Dear neil, this history of those beautiful flowers and trees and animals is just awsome. How I wish I could be there to see first hand and smell all the fragrance and just see all the sights. What beauty surrounds you! Wonderful information and I appreciate all your time you have devoted to sharing with us all here. Thank you so much.

Dear Jan, I am most appreciative when someones enjoys the simple beauty of both the Natural and well kept areas of such places. This one Park enjoys spectacular results because it offers something for everyone. Fro a good restaurant\cafe that will not break the bank to picnic areas and seating. Childrens play areas that are safe and secure, music festivals and plays, you can even go boating if you so wish!
Look at tis for instance http://www.pavilioncafedulwich...
Or the quote for the music festival: "Tickets are available from the little Booth outside the Post Office in the village!"
Is that not quaint?
This picture is going on the next Part of this Park!

OH How nice!

Beautiful Neil, simply beautiful...............

You don't know nor can you realize the envy of such places... They are amazing.....................

These parks are where English gardening stands out.

Dear Lucy, I don't know about stand out as you say! I do say it gives lots of people ideas and help for their own gardens or areas, free of charge. The whole of the Dulwich Park apart from the restaurant (the Pavilion) is free. For instance the Friends of the Dulwich Park have "Dig The Park Days," you can go there for a day or shorter and do something for the Park and learn how to do something for your own garden. You get the tools and materials given and tuition, plus refreshments etc. what a lovely way to learn something and get lunch for free, well a bit of work.
The gardeners actually like to talk and help anybody out with a smile and you can see they are most proud of their jobs and the Park and it shows. The ones I talked to yesterday were mostly youngsters, with the sprinkling of old hands. Dulwich is a very affluent area and I admit that, but the local Council that owns and runs the Park has many local areas in Southwark that are run down and need regeneration. Yet they manage the Parks in a lovely and environmental manner, somehow they can do it with little money as it is a large depraved Borough in some areas, where others can't with money.
Since the early start of the Industrial Revolution in the early 1700s it was considered most important that the workers stuck in factories had a 'Green Space', the Victorians were very hot on this idea and that is why we have so many Parks and spaces in our major cities! London alone has Eight massive Royal Parks and untold other council, private Parks and green spaces.
This shows why Dulwich Park is important and well run. Here is one of many seats all around the Park, made around beautiful trees (an oak in this case), this one is at the back of the very popular restaurant. You may sit here and have a picnic right by the restaurant; there are no signs saying only food bought in this establishment may be eaten here or anything like that, just take your family and friends and if you don't want a meal\snack in the restaurant you can sit here or in one of the picnic areas and watch the world go by! You don't often see that in this make as much money as possible world of ours. Kind of sweet still to me anyway!
I will get on writing Part 2 as this place was famous for writers and artists as well as its "Purgative waters!"
Lucy, Sarah and I fancy a day out if the good weather holds, I can imagine having an English afternoon tea with scones etc, in this Park, and yes they do have herbaceous stuff and an iris so you were not forgotten.
Kindest Regards.
Neil.
p.s A Picture of one of the many seats in the Park, a great place to go!

oooh trying to talk Ed into one of those benches from a couple of our Maples. Not working so far.

Neil: What a charming park and how wonderful to have access to it! The work day sounds like an excellent idea we could utilize here in some of our park areas to, A, get some work done in the park and, B, learn a new gardening technique or brush up on a few. I very much like this idea and will bring it up at some of the garden clubs I belong to. In these days of budget cuts, some of our public parks are suffering from lack of funds and staff, so this would definitely be a benefit to both sides. I hate the phrase "win/win," or I would have said that.

Thank you for your always interesting articles. Keep them coming, Neil!

Dear Angie, Thank you for your comments and I will keep writing Articles if people are interested! Dulwich Park has a Bowling Green and Tennis courts. The tennis courts are free for everyone to use, just turn up and play!
In another Park I worked in, the local children did lots of damage to the Bowling green and tennis courts and anything else they could. So the Park manager brought in a scheme where people could come and work in the Park for half a day or a day if they wished. At first we did not think anyone would turn up, but they did. Parents at first and then they brought their children. We were shocked that the parents were bringing children who were known troublemakers to work in the Park. But it worked for us because for the slight cost of cups of tea and coffee and sandwiches etc. the people learnt the damage done and how hard it was to repair it and the trouble caused to other Park users by it! For their trouble they got a free round of Golf as well as the children, or tennis, football etc.
Within three months there was never any damage done to the Park at all, for word got round and peer pressure worked. Instead of the Park spending thousands on repairing things, people treasured "their Park!" It worked for us and I can see why Dulwich do it!
Regards.
Neil.

That is lovely! If we just lived closer, I'd be there every chance I had.

What a beautiful park, Neil! Thank you for sharing it with us. I keep thinking that I need to add some azaleas and rhododendrums to our garden, and you have reminded me again! Keep writing and taking pictures, I love to see your beautiful green spaces!

Brenda

Dear Brenda, anything for Tony and your goodself! I am cooking tonight (as usual), as Sarah is on overtime. So it is is simple British Fish & Chips tonight!
I am currently on Part 2 of my Article and it might spread to Part 3! Just have to wait and see. It is going to be nice here tomorrow so I want to go and get some more pictures for another Article I am doing about a special place to me, and yes it has Gardens and Animals, plus a beautiful museum.
I do worry that people are going to get bored looking at Parks, but Chelsea is coming up so they can look at them as well!
Busy at the moment with the Garden as well, don't forget the photo contest!
Kindest Regards.
Neil.
p.s. Hope Tony is Ok and not like one of them a COOT if you get the joke.

We are NOT bored, I love it. You keep on and bless you for doing it!