we can learn what this is really like. The next events are:

FOLD UP BIKES
Thursday, 17 June at 7pm, at 55 Blenheim Grove, SE15.
Two local people with fold-up bikes, one a Brompton, the other a Birdy, will be talking about their experiences of using them and showing how they work.

INSULATING VICTORIAN BUILDINGS
Thursday 15 July at 8pm, at 240 Bellenden Road, Peckham.
"the real thing..." will be about insulating Victorian buildings with two local people who have experience of doing this.

SUMMER MEMBERS' EVENT
On Saturday 31 July, refreshments from 1pm, formal meeting start at 2pm
venue to be confirmed nearer the date

For more information, please see http://www.peckhampower.org
e-mail info@peckhampower.org or phone 0207 7617 7650

leading walks training

Would you like to lead walks around the East Dulwich/Dulwich area?

The East Dulwich Community Centre Association is holding a workshop on
Walk Leader Training - How to lead walks around the local area
Open to all ages, backgrounds

Tuesday 29th June 2010.
9.30am - 2pm
East Dulwich Community Centre,
46 Darrell Road, SE22 9NL

To reserve your place at this event Please RSVP by 15th June 2010 to
Kate@imaginehealth.org.uk

This event is supported by a community development grant from Southwark Council

Tues 8 June - Burgess Park urgent meeting

Please forward this email to anyone with an interest in the future of Burgess Park.
__________________________________________
Message from Burgess Park Action Group:
Burgess Park stakeholders meeting this
Tuesday 8th June 2010 at 6pm
at the Sports Centre in Burgess Park.

Southwark Council plans to destroy large parts of Burgess Park (see draft list below) and use the Aylesbury £4 million to bulldoze the park and replace it with "A purpose built space for some of the largest festivals in Europe with amphitheatre style viewing for over 100 thousand people, a floating stage, and a dedicated cultural hub"
Please could you forward this email to any tenant reps or amenity groups or others that use Burgess Park and that you know would oppose the destruction of the existing park. This is an urgent and important meeting.
Donnachadh McCarthy
pp Burgess Park Action Group
020 7703 8748
07947 884299
3 Acorns Eco-Audits
______________________________________________
DRAFT: List of previous park investments and wild-life sites to be bull-dozed by the latest LDA/Council “masterplan”

1. Landscaping paid for by Groundwork Southwark in front of Library – now mature to be bulldozed.

2. The landscaping and re-tiling and new lighting installed by Groundwork Southwark in Wells Way underpass to be bulldozed. (This is the only safe connection crossing a road that is so busy it carried 50% of the Old Kent Road – essential for parents and very popular with cyclists.)

3. The 20 year old woodland and hill between the lime kiln and library to be flattened.

4. The newly installed Borough’s first LED ultra-efficient park lighting scheme installed on path between Southampton Way and Albany Road to be removed completely.

5. The large and formerly very popular toddler and teenage playground on Wells Way – to be bulldozed and landscaped instead of being repaired, installed by Southwark Council about 15 years ago and which the council had no money to repair even the swings.

6. About 400 meters of the popular cycle and pedestrian Canal Avenue where it passes under the old canal bridge is to be dug up and a pond put in its place, paid for by Groundwork Southwark about 8 years ago.

7. Entire side of the dual line of cherry-blossom trees planted by Groundwork Southwark at same time as laying of Canal Avenue is to be bulldozed for its entire length between the canal over-bridge and Glengall Road on St Georges side of Avenue.

8. The cycle track by the lime kiln is to be bulldozed – part funded by Southwark Cyclists just over two years ago.

9. The woodland, wildlife site and hill at east end of Burgess Park Lake which was planted by Southwark Council rangers service about 15 years ago and now mature to be flattened.

10. A second woodland, wildlife site and hill on other side of closed Calmington Road to be flattened.

11. The wildflower meadow by the Canal Avenue – been colonised by range of wild-plants and flowers for over 10 years and been undergoing meadow management for over 10 years to have the Cycle/BMX track built on it.

12. The mature wildlife woodland sections along St George’s Way which was planted by Groundwork Southwark about 12 years ago and now mature, is to be split up with a complex maze of paths.

13. The landscaping between Lake and Old Kent Road to be bulldozed to allow lake to be seen from the Old Kent Road (disastrously this will allow traffic and pollution from Old Kent Road to be seen from the currently peaceful lake).

14. The entrance at Old Kent Road installed by Southwark Council about 13 years ago to be completely bulldozed rather than revamped.

15. LDA “landscape architects” have been unable to provide a number of mature and semi-mature they intend to kill and remove. Initial guestimates are well over 1,000. Nearly 50 years of planting and growth of trees is threatened in large swathes of the park.

16. In the words of the architects the Canal Avenue mature wildflower meadow will be replaced by “A purpose built space for some of the largest festivals in Europe with amphitheatre style viewing for over 100 thousand people, a floating stage, and a dedicated cultural hub;

17. The wildlife site beside the cricket pitch is to be bulldozed. This is well over 30 years old and is on the site of a garden that predates the park.

18. An area the size of THREE football pitches is to be removed from open space and instead fenced off for polytunnels and allotments.

19. The existing cafe that overlooks the beautiful multi-cultural Chumleigh garden is to be closed and moved inside the building to overlook the Aylesbury Estate and Albany Road. The outdoor tables instead of being placed in a beautiful sheltered Arabic garden with the cafe furniture designed in line with the Arabic heritage of the garden will be on a concrete site exposed to a wind-tunnel funnelled from adjacent buildings.

20. Two sets of paths are to be placed through the existing RSPB maintained special house-sparrow meadows.

21. The 30 year old wildlife woodland and nesting area by the Albany Road side of the lake to be bulldozed.

22. The largest and most mature section of wild woodland along Albany Road at other side of path near lake looks to be bulldozed.

23. Mature shrubbery in front of St George’s Church at junction of New Church Road to be bulldozed –planted by international student workshop 14 years ago.

24. The avenue of mature trees between entrance at corner of Wells Way to the Canal Avenue all look likely to be removed, along with the path installed by Groundwork Southwark about 8 years ago.
_________________________________________
LDA architects and the current council proposals are classic 1960’s style bulldoze and start again disposable landscape school of architecture. The financial, ecological and community investment that is proposed to be destroyed will be painful to the thousands of local people who have watched our park gradually and organically grow from the collection of bombsites and scrap yards that plagued it 20 years ago.

It need not be like this. The existing park is a loved, living and breathing entity in its own right already, with some already beautiful corners already thriving. With careful nurturing and investment, this community led organic growth and investment can continue, so that it continues to provide a green haven and lung for the tens of thousands of people who live within walking distance of the park and the hundreds of thousands of people who play sport, walk or simply picnic in it every year.

An alternative vision to the LDA nightmare would be a national quality Eco-Park designed for the 21st century and based on eco-friendly principles of working and developing the best of what we have already and creating a dream of a zero waste, zero-carbon, green ecological oasis, where people can escape, relax and play, to recharge from the densely built surrounding city – a Hampstead Heath that South Londoners can be proud of.

Burgess Park needs to demonstrate the best of environmental sustainability principles, so that it can act as a beacon of hope in the midst of the threatening environmental crises our children are facing as they grow up. Telling them that the way to treat their own homes and gardens is to bulldoze them every ten to twenty years fails this crucial test of sustainability – the first test of which should always be – is it necessary? LDA’s ecologically disastrous proposals fail this test and are a major crime in wasted carbon terms to boot. Lets show our children instead that there is a different way – one based on community ecology and respect for their future and respect for the wildlife and investments that previous generations have nourished and created.

Sun 6 June Choumert Sq. Open Gardens

CHOUMERT SQ. OPEN GARDENS 'VILLAGE FETE'
One of the highlights of the year in Bellenden is the Choumert Square Open Gardens day, organised by the Choumert Sq. residents. It is just like our annual village fete, and open to all from nearby neighbourhoods. This year it is on Sunday 6th June 1pm - 6pm. See details: Http://www.ngs.org.uk/gardens/gardenfinder/garden.aspx?id=14482
Description: About 46 mini gardens with maxi-planting in Shangri-la situation that the media has described as a 'Floral Canyon', which leads to small communal 'secret garden' . Art, craft and home-made produce stalls and live music. Delicious refreshments. Gardens and village fête in one! See this short video from a previous year: Http://www.bellenden.net/category/road/choumert-square
A local stall with the Peckham Society and the Bellenden Residents Group will be there as usual. It is a great way to say hello to locals who work behind the scenes all year round on local issues.

OTHER LOCAL OPEN GARDENS
Also open that day is the fabulous London Wildlife Garden Centre right in our midst, in Marsden Road. Definitely worth a visit also. It is open throughout the year, part week. http://www.ngs.org.uk/gardens/gardenfinder/garden.aspx?id=19901
Description: Inspirational community wildlife garden. Hedges, ponds and meadows complement beds brimming with herbs, cottage garden plants and wild flowers. Yr-round interest. Organic vegetable beds, wild flower nursery and tree scheme, beehives. Visitor Centre with wildlife gardening displays and advice, workshops and children's craft activities. Picnic and family areas

Other local gardens are also open on 6th June and other days.
See here for more information:
http://www.ngs.org.uk/
Just type in a postcode, 5 miles, and next 3 months, in top right hand
corner search.

Bellenden Big Lunch - Bollywood anyone? Take part or just watch

Message from the Bellenden Big Lunch organisers:

BELLENDEN BIG LUNCH BOLLYWOOD
Bellenden Road is planning its second 'Big Lunch' street party this year. To make it really special, one of the residents is organising a Bollywood performance and is looking for people to take part. Are you up for it?
 
First Training Date: Saturday 29th May 2010 10.15am to 11.15am
Where: Bellenden Old School, which is the large old Victorian building on the corner of Maxted Road and Bellenden Road (165 Bellenden Road)
Who can come: Anyone of any age, ability or agility is welcome.
Please let Usmaan know if you are coming by dropping him an email on usmaan114@yahoo.co.uk.  
After the training sessions the Bollywood trainer will be sending out video clips of the dance, so that you can watch on your computer and practice at home.
  
WHAT IS THE BELLENDEN BIG LUNCH?
It's a street party that is going to be happening on Bellenden Road on Sunday 18th July. It's a chance to make food and share with neighbours and friends. Residents will be getting tables, chairs, rugs and beanbags out in the street. There will be thousands of local lunches taking place round the country Sunday! See www.thebiglunch.com Last year was the first Bellenden Big Lunch and all agreed it was a tremendous success. Let's do it again!
This is being organised by local residents in and near Bellenden Road who organised it last year. For more information or to get involved contact Polly
__________________________________________
People from several streets nearby around this neighbourhood took part last year. See here for short videos and pictures: http://www.bellenden.net/category/road/bellenden-big-lunch

If your street is thinking of having its own Big Lunch, please let us know. It would be good to hear what is being planned.

Bellenden Residents' Group
http://bellenden.net

Mon 19 April 7.30pm local bees & organic gardening

Calling all amateur gardeners who want to grow food organically:
MONDAY 19th APRIL at 7.30pm
Herne Tavern
2, Forest Hill Road, SE22
LOCAL BEES AND ORGANIC GARDENING
* a talk by a local beekeeper, and discussion of local bees!
* discussion about the future of the group.
So if you want to meet and share with other local organic gardeners this is a good chance to do so.

Arranged by South London Garden Organic, an off shoot of the organisation Garden Organic (aka Henry Doubleday Association)
Further information contact:
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk

green fair Peckham Sat 17 April 2pm in AREA10 - Saving Energy, Saving Money

See invitation from Peckham Power below.
Further information from
http://peckhampower.org
info@peckhampower.org
___________________________________
Peckham Power are holding a green fair this
SATURDAY 17th APRIL
from 2pm to 6pm
in AREA10, a warehouse building just behind Peckham Library.
Entrance is to the left of the Library, and back a bit: look for
white letters "AREA10" on a black background on the building.
Refreshments by The Frog on the Green.

The theme is 'Saving Energy, Saving Money'. The event is supported by the Energy Saving Trust.
 
Lots of practical hands-on demonstrations and advice, including:
* Window insulation
* Loft insulation
* Peckham Power's power meter project
* Energy doll's house for hands-on energy saving things to do at home
* Planting how to make free containers to plant your veg in
* Dr Bike
* Diving simulator
* Snakes and ladders energy game
* Energy help-desk and grants

More information and a venue map: http://peckhampower.org/event/17-04-2010-peckham-power-and-energy-saving-trust-event
Or email info@peckhampower.org
Peckham Power looking forward to seeing you there.
Come and network with like minded energy savers in Peckham!

wellbeing & health & The Peckham Experiment

Have you heard of the Peckham Experiment? Do you have an interest in ideas about well-being and health, or about local economic, community and environmental sustainability, and the connections between the two? If so, and you are free on 22nd April during the afternoon, you may be interested in a seminar which offers a possibly unrepeatable opportunity for a quality free seminar on this topic, and in Peckham.
See below for some further information. You can also see more about the Peckham Experiment at http://www.thephf.org
Attendance at the seminar is free but places are limited. So if you are interested please let me know asap, and I can tell you more and give the booking details. email: info@peckhamvision.org
________________________________________
The Peckham Experiment
This was a pioneering exploration into the nature of health, which ran in Peckham, south London from 1926 until 1950. Families came together in a purpose-built centre, the Pioneer Health Centre where they had opportunities to take up new interests and learn about health. The Experiment's founders, Dr George Scott Williamson and Dr Innes Pearse, believed that health was much more than the mere absence of disease. Instead, they saw health as something that is co-created by people through their relationships with each other and with their environment.
The building
The building which housed the experiment was specially designed and built for it in St Mary's Road, near Queen's Road station. The building is still there, and listed, though it is converted into housing. Pioneering work was carried out there, demonstrating what health and well being is really about. People, who have been inspired for decades by the project and what it confirmed, come from all over the globe to visit the building to connect with these ideas that we still need to get into wider understanding. It is a tremendous asset for Peckham and this seminar is a good opportunity to help to increase local understanding of it.
The Seminar
The aim of this afternoon seminar is to bring together local community groups, local public agencies and others interested in the Pioneer Health Centre, to discuss the relevance of the Peckham Experiment to local environment and wellbeing projects. It will provide participants with an opportunity to share ideas and to consider what principles might define a new Peckham Experiment in the twenty first century.
The seminar will feature speakers and presentations from a variety of organisations. A sandwich lunch will be provided on arrival from 12.30pm and the seminar will also show video material from last year’s exciting Peckham Experiment art exhibition, as well as original archive material.

small or communal work spaces in Peckham

I come across a number of people who live in Peckham or nearby who are looking for some small office and working space outside their homes to share with others in similar situations. Here is a recent example:
___________________________________________

Please may I ask for a quick bit of advice? As you probably know, I spend a fair amount of my working life editing video, sat at home in front of my computer. For a while now, I've been thinking that I should find some office space. My absolute ideal would be office space already populated with like-minded people who are also working on their own projects - a kind of communal filmmaker/artist studio. I was wondering if you might know if such a "communal office space" already exists anywhere in the neighbourhood?
___________________________________________
I am interested in seeing if we can think of some way to find out more about the kinds of work spaces that could be developed in Peckham to meet these kinds of needs.
If you have any information or ideas about the needs or the supply of spaces, let me know.

Here is a message from Transition Town Peckham. http://ttp.giving.officelive.com
Enquiries to: giovanna_speciale@hotmail.com
_____________________________________
- Do you live in or around Peckham?
- Are you interested in growing and being able to buy local healthy delicious food?
- If so, come to the inaugural meeting of Transition Town Peckham's food group

THURSDAY 25th MARCH, 7pm-9pm
Peckham Settlement, Goldsmith Road,
London, SE25 5TR

Join your neighbours to dream, make plans and take action

Any questions contact giovanna_speciale@hotmail.com