South East London Journal - Issue No.6

No. 06 The Botanical Issue

Inside Pattern

Inside Pattern

SE LONDON JOURNAL – Issue 06

The Botanical Issue I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.

— Emma Goldman

Polly Editor polly@selondonjournal.co.uk

Issue 06 Illustrator Danielle Watt

Fleur Treglown Sub-editor fleur@selondonjournal.co.uk

Contributions info@selondonjournal.co.uk

Jessica Creative Director jessica@selondonjournal.co.uk

Advertising advertising@selondonjournal.co.uk

Benji Roebuck Art Director benji@selondonjournal.co.uk

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, South East London Journal does not accept liability for any errors or omissions within this issue. Reprinting of any article or original images from South East London Journal without express permission of the Editor is expressly forbidden. South East London Journal is published by Gaze Media Ltd ©South East London Journal 2016

Summer 2016 — The Botanical Issue

Welcome Note Welcome to No.6, The Botanical Issue — a suitably summery edition of South East London Journal.

The botanical bounty within this issue includes the history of gin, a round up of the best pizzas in SE London; a delve into London’s only Botanical Institute; a morning down at an allotment in Hither Green; a photographic exploration of the best, but maybe lesser known public gardens and a brilliant cardboard cacti craft — that might appeal to more people than just children!

We also visit three lovely rented homes across the area to find out how the people have managed to make them their own — there is, of course, a heavy dose of plants involved.

We have all personally felt the perils of steep rent increases and rogue landlords, and we strongly support the need for rent caps and better protection for tenants — a recurring theme that will be discussed in future issues too, we’re sure.

We are also thrilled to announce that we will be partnering with the brilliant new Peckham Festival, which celebrates the cultural and creative side of Peckham with a fantastic and varied program of events and open studios. It is being curated by the good people at Copeland Park with support from Southwark Council, find out more on pages 34 to 37!

We have also launched our new website, which features bonus content from Journals past and present, as well as our curated shop. For this issue, we commissioned six of our favourite local artists and illustrators to create their own botanical print — a very limited run of these are available to order. Due to popular demand, we have also launched a subscription service, so the Journal can be delivered directly to your door.

As ever, a huge thanks to all the local businesses who keep the Journal free and accessible for everyone to enjoy!

We really wouldn’t be at Issue No.6 if it wasn’t for them.

Bright, bold deckchairs, matching indoor/outdoor cushions and accessories for the garden.

Available online at www.denysandfielding.co.uk and stocked at: Alexandra Nurseries, Estate House, Parish Lane Penge, London SE20 7LJ

THE WORKSHOP All things botanical - we hold a large range of unusual house plants, succulents, pots and vases. We also stock Aesop, L A Bruket, House Doctor and Conpot THE FLOWERSHOP We specialise in seasonal and British grown flowers.

Local and National deliveries, all products available to buy in store or online 39a North Cross Road, East Dulwich SE22 9ET + Rear of 43 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich SE22 8EW www.freshflower.co.uk

Summer 2016 — The Botanical Issue

Contents

05

23

61

97

Food

Culture & History

Home

Children & Families

Flower Power Food Gin History Botanical Cocktails SE Pizza Map Van Dough Pizza

Culture Calendar Bosse & Baum Peckham Festival Books South London Botanical Institute Mixtape Danielle-Louise Watt Down The Allotment Forage Botanicals Secret Gardens

Inside a Home Pots, Plants, Prints London Terrariums Plants for Urban Living Botanical Skincare Plant Dye Workshop

What's On Children's Edit SE Little Journal

1

WHERE’S YOUR COFFEE FROM?

SOUTH LONDON GROWN – BRIXTON’S OWN

www.volcanocoffeeworks.com

SE LONDON JOURNAL

Weekend Wander Penge WORDS: Ella Morrison-Derbyshire

Have Brunch

Situated down Maple Road you’ll find cozy Blue Belle Café known for its excellent breakfasts, seasonal menu and daily specials. Whether you’re after a top-notch coffee or a leisurely breakfast, this place earns its distinction. Step inside and you are surrounded by original works of art, exhibited by SE20’s Art Group and other local artists. Each month the Blue Belle transforms itself into a BYOB, live music venue presenting the band Pacifico Blues.

Just across the street you’ll find Cuppa Haven – café, bistro and mussel bar. If you want to feel like an insider, Alexandra Nurseries’ garden centre and café is the place to be. Serving up bread by Blackbird Bakery, homemade cake (don’t miss the cherry and almond), and an abundance of loose-leaf teas.

After placing your order, take a look around. You’ll find local honey, candles and other knick-knacks. It’s the perfect, tranquil space to while away an hour or two.

Take a Walk

Have a Mooch

Grab a Pint

Stop for Dinner

Understated is the hallmark of SE20, but take a walk around Penge and you’ll be struck by its architectural gems. There’s the quirky gothic of the Royal Watermen's Almshouses; the tudor-inspired King William IV cottages; the Alexandra Estate; Anerley Town Hall; Queen Adelaide Court (award of merit, 1951); and St John's Cottages. Go blue plaque hunting around Thornsett Road.

Take the Thicket Road entrance into Crystal Palace Park and spend a summer’s afternoon renting a pedalo on the lake.

Stop for lunch at The Bridgehouse.

This renowned pub serves up a happy marriage of good ales and gastro food, all with a spacious beer garden at the back. Upstairs is the Bridge House Theatre.

Keep an eye out for its upcoming productions, which include comedy nights and film clubs.

The Goldsmith Arms on Croydon Road is a good spot for locallysourced brews, traditional Sunday roasts and weekly quiz nights. Look out for this year’s opening of Late Knight’s Brewery on Southey Street.

3

Take a mooch across the street to Debris on Parish Lane for antiques and second hand goods. For more collectables visit the monthly vintage fair at Royston Hall or try your luck at Ald Life Charity Shop on the High Street. Swing by Murray Brothers’ Butchers run by Scott, Dean and Alan to pick up perfect sausages, racks of lamb or guinea fowl (with a day’s notice).

Enjoy Penge Festival Week in June, which includes Penge’s open-house Art Trail.

This neighborhood is home to a couple of brilliant Italian restaurants. The newly opened Sicilian Art run by Giulian and serves some of South East London’s finest pizzas and a to-diefor panna cotta. Friends of Flavours is another great spot celebrating authentic, good value cooking. If you’re feeling a little weary, head home and tuck into a Bangladeshi take-away from Penge Masala.

SEND OUT FOR SUNSHINE (And beer, wine, cider and hot sauce.)

If you can't make it to our shop, let the best things in life come to you.

Click and collect or arrange a home delivery via our new online shop.

We're also on Hubbub.co.uk and Deliveroo. Take a load off this summer.

Time Out Love London Awards: Most Loved Peckham Shop 2015

SHOP AND TASTING ROOM 38 East Dulwich Rd, London SE22 9AX • 020 7450 0284 hopburnsblack.co.uk • @hopburnsblack * Send Out For Sunshine, Heatwave, from the 1978 album Central Heating

HBB_xmas_SEjournal.indd 1

14/10/2015 07:21

Dinner Dance for the 21st Century

Outdoor BBQ & Terrace Seasonal Modern British BBQ menu & street food Dine in and around a double decker bus Outdoor Cocktail Bar South London Beers 30 Deptford Church Street, SE8 4RZ Wünderlust Sunday Roast www.wunderlustlondon.co.uk Free Kids Films on Sat & Sun afternoons

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Food

Flower Power Food Gin History Botanical Cocktails SE Pizza Map Van Dough Pizza 5

Flower Power Food

Food

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

1. World of Zing Bordeaux Barrel Aged Negroni with Rosehip Bitter Liqueur, Southbank Food Market, SE1 + The Larder, SE13 + Brockley Market, SE4 2. All 4 One Grassy Hop Lager, Aldi, SE6 3. Kew Brewery Botanical Amber Ale, Hop Burns & Black, SE22 4. Partizan Lemon & Thyme Saison Grisette, The Larder, SE13 + Hop Burns & Black, SE22 5. Womersley Lemon, Basil, Bay and Juniper Vinegar, The Larder, SE13 + Honor Oak Provender, SE23 + Franklins, SE22 6. Rose Jam, Persepolis, SE15 7. Rose Water, Persepolis, SE15 8.

Quince & Hibiscus Jam, Royal Theatre Shop, SE1 + The Larder, SE13.

Opposite page: Rose Petals, Persepolis, SE15

7.

8.

Gin History WORDS: Bobby Diabolus

Gin can be defined pretty easily: a clear, distilled spirit flavoured with juniper. You can do lots of stuff around the edges, you can distill in different ways and add other botanicals, but juniper is the deal breaker. No juniper, no gin – because that's exactly where the word gin comes from. The Dutch word for juniper is jeneverbes and they called their mixture of distilled grain liquor flavoured with the berry jenever. British soldiers who fought with Dutch soldiers on the continent brought jenever home with them, calling it genever, and by the time Britain, and London in particular, had adopted and refined the process, ‘gin’ had become a national craze. Interestingly, it was those Dutch soldiers necking their jenever before battle that originated the phrase ‘Dutch courage’.

Jenever had been around since at least the 13th century but when, in 1689, the Dutch prince William of Orange became King of England, all things Dutch became incredibly fashionable in Britain – including genever. That, coupled with high taxes on importing wine and brandy from France and the deregulation of home distilling, caused a gin explosion. Suddenly anyone could make gin, and stills and dram shops cropped up across the country. This was the origin of gin as ‘mother's ruin’, as stories appeared in books of parents selling their children to get enough money to buy gin. William Hogarth's famous engraving Gin Lane shows a mother ignoring her child falling to its death as she drinks, while petty criminals steal and men and women fall down in the street. It was an epidemic (although perhaps the perception of it as such was promoted by beer brewers, like those who paid for Hogarth's engraving).

Successive Acts of Parliament tried to undo the damage caused, and whilst they did rein in the excesses (mainly through licensing distilleries) gin had become the nation’s spirit of choice. Proper licensed distilleries may have done away with the ‘drunk for 1d, dead drunk for 2d’ ethos, but they did nothing to dull the appetite for cheap gin. Whilst many distilleries went upmarket, many illegal stills continued to operate, churning out cheap, nasty gin which was sweetened with sugar. This became known as Old Tom gin, a form that is undergoing something of a revival at the moment – albeit in a more refined state.

It wasn't until the early 1800s and the development of the column still that gin as we may recognise it today came about. Previous to this, gin was distilled in pot stills, or batch stills, which meant the whole still had to be reset after each batch was produced.

The column still allowed for continuous distillation, not only creating a greater yield but also a smoother, purer alcohol. It was here that the form of gin known as London Dry developed, and it came to dominate the market (pretty much all popular, modern gins are London Dry – Gordon's, Sipsmith, Beefeater, Tanqueray and so on).

With an improved product came an improved clientele who, naturally, wanted improved premises in which to drink. The gin palace was born – giant public houses decked out in glass, mirrors and gas light. These were hugely popular during the early Victorian period (though considered vulgar by many); so much so that normal pubs followed suit and copied the décor. Sadly the original gin palaces have all disappeared, but the blueprint can be found in any Victorian pub with an abundance of mirrors and glass screens.

8

Gin (and tonic) in South East London

Beefeater, SE11 beefeatergin.com Founded in in 1863 and moving first to Lambeth in 1903 and then to Kennington in 1958, Beefeater gin is one of the original Victorian London Dry gins.

Its mass market gin uses nine different botanicals (juniper, angelica root, angelica seeds, coriander seeds, liquorice, almonds, orris root, Seville oranges and lemon peel), which are steeped in water to ensure that as much flavour as possible is extracted during distillation. Beefeater gin is the most awarded gin in the world, winning double gold, as well as many other awards, at the San Francisco World's Spirit Competition over the years. As well as their London Dry variety they also produce three premium brands: Beefeater 24 (using additional botanicals), Burrough's Reserve Edition 2 (which is rested in oak bordeaux casks) and London Garden (a herbier take on the traditional remedy inspired by the Chelsea Physic Garden).

Where to buy: Practically anywhere, it is one of the best-selling gins in the world.

Victory Gin, SE1 instagram.com/victoryginldn/ The newest gin-kid on the block, Victory Gin operates out of the basement of The Draft House pub on Tower Bridge Road. The brainchild of distiller Max Chater, Victory Gin uses a rotary evaporator to ensure the botanicals remain as fresh as possible during the 24-hour infusion process and cold distillation. Chater recommends serving with tonic, pink grapefruit and crushed black pepper. The rotary evaporator method also means that very small batches can be made relatively easily, giving Victory Gin a unique line in bespoke gins.

Where to buy: East London Liquor Company, in all Draft House sites and 214 Bermondsey bar.

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Jensen's, SE1 bermondseygin.com

In the USA of the 1920s the last ‘type’ of gin was developed. Prohibition made the production and sale of alcohol illegal, and while British distillers were happy to ship their wares to Canada or just off the coast of the USA to be smuggled in, supply couldn't match demand.

Bathtub gin was the result: pure distilled spirit mixed with water, juniper juice and other botanicals, often in a cast iron bathtub, produced a quick and dirty gin. Again a more refined version is also making a comeback with small batch distilleries often producing Bathtub gin and Old Tom to the craft market.

South east London has an interesting history when it comes to gin. While it never had any true gin palaces (most of its historic hostelries are former market taverns or coaching/pilgrim inns), it was the site of many of the first stills during the Gin Craze – and also many illegal ones afterwards. The traditional riverside industries of tanning, dying and brewing served to hide the sound and smell.

But the region has also boasted some of the largest legitimate distillers with Seager's in Deptford (since turned into flats) and Beefeater in Kennington – still one of the longest-running distilleries in the country. Gordon's gin was also founded in Bermondsey, before moving across the river in 1786.

For a long time, Beefeater was the only gin distillery in the whole of London – that is until Sipsmith was granted a license in 2009 for their still in Chiswick. Since then, small batch stills have cropped up all over the city with south east London boasting some of the best.

Chin, chin!

Distilled in the railway arches in Bermondsey, Jensen's was one of the first to take advantage of the recent resurgence of interest in gin, although its origins lie a good ten years before the still was licensed in 2014. It was founded by Christian Jensen, who was inspired to set up the distillery to recreate the London Dry gin he'd tasted in Japan.

Word of mouth soon spread and the commercial Jensen's Bermondsey London Dry Gin was born, with floral notes harking back to an earlier age of London Dry gins. Jensen's also produce an Old Tom gin with a recipe from an 1840s distillers’ handbook. This has a strong, musky flavour and is unsweetened, ensuring a dry taste.

Where to buy: A high-end gin available through Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, and other fine-food purveyors, it is also available online.

Bermondsey Tonic Water btw-drinks.com Continuing Bermondsey's love affair with gin, the perfect south east London accompaniment may well be this locally produced tonic water. The G&T was supposedly invented in the tropical regions of the British Empire, where gin was used to take the edge off the quinine-infused tonic water used to prevent and treat malaria. The guys at Bermondsey Tonic Water have gone back to basics using naturally-occurring quinine from cinchona bark, thus producing a tonic water with an orange hue. They also produce a Tonic Syrup, a highly concentrated quinine syrup to be watered down or used in cocktails.

Where to buy: Fortnum & Mason, Borough Wines among others and online.

Little Bird, SE5 littlebirdgin.com Peckham born and bred Little Bird Gin harks back to the 1940s, with its Varga Girl pin-up figurehead Miss Ginger and its citrus-based London Dry gin.

Pink grapefruit and sweet orange peel lend fruity notes. Little Bird gin also has a hint of ginger.

Where to buy: Maltby Street Market and online

Selling fruits and vegetables, bread, cheese, local beer, cured meat, dairy, store cupboard groceries, wine and more.

Also offering gift vouchers & selection boxes for christmas. @ jonesofbrockley jonesofbrockley. com

354 BROCKLEY ROAD, LONDON, SE4 2BY

NOW OPEN IN HITHER GREEN! So if you like proper coffee, a hearty & healthy breakfast or lunch come along!

Oh and the Guinness cake is pretty good too.

Miss Tapas

We are open Mon-Fri: 8.00 - 16.30 Saturday 9.00 - 16.00, Sunday 10.00 - 16.00

ANDALUSIAN TAPAS DISHES TUESDAY - SUNDAY 12-3PM AND 6-11PM

60 Springbank Rd SE13 6SN 0203 581 7887

MISSTAPAS.COM WALK IN ONLY, TAPAS STYLE

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CRUSON G&T With a new space opening on Rye Lane this summer, we asked the guys at Ali Baba Juice for their take on a botanical-inspired cocktail.

Ali Baba Juice: Camberwell, rich in restaurants, bus stops and a Little Greece that has found itself on Church Street. Vineyard, the taverna wonderfully situated at the bottom of Camberwell Grove — a table outside under the grapevines and dappled sunlight, with a generous plate of homemade taramasalata make it the most desirable seat in the hood. See also Sophocles bakery — their loaves are nothing to write home to Mum about but they make great coronation chicken sandwiches and their Baklava is dripping in sweet Cypriot honey. But our favourite joint is Cruson — the greengrocers fronted by local legend Ari and his wife, who hunch over the till and bicker but charm you with stories of Cyprus and how they're going back next year (they've been saying this for eight years). They make their own halloumi and pickled olives in the back.

This time of year they have some Cypriot offerings, including wild oregano which we've used in this gin and tonic. We prefer it short and in the park.

Ingredients: A big bunch of oregano (leave some for garnish) Gin Tonic Fat ice cubes Fernet Branca

Method: 1. Steep fresh oregano in a bottle of gin overnight – room temperature will do.

2. Take a small glass, fill with ice cubes to the top. Add a double measure of your oregano gin and stir until the ice cubes relax and begin to glisten.

3. Add tonic to 3/4 of the way up the glass and then drizzle Fernet Branca around the rim and watch the colour turn a grassy green.

4. Garnish with fresh oregano. Sip and enjoy. alibabajuice.com 13

SE LONDON JOURNAL

Most of the botanicals in these recipes are readily available growing all over South East London, the elderflowers for these recipes were gleaned from Nunhead cemetery, geraniums grow rampantly in all of our gardens and window boxes and many of the herbs were bought from the newly opened Nunhead Gardener (Oakdale Road, SE15).

GERANIUM COLLINS

For the cocktail: Ingredients: 2 parts gin 1 part Geranium Syrup (see left) 1 part lemon juice Soda to top Method: 1. Add the gin, geranium syrup and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice.

2. Shake well.

3. Double strain into a Collins or highball glass filled with ice.

4. Top with soda and garnish with geranium flowers and leaves.

For the syrup: Ingredients: 500ml water 500g white Sugar 80g scented geranium leaves Method: 1. Put the sugar and water in a large heavy-based pan and bring to the boil. Immediately turn the heat down to a simmer and stir until the sugar has dissolved.

2. Turn off the heat. Add the scented geranium leaves (lemon or rose scented are best). Stir, and leave to cool and infuse overnight.

3. Strain and, using a funnel, decant into a sterilised bottle.

This will keep in the fridge for at least a month.

WORDS: Chloe Neild is a Brockley-based mum of two who has combined her love of foraging for ingredients with her children and a passion and talent for mixing cocktails into the Mother’s Ruin cocktail blog, where she publishes her

experimental cocktail recipes. cocktailsformums.wordpress.com PHOTOS: Penny Wincer is a freelance interiors, lifestyle, kids and still life photographer, based in Crofton Park and Juliet Baptiste-Kelly

is a food stylist from Nunhead, both have enjoyed the spoils of Chloe’s experimental cocktail evenings. pennywincer.co.uk STYLING: Juliet Baptiste-Kelly julietbk.com

For the Elderflower Foam: Ingredients: 4 egg whites 200ml elderflower liqueur* 100ml fresh lemon juice 75ml Sugar Syrup** Method: 1. Add all of the ingredients to a whipped cream canister (ISI whip). Charge with nitrous oxide and shake. Put the canister in the fridge for at least two hours to allow all ingredients to emulsify.

2. If you don’t have an ISI whip, increase the quantity of egg white by 1.5. Mix all of the ingredients and chill for an hour. Once chilled, whisk the mix until it has doubled or tripled in size. Pour over cocktails immediately. * You could use elderflower cordial, though you may wish to reduce the sugar syrup.

HERBACEOUS LEMON COCKTAIL Ingredients: 2 parts Lemon Vodka (see recipe) 1 part Elderflower Cordial (see recipe) 1 part fresh lemon Juice Elderflower Foam (see recipe) Angostura bitters Method: 1. Shake all ingredients (aside from the foam), strain and pour into a cocktail glass.

2. Add a thick layer of foam on top and three spots of Angostura bitters.

3. Gently rub the thyme leaves to release their aroma and pop in the foam as a garnish.

For the vodka: Ingredients: 100g dried lemon verbena 50g fresh lemon thyme 50g lemongrass, roughly chopped 50g dried lemon peel 25g white sugar 750cl bottle of vodka Method: 1. Simply place all of the ingredients in a large mason jar.

2. Ensure everything is covered with liquid. Set aside for about three days and shake the jar gently each day.

3. Once infused, strain though a clean muslin cloth to remove the herbs and any sediment.

4. Using a funnel, pour the cocktail in to a sterilised bottle.

** To make sugar syrup, gently warm a 1:1 ration of white sugar and water until dissolved.

For the Elderflower Cordial: Ingredients: 50 large elderflower heads 1.5l water 1kg white sugar 3 lemons – zest and juice 25g citric acid Method: 1. Soak the elderflowers in the water overnight in water.

2. Strain through a clean muslin cloth into a large pan. Add the sugar, citric acid and lemon zest.

Gently heat, but do not boil, stir continuously until the sugar is dissolved.

3. Pour into a sterilised bottle.

This will keep for approximately a year.

SE LONDON JOURNAL

h East London S ou t Four Hundred Rabbits, SE19

PIZZA MAP

Relatively new to the Crystal Palace Triangle, 400 Rabbits is the new venture from the brothers behind The Lido Cafe.

Before we start singing their praises, let’s clear up the name.

Thousands of years ago the Aztecs worshipped a God of fermentation and a Goddess of alcohol. According to Aztec lore, these two deities got it on, and the result of this union were no fewer than 400 Rabbits. Fast forward to the present day and without alcohol and fermentation we wouldn’t have beer or pizza; the restaurant was named in their honour.

Back to the restaurant itself, we headed over on

Franco Manca, SE22

Franco Manca is a rare thing: a chain that’s not only incredibly good value but the food is consistently good. With 21 restaurants spread across London, and a new one opening in Brighton soon, their rapid rate of expansion is testament to their popularity. We went to the East Dulwich outpost — it gets very busy in the evenings so head there early, put your name down and go for a drink while you wait — or go for a weekend lunch. The menu features six core pizzas, all of which are under £8, ranging from simple tomato, garlic and oregano through to more complex (relatively) combinations — Gloucester Old

a balmy Saturday evening which was, as expected, busy. With a menu that feels wholly considered, we opted for the special of Perl Las blue cheese, creme fraiche, garlic, courgette, watercress and pine nut, which was an interesting combination, yet subtle enough to be a new favourite. Currently in the running for the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, the interiors are a million miles away from the exposed lightbulbs and industrial-chic that has become ever more ubiquitous in the London restaurant scene.

As a result, 400 Rabbits is a very modern take on neighbourhood dining. Refined enough to feel like an occasion, yet relaxed enough to be able to pop in for a casual bite, a balance they’ve struck perfectly.

Spot ham, ricotta and wild mushrooms, or another with two types of chorizo. Each restaurant will have a meat and veg special as well as a small range of sides meaning there’s ample room for customisation should you wish. We went for the meat special — tomato, Old Spot sausage with fennel, Colston Bassett stilton and raddichio, which when topped with the chilli oil available on every table, makes for an excellent pizza; as well as bresaola, mozzarella and bruschetta — again, really good. It’s worth noting that the ingredients are all sourced directly from the producers wherever possible and most are British — you’ll find mozzarella from Somerset next to organic kalamata olives from Greece on the menu.

16

Food

The Gowlett, SE15

garlic, chilli and cheddar — a combination I shall be coming back for. The sourdough is perfect, tangy, with the molten cheese deliciously soupy in the middle of the pizza. If, like us, you need your pizza fix weekly, you also can find Van Dough every Thursday at St George's Church Car Park on Vancouver Road, SE23, as well as every now and then at Brockley Market.

The Gowlett is tucked away down a side street between Peckham and Dulwich, and unless you know it’s there, you probably wouldn’t stumble upon it. However, its reputation for its pizza is widely known, and if you ask a person who’s been there, it’s always spoken about with enthusiasm. If you visit, you’ll soon see why that is. Their soft, thin, and gooey dough, is juxtaposed by the crunch of the crust, and for £15 maximum, you can get some incredible topping combinations - ‘Funghi' (£9) with porcini and white mushrooms being our

Bar Story, SE15 Situated, air hanger-like, under the railway arches that support Peckam Rye Station, Bar Story might not be the first place you’d think to go, in order to find a really good pizza. It might be no-frills dining — either outside or in, on long, shared tables — but nevertheless we’d strongly recommend the pizzas as much as one of their great cocktails. The drinks are made or poured in front of you at the bar, and the pizzas are no different, made and cooked further in. This, along with the music, makes the whole place feel really energetic, great if it’s leading up to the weekend and you want to carry the night on — step out the back and you’re directly in front of Peckham Springs that has a later license. The guys at Bar Story never claim that the pizzas are wood fired, but you’d never know; the dough is authentic Italian sour dough — rustic and chewy — and there’s a good six or seven topping options to choose from.

There’s a mix of meat and veggie options and the menu changes every so often allowing for some more unusual options — njuda sausage for example — alongside more classic pizzas.

personal highlight. The sides of deliciously tender bresaola and rocket, and herby garden salads are big enough to share between two, and all of this excellent choice under the roof of a lively and familiar pub atmosphere. There’s nothing fussy about the surroundings while you try the simple, and delicate menu — and if you find yourself there on a lunchtime, they even do £2 slices on selected pizzas. With a couple of traditional ales and a pizza big enough to put you in a cheese coma, this is the perfect place to come for good food and a chill with some friends or your dog. DANIELLE WATT

Van Dough, SE15 An early summer evening, and another stroll up Rye Lane, turning off towards a handsome 1970 Citroen Hy Van. Decked in fairy lights and plenty of people buzzing at the hatch, the lovely Steph and James are inside rolling dough and sprinkling basil.

Popping up the second and fourth Friday night of the month outside the little cafes and restaurants on Choumert Road, Van Dough are becoming something of a travelling institution for pizza lovers in the area. We try out a staple: the margarita, which is as good as the classic can get, as well their blanca special with a topping of kale, red onion, 17

SE LONDON JOURNAL

Lucianos, SE12 There are a lot of places to get good pizza in London, especially of the sourdough variety with a side of craft beer. But sometimes you just want a good old Quattro Formaggi served with a big smile and a nice, reasonably priced glass of red to wash it down, and that’s exactly what you get at Luciano’s. At first glance the restaurant, which comes complete with adjoining bar, looks like any other slick London hangout with antiqued mirrors, industrial lamps and chesterfield banquette seating. But the atmosphere greets you like a big Italian hug — friendly waiters, delicious smells from the kitchen and not an empty table in sight. Everything is done to ensure you have a great time — right down to a surprisingly good magician who’s on hand to entertain between courses (Fridays only). Luciano’s is not a pizzeria and I suspect the best dishes on the menu are to be found under the extensive pasta section.

That being said, the stone-baked pizza is good, made with homemade dough by the Pizzaiolo (professional pizza maker). Ingredients are fresh and toppings are generous. Try the Fruitti Di Mare which comes loaded with shellfish but make sure you leave room for desert - the homemade panacotta is a knockout. LOUISA BEE

Bona Pizza, SE23 Bona Pizza is the latest addition to the already buzzing Forest Hill food scene, offering a concise menu of six sourdough pizzas (half of which are the increasingly popular no-tomato variety) all with well-considered toppings. With its open kitchen and brick pizza oven decorated with hand painted flowers, there is plenty to see at Bona whether you're out for a long evening or just looking for a quick snack at lunch. We dined at Bona on a busy Friday evening, and although they don't take reservations, there are plenty of tables and a quick turn around which means you shouldn't have to wait long. We opted for a spicy salami and the slightly more adventurous capers, anchovies and olives; both of which were delicious. We followed this by trying out the two desserts on offer — home made tiramisu and fiordilatte ice cream.

Fiordilatte translates to 'flower of milk’; it's based on the unsweetened, subtle flavour of the milk rather than the traditional vanilla and provides a blank canvas for additional toppings - which in this case was chocolate sauce and salted caramel. We ended the night as the Italians do, with a limoncino della cassa, the perfect ending to a great evening.

Bona, I'll be back! DANIEL FLETCHER

18

ALSO WORTH A MENTION!

Theos, SE5 Arriving pretty late into a busy Friday night service at Theo’s was the best time for my first visit, it was loud and full of groups of friends enjoying the warmest evening of the year so far. We were sat in the beautiful big shop front window, a great spot to observe both the coming and goings of Grove Lane and the bustling restaurant. The table setting and interior feel well thought through and refined – think polished plaster and white washed walls, marble tables and candle light, all of which, come evening, give this pizzeria a sophisticated and more adult feel, although I’m sure its full of hungry families in the daylight hours. The bufalina pizza is like one we’ve never had before - the base comes out from the wood fired oven with just the tomato and cherry tomatoes on it, then they add the creamy buffalo mozzarella. It’s a more summery take on the classic margherita; fresh and light, the perfect choice for a warm evening and complimented by a crunchy gem lettuce side salad, with a sharp lemon dressing. My fellow diners enjoyed the calzone, which had the perfect ratio of base to sauce. We also tried out the salty delight of the anchovy pizza that boasted tomatoes, capers, mozzarella, olives and oregano. It’s also worth noting that Theo’s fresh veg comes from the wonderful Cruson greengrocers around the corner on Camberwell Church Street.We finished off the evening with rich pistachio ice cream and a brilliant slab of tiramisu, both spot on.

La Luna, SE1 Godfather, SE19 New Cross House, SE14 Rocca, SE21 Il Giardino, SE15 Mama Dough, SE23 Bianco 43, SE3 The Actress, SE22 The Pavilion Cafe, SE10

Take this away with you — next issue we're reviewing South East London's best takeaways! Got a favourite curry house or something slightly more unusual?

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Summertime at the Market

Greenwich Market is buzzing with things to see and do and The Pavilion, our new food area, is temptingly tasty.

Open 7 days a week and Bank Holidays, 10am – 5.30pm

The Greenwich Creative Wedding Fair Sunday 5 June

Something old, something new – designer makers, vintage specialists and clever cooks showcase their finest bridal wares.

HRH The Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations Sunday 12 June, 10am – 5.30pm

Join us for a bit of a party at our tea dance and street fair in Durnford Street. Tea and home made cakes.

Music in the Market

Friday 17 June, 7pm – 8.30pm Enjoy live performances by local choirs, jazz and folk groups.

“At any time of the year, Greenwich boasts one of London’s favourite markets.” Time Out

Park It in the Market

Thursday 30 June, 7pm – 10pm Award winning vintage car and bike meet.

Fabulous food and family fun.

Supporting the Royal Navy since 1694

greenwichmarketlondon.com

floured baking tray and cover with cling film to prove. This is really important as it makes the dough much easier to stretch and handle.

6. When you’re ready to cook, turn the grill on to the highest setting.

Put a non-stick frying pan on the hob at full blast.

VAN DOUGH PIZZA RECIPE Van Dough bake beautiful pizzas in their wood fired oven, all in the back of their handsome 1970 Citroen Hy van. Born and bred in South East London, it’s a family affair run by Steph and James. Not all of us have access to a wood fired oven, so here's how to get as close as possible to their sourdough at home.

Van Dough: This is our recipe for the Van Dough sourdough pizza base. If you'd like a jar of our sourdough starter to make your own (and to open up a whole world of sourdough bread baking), let us know in advance and we can bring you one along to pick up at the van at our next market or pizza night. If you don’t have any sourdough starter, you can substitute it for 7g of fast action dried yeast, that’s what I’ve used in the recipe here. For the best tasting dough, it should rise slowly over a long time. Make the dough the day before you want to use it.

Ours is always left to rise for at least 24 hours – but the flavour keeps on improving for up to five days if you keep it tightly covered in the fridge.

Makes 4 x 10" pizza bases: Ingredients: 450g '00' pizza flour 260ml lukewarm water 10g salt 20ml olive oil Roughly 50g) sourdough starter or, 7g fast action dried yeast

Method: 1. In a large mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients, then the olive oil and water. It’ll be pretty sticky at first, but mix it all up until it comes together into a rough ball.

2. Tip it out onto a clean work surface and knead for about ten minutes. The dough will change and gradually become more elastic as the gluten develops and stretches.

(Alternatively use a food mixer with a dough hook on a slow speed) 3. Shape the dough into a tight ball and place it in a clean mixing bowl.

Cover with cling film and leave to ferment at room temperature.

If you’re using sourdough, 24 hours at room temperature is perfect, but if you plan to leave it longer than that, put it in the fridge to slow down the fermentation process.

4. If you’re using regular yeast, a rise of around two hours is fine, and you’ll see the dough almost double in size. The flavours will develop the longer you leave it. With this batch, I let it rise for two hours at room temperature, then put it in the fridge overnight.

5. At least an hour before you want to make your pizzas, divide the dough into four. They should weigh roughly 190g each. Shape them into tight rounds, lay them on a lightly 21

7. Lightly flour a work surface and the dough ball. With your fingertips gently deflate the dough ball and squash it down, working your way around it. Flatten it with the flats of your fingers and gently start stretching it out. Pick it up and pull and stretch it, rotating it until it’s about 5mm thick and about 25cm in diameter. You can use a well floured rolling pin if its easier.

Kale, garlic, chilli pizza Ingredients: Large handful of chopped kale 1 tsp chopped red chilli 1 clove garlic, finely sliced ½ ball mozzarella, diced ¼ red onion, finely sliced 50g parmesan, grated Olive oil Method: 1. Put the base into the dry hot frying pan. Quickly add the mozzarella, kale, garlic, onion and chilli, then scatter over the parmesan and a good glug of olive oil. You’ll see the dough start to puff up pretty instantly.

2. After 2-3 minutes, put the pan under the grill for another 2-3 minutes to finish and brown the top.

3. You can make a simple tomato sauce for the other pizzas by whizzing up a tin of good quality chopped tomatoes, a clove of garlic, ½ tsp of salt and a little sugar if it needs it.

mrs white’s handmade botanicals

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All offer over 700 part time courses covering everything from art to childcare, print making, to floristry and english and Maths. •Meet tutors, try out courses and talk to subject specialists. enrolment for courses starting in September starts on Saturday 25th June at our Brockley Rise and Grove Park centres from 9am-2pm, and from all centres on Monday 27th June at 9am.

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More information is available at www.lewisham.gov.uk/adultlearning twitter.com/ComEdLewisham

SE LONDON JOURNAL

History & Culture

Culture Calendar Bosse & Baum Peckham Festival Books South London Botanical Institute Mixtape Danielle Watt Down The Allotment Forage Botanicals Secret Gardens 23

culture

Camberwell Arts Festival 11 – 19 JUNE A production which seeks to address race, ethics, sanity and prejudice, Matthew Xia directs Joe Penhall's Olivier Award Winning play which follows the life of a psychiatric patient for a month.

The patient’s doctor wants to section him, whilst his senior consultant wants to save financial resources by sending him to be ‘amongst people who think just like him’, in Shepherd’s Bush. Find gripping performances directed by Xia at the Young Vic. VARIOUS, SE5

Open Gardens Square Weekend 18–19 JUNE Over 200 gardens in 25 London boroughs play a part in this Open Garden weekend. Ranging from the historical and traditional to new and experimental gardens, there's plenty to suit all tastes including roof gardens, skips and barges. Activities scheduled include guided tours, cycle rides, puppet shows and plant sales. Check out Red House at Bexleyheath – the house created and lived in by William Morris, founder of the Arts and Craft Movement – and the Centre for Wildlife Gardening in East Dulwich, which includes pond-dipping and mini-beast hunting.

VARIOUS, SE

The Nines Indoor Flea Market 12 JUNE & 10 JULY Popular Peckham kitchen and bar The Nines serves up two indoor flea markets this summer. With clothing, records, books and furniture on sale, it’s the perfect chance to grab a bargain, alongside their delicious mixed cheese and leek toasty and a Bloody Mary. Promising to be a day for vintage and retro lovers to fill their baskets with second-hand goodies, it’s proved to be a success since starting earlier this year.

COPELAND PARK, SE15

Camberwell College of Arts Undergraduate Show 18 – 25 JUNE Undergraduate art and design final shows are always worth a visit and the show at Camberwell College of Arts is no different. Make sure to put their annual Open House in your diary on 25 June which is now in its twelfth year. Taking over two Camberwell College of Arts sites on Wilson Road and Peckham Road, there will be fun-packed workshops which include screen-printing, darkroom experience, face painting, bookbinding and letterpress.

CAMBERWELL COLLEGE OF ARTS, SE5

24

History & Culture

calendar

The Kiln Rooms Summer Show 08 – 10 JULY

The community of makers behind this open access ceramic studio in the heart of Peckham are hosting their summer show from 8 to 10 July. Here, studio members will be able showcase their potting talent and sell their wares to the public, which is great news for all ceramic fans. Their private view takes place on 8 July from 6pm to 8pm and all are welcome to attend for a chance to learn more about working with clay and to buy some stunning ceramics.

COPELAND PARK, SE15

Sunfall Festival 9 JULY

This brand new day-to-dawn festival takes over the well-loved Brockwell Park for a day of music celebrating the sounds of London. Including music from jazz and electronica to hip-hop, soul and disco, Sunfall promises the likes of Benji B, Goldie, Jamie XX and Joy Orbison amongst many others on the line-up. Once the sun goes down, the festival continues in various venues around South East London. From the people behind XOYO, Dimensions and Outlook Festival, it’s a party in the park not to be missed.

BROCKWELL PARK, SE24

Lambeth Country Show 16 – 17 JULY

This annual country fair with a distinct South London urban vibe returns to Brockwell Park.

Combining city and countryside, the show boasts horticultural shows, sheep, dog and owl displays, vegetable and flower competitions alongside an on-site farm. Music always plays an important part in the two-day event; Afrobeat, ska, folk and disco is on offer and steel orchestras and samba bands can be heard throughout the park.

BROCKWELL PARK, SE24

South by South: Tango Negro, the African Roots of Tango 26 AUGUST

This iteration of South by South presents the documentary Tango Negro, the African Roots of Tango (2013) directed by Dom Pedro which investigates the footprint of African music on the distinctive dance of the Tango, through musical performances and interviews. South by South is the SLG’s quarterly screening of bold and innovative African Cinema, programmed by Joseph A. Adesunloye.

SOUTH LONDON GALLERY, SE5

25

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Bosse & Baum WORDS: Issey Scott

Step inside a gallery space and be whisked away into a realm of visual and personal discovery, a sphere separate from the outside world where real issues are represented in new and engaging ways. That is the ambition of many exhibition spaces, and with its use of botany and a focus on plant life in contemporary art, the potential of this is certainly manifested in Bosse and Baum's latest exhibition, Artificial Arcadia.

Given that the gallery is based in the heart of Peckham, the contrast between fauna and the urban environment is a spectacle in itself.

Its exhibiting artists are a combination of practitioners based in London and abroad; an example of the latter is Lucia Monge, presenting her botanical intervention installation pieces which have been exhibited widely in her home country of Peru. For their debut in London, Monge's pieces look at the potential affinity between mankind and plant life, drawing strong comparisons with the doctrine of 'deep ecology'. Towards the end of the show at Bosse and Baum, the artist will be hosting a workshop addressing the social element of the different ways in which we view botany, and further examining these ideas. In the busy metropolitan setting of the gallery, this promises to be a highly varied and insightful activity, reflecting Monge's previous performance work, Plantón Móvil, which will be reconstructed and performed again in Peckham.

Artificial Arcadia analyses our relationships and collaborations with plant life and artificial production. Doing so through contemporary art aims to highlight the importance of making these conversations public. The use of the various hashtags on social media – #ecology, #technology, #autonomy, #art #sustainability, #ecohack, #artificialarcadia –

looks to open up the exhibition content and modes of thought to a wider, global audience, ensuring that related topics including cohabitations, artificial production and global warming are not confined to the Peckham space of Bosse and Baum.

Artists displaying work under the exhibition’s theme are Freya Douglas-Morris, Carson Fisk-Vittori, May Hands, Lucia Monge and Nicole Vinokur. A South African artist, Vinokur's work shows again the intervention of plant life in alienated or unexpected terrains. Installation art is certainly in favour at Bosse and Baum, as the artist's piece For the Millions will be reproduced for the exhibition, which was debuted at Camden Arts Centre last year. Comprised of phalaenopsis orchids, hydroponic LEDs, a shelving unit, spray bottles, a timer and mulch, the piece is presented in a confined space with peepholes for the viewer to observe the absurdity of cultivation in this way, and highlighting the similarities between mass and domestic production.

Diversity within the curatorial strategies of Artificial Arcadia are evident, as the show will also feature a flower stall by Brixton florist Somora Rattray Hare from Flower Love London each Sunday for the duration of the exhibition. Although a small addition, this presence will show most clearly, for those uncertain of the show’s ideas, the significance of plant life in the life of the city dweller, and the immeasurable importance of respecting its survival.

Artificial Arcadia runs from 10 June to 31 July at Bosse and Baum, 133 Copeland Road, SE15 3SN. Lucia Monge's Plantón Móvil workshop takes place on 23 July at the gallery, and the following performance event is on 30 July in Peckham.

27

SE LONDON JOURNAL

Peckham Festival Calling all locals!

The festival will run from 8th — 11th September and aims to celebrate creative and cultural Peckham. The plans are to make the festival an annual event with the commitment to involve as much as possible the diverse range of people and organisations that make Peckham such a special place to live, work and play. There are several core events and projects to the festival, but the organisers are welcoming with open arms any other venues, cafes, shops or front gardens to get involved and set up their own aspect to the festival.

The good people at Copeland Park have just announced Peckham Festival, which is happening in September with the support of Southwark Council and Acorn.w They’re still in the burgeoning stages of planning, and want you involved. The weekend festival will be celebrating all that Peckham has to offer — culture art, music, food, theatre, film and entrepreneurialism to name but a few.

Over the weekend there’ll be open studios, an outdoor cinema where on the opening night, Peckham Festival will team up with Nunhead Free Film Festival and Electric Pedals to have an outdoor pedal powered cinema at Copeland Park, art and culture trails across Peckham, as well as the big artist-led family sketch-in.

As well as all the great things happening within Copeland Park itself, they are currently taking proposals for art projects to animate the fantastic places in and around Rye Lane.

Think gigs in laundrettes, visual arts in nail salons, workshops in fruit and veg stalls, spray painting classes in bike workshops. Successful proposals will see artists, creatives and their potential collaborators awarded a budget of £500 to realise their project.

To get involved, head to peckhamfestival.org

PHOTOS: From top Chris Wilson and Colin Tonks 29

8-11 September Open Studios Your chance to be part of our Open Studios programme, alongside the best artists, makers and creators in SE15.

To apply, email: openstudios@peckhamfestival.org

www.peckhamfestival.org

Celebrating creative and cultural peckham Fringe Got space in Peckham? Get involved!

Offer it up to locals to run a workshop, host a gig, or an exhibition.

Get in touch, email: oi@peckhamfestival.org

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SE LONDON JOURNAL

REVIEW: BOOKS Alastair from Rye Books gives us his best botanical recommendations. ryebooks.co.uk

THE FLY TRAP Fredrik Sjoberg Fredrik Sjoberg's Swedish bestseller about summer, islands, freedom and boundaries. 'The light, the warmth, the smells, the mist, the birdsong – the moths. Who can sleep? Who wants to?' Fredrik Sjoberg finds happiness in the little things. Millions of them, in fact. This beguiling bestseller is his unique meditation on collecting hoverflies. It is also about living on a remote Swedish island, blissful long summer nights, lost loves, unexpected treasures, art, nature, slowness, and how freedom can come from the things we least expect. “Full of charm, a book about how to find meaning in life.” (Melissa Harrison, The Times, Books of the Year). “I often return to The Fly Trap, it remains close to my heart… The minute observations from nature that reveal sudden insights into one's life.”

LET YOUR KIDS GO WILD OUTSIDE Fiona Bird In an era when the iPad is often more appealing than the park, it can be difficult to encourage kids to get off the couch and go outside. In this inspirational book, with ideas for children of all ages, foraging expert Fiona Bird shows the value of playing outside and discovering nature for children and families alike. First Fiona teaches children about their environment, including conservation guidelines and tips on how to forecast the weather.

Armed with this knowledge, the outside adventure goes Into the Woods, in chapter one, with outdoor crafts including making leaf art bunting, a dream catcher, and a woodland broom. In chapter two, Meadows, Hedgerows, and Hills, ideas include wild face paints, natural dyeing, and making potpourri.

Onward to chapter three, Seashore, where children learn how to go beachcombing, identify different seaweeds, play beach hopscotch, and make a mollusk wind chime. In chapter four, Water and Wetlands, children learn to make their own charcoal and go on an animal track and poop hunt! For those who don't want to move far from home, there's plenty to do in chapter five, My Wild Garden and Kitchen, such as making a snail holiday village and attracting bugs, as well as developing hunting and gathering skills, with seasonal recipes made from natural ingredients. So let your kids go wild outside, and enjoy watching them learn and blossom.

KEW GARDENS Virginia Woolf, Illustrated by Livi Mills This charming short story by one of the greatest literary figures of the 20th century, Virginia Woolf, is set on a hot July day in Kew Gardens. Woolf creates an impressionistic world with snippets of conversation, wandering thoughts and sparks of colour. The gentle narrative drifts between different characters as they stroll through the world famous botanic gardens. In this new edition published by Kew, delightful illustrations accompany the text to create an attractive gift book.

33

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South London Botanical Institute WORDS: Elly Parsons

T

cousin. If it wasn’t for the unseasonably green and well-groomed garden rotunda bursting from the front of the property, you’d be forgiven for walking past without a second glance.

ulse Hill is not the first place you might expect to find a botanical garden, but a short walk down the high street from the obligatory Ladbrokes and used-car dealerships is the South London Botanical Institute. “Although we’ve got ‘south’ in our name,’ president of the Institute Roy Vickery explains, ‘we’re actually the only one of our kind in north, east or west London, too.”

The property was built as a private home around 1863, back when Tulse Hill didn’t exist as we know it today. Leafy rows and farmers' fields surrounded the peaceful property, and it was given the moniker ‘Norwood Lodge on Norwood Lane’ by local residents, so research conducted by the Institute reveals.

And ‘one of a kind’ is right. Housed in a handsome (if a little fringe-worn) Victorian home at the bottom of Norwood Road, the Institute comprises an extensive herbarium, a pretty walled garden (complete with newt-filled ponds and colourful greenhouses), as well as a well-stocked library and a recently renovated dining room-cum-lecture hall.

From the census, we can also establish that the property was owned by a string of merchants, including the German Ernest Sengel in 1881, who sold it to Joseph Taylor Timmins ten years later. But thanks to the nearby railway that opened around the turn of the century (which transformed the area from affluent suburb into densely populated commuter belt), 323 Norwood Road was denatured from family dwelling into an austere, Victorian boarding house.

The Institute really is a ‘hidden little gem’, as the website tagline claims. Of course, there is another (rather more famous) botanical garden in the south London area, but SLBI is like Kew’s smaller, kookier 35

So how did it blossom into an eccentric herbologist’s haven? Just six years later, in 1907, the life of the house took another unexpected turn. The property was sold at auction to a certain Allan Octavian Hume, civil servant and renowned botanist, who had decided to rescue Norwood Lodge on Norwood Lane, cultivating it into a home for his ‘little venture’, as he phrased it.

Earlier that year, Hume had returned to London from British India, where he helped found the Indian National Congress, and later was one of the pioneers who established the Indian Independence Movement. In India he had become an authoritative voice on ornithology – capturing, killing and studying rare and as yet undiscovered birds. On his return, Hume “did an about-turn”, explains Vickery. “He suddenly decided that killing living creatures was wrong, and instead developed an interest in early 20th century plants.”

In 1910, he founded the Institute that still stands today, with the aim of providing a meeting place and facilities for all people interested in botany.

Today, the founding principle remains unchanged.

Not much has altered in the building itself, either.

When you open the door, you can smell the history of the place, mingling with fresh soil and strong tea.

And thank goodness they did. Hume’s collection remains an important one, including in excess of 40,000 specimens of flowering plants alone, with a particular emphasis on species local to Cornwall.

As well as collecting all the specimens himself, Hume designed the cabinets and library shelves that they would be stored in, which are still very much in use today. These striking antiques are cause in themselves for visiting the Institute, and bare no sign of aging. “These well-travelled trunks could have been the very ones Hume used to transport his samples to and from India”, Vickery explains. Inside are the famed samples upon which the excellent reputation of the Institute is based. Each specimen was delicately hand-dried

by Hume or his assistant, William Griffin, then glued onto large sheets of paper (some of which are endearingly dog-eared).

“Hume wanted to introduce the people of south east London to plants and natural history”, continues Vickery, “so they were less interested in alcohol.”

But using lichens, mosses and liverworts to lure the locals away from the public houses was always going to be a tall order. In fact, all the odds were stacked against the Institute from day one. “The buildings either side of us were bombed during the Second World War, but the Institute somehow managed to survive on very little income,” Vickery, who has been involved in the running of the Institute for around fifteen years, reveals. “It was only thanks to a number of generous donations, and the introduction of our membership charge 25 years ago, that we started getting back on track.”

“To know when a specimen is completely dry,” says Vickery, lifting a paper upon which a hundred year old leaf is flickering, “is to place it on your cheek.

If it’s cold, it’s ready to be stuck down.” With such an extensive and important history, it comes as a 36

History & Culture

surprise that the rare and often frail specimens are treated with a relaxed, welcomingly carefree attitude often lacking in larger, more sterile museums.

highlights is without doubt the raised weed bed that borders the back wall – a re-creation of one of Hume’s early additions. Here, plants considered by most to be pests (Aquileria, Yarrow, Doves-foot cranesbill) are encouraged to trail and bloom as they wish. “I’ve always considered plants to be more vicious than animals,” Vickery notes, surveying the weeds, “because they’re rooted to the spot and are forced to stand and fight.”

The Institute now runs a busy schedule of events, based loosely around Hume’s collections, including gardening workshops, children’s activities, plant sales and academic seminars. The first lecture took place at the Institute in 1911 on the folklore of plants, which also happens to be Vickery’s key area of study.

Unfortunately, Hume wasn’t well enough to attend and died a few months later. From here, running the Institute was even more of an uphill struggle.

Although William Griffin was a clever curator, running such an ambitious institute without the guidance of its founder was never going to be easy.

This works as a fitting analogy for the Institute itself, which has stood its ground, well-rooted through war, the untimely death of its founder, and decades of next-to-no funding. But thanks to passionate leaders and a generous community, the Institute continues to flourish. What’s more, standing amongst the elegantly overgrown weeds, it’s easy to forget we’re in a bustling south London suburb, and not in the leafy, green meadows that surrounded Norwood Lodge on Norwood Lane, before Tulse Hill bloomed up around it.

This being said, Vickery – who has previous experience as curator of the Natural History Museum’s collections of flowering plants under his belt – is leading the Institute from strength to strength. In April, it was announced that the SLBI would be awarded its second National Lotteryfunded grant of £99,600 to contribute towards a growing community activities program, and specifically a project called Plant Recording for all Ages. Vickery is joined by a small but dedicated team of volunteers, two part-time administrative staff, as well as two (very) part-time gardeners.

slbi.org.uk

Elly Parsons is a writer and editorial assistant at Wallpaper* magazine, as well as a short fiction writer and songwriter.

Considering the gardeners only work a day or two each week, the walled botanical garden is immaculate, and in the warming spring air it vibrates with insect activity.

Spanning the width of the property, the garden contains all sorts of exotic offerings, and – bizarrely – 30 different types of moss (all of which are diligently labeled).

One of the quaint garden’s many 37

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MIXTAPE: THE BOTANICAL ISSUE

Roses — OutKast Flower — Moby (Nothing But) Flowers — Talking Heads Hong Kong Garden — Siouxsie and the Banshees A Forest — The Cure I Wanna Be Adored — The Stone Roses Cactus — Pixies Wilderness — Sleater-Kinney Succulent Thunder Anthem — TRAAMS The Woods — Drenge Ivy — Sales Plants And Worms — Girlpool Plants And Rags — PJ Harvey The Willow Garden — Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Lilac Wine — Jeff Buckley Green Grass — Cibelle Autumn Leaves — Chet Baker Au Revoir — Botany The Green Leaves Of Summer — Nick Perito Green’s Leaves — Chilly Gonzales The Garden — Tribal Seeds Truly Madly Deeply — Savage Garden

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SE LONDON JOURNAL SELJ: How long have you lived in South East London and what

brought you to the area?

Danielle-Louise Watt: I’ve lived here for about five years; the

low cost of rent drew me to the area, as well as its reputation for being fun and diverse.

SELJ: What is your ideal working set up?

DW: I wouldn’t say I have an ideal set up, but I think being surrounded by plants, within an arm’s reach of a coffee and a hobnob is an absolute necessity! As I’m painting a lot more now and focusing on colour, I appreciate a lot of light. I’ve moved around a lot in the last few years, and never had a proper studio space. It’s made me realise that as long as I have some space, good lighting and a few creature comforts, I can be creative anywhere.

SELJ: What is normally the starting point for your work?

DW: I draw constantly. Generally if I draw something that grabs me, I’ll follow on from that, whether it’s based on a theme or a shape; then once I’ve turned out a few images I like, I’ll move on to working out the colour and how I might start a bigger more final piece. My process is very much a ‘non-process’. I’m lucky that my work doesn’t take long to produce, so I have the luxury of identifying ideas quickly, and moving on from them if they don’t work.

Danielle-Louise Watt

SELJ: Do you have materials you work often with?

DW: I love texture, so anything that can make the piece have a little soul really helps. Even if it’s a slick black line of ink. I like it when the brush runs out and gives the line a roughness. A lot of my work ends up being quite graphic, so if I can lift it with a bit of movement in the colour, then it’s got me. So I wouldn’t say I stick to a certain material, but a strong pigment is always important.

SELJ: What is your dream commission?

DW: I’d love to make a space that could be used by young artists

to work in and find inspiration from for free. It’s hard as a young artist to find a space to work in that’s affordable in London, so to be surrounded by a structure that can supply a home for your creativity as well as supply it, would be a real dream. Or to design pieces for a park would be pretty decent too...

For this botanically-themes issue, Danielle Louise Watt has taken the helm with her abstract illustration style inspired

by Moore, Matisse and Picasso. She studied Illustration and Animations at Kingston University but has spent the last handful of years as a South East London nomad, currently residing in Peckham.

SELJ: What are your favourite places in SE London?

DW: I work in East London, and on my cycle home I go through

a park between Bermondsey and Peckham. It always smells of cut grass and fried chicken. That’s when I know I’m home. danielle-louisewatt.tumblr.com

41

down

the allotment

One May morning at Hazelbank Road Allotment, SE6

PHOTOS: Alexander McLuckie

“My allotment won first prize last year!

Will you take a photo of my scarecrow?”

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This page: Clovis and Alex.

Opposite: Costas and his scarecrow.

From left to right: Amos, Elena and Ben, Rita.

Rita is the secretary of the LSMAA

46

“We are a mixed, friendly bunch and all love working on the allotments.�

“We moved here the day Sir Winston Churchill was buried.�

Joyce & Joe, who have had their allotment since 1965. Joe is the Chairman of the LSMAA.

48

History & Culture

A lot's grown here: plants, vegetables, flowers. One plot even had honey bees.

49

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Forage

Botanicals

W

hen I left home in Honor Oak to study Herbal Medicine at Lincoln University I was desperate to escape the concrete jungle. I now live in Bromley, where I have the best of both worlds: access to the countryside, but also to the amazing culture and inspiration of the city.

this using washing up gloves in the spring time to avoid the sting; this is when you’ll get the fresh green tops. It’s wonderful to cook with and makes a great pesto or soup. I also use it medicinally to treat the effects of stress, and to soothe some of the effects of a bladder infection. The blackberry leaf makes a nice tea too: take a couple of fresh leaves and cover in boiled water for ten minutes before drinking. The tea will be full of tannins and have a mild blackberry taste.

Despite attempts to contain and control nature, it still manages to burst through the cityscape – growing through cracks of concrete, rooting into brick walls and out of gutters. It reclaims every last bit of dirt for its own. Running throughout south east London is a network of forgotten green spaces which plants have taken for their own.

Here are some of my favourites.

Next time you visit Wickes in Catford, walk to the bottom corner of the car park. There you will find a foot and bike path, beneath which the Ravensbourne River silently slinks by from Bromley; eventually it will meet the Thames.

This is a great place to find elderflower.

The flower is good if you need to cool off or if you suffer from hayfever. It is also a mild relaxant, helping you sleep. But be careful, the green stalks are toxic so it’s best to pick off the flowers before pouring your boiling water on top – simply comb them off with a fork. You will only need around half a flower head for a cup of tea.

Blackheath is protected from development but the incessant mowing of grass means it’s akin to a desert for foragers like me. However there is a corner, between Vanbrugh Park and Maze Hill, which is left to its own devices. So long as you pick away from the busy road, this scrap of land is a great spot for plantain. It grows low to the ground so be sure to wash it thoroughly and use it in teas which are made using boiled water before consuming. When making a tea you can use around four of the fresh leaves or two teaspoons of the dried preparation of the plant. It helps to move phlegm from the lungs, and was once used to treat tuberculosis in children. It also helps alleviate skin irritation caused by bites and stings, simply chewed and laid on the skin (after washing of course).

For help identifying the plants you’ve found check out the Garden Answers app or join a Facebook group such as The Herb, Plant and Foraging identification workgroup.

If you’d like to learn more about herbs in your local area check out Natasha’s Wild Medicine Walks.You can also study the herbs from your home by signing up to her monthly subscription course called Listen.

You receive a mystery medicinal herb each month for you to assess with your senses before studying it online. Natasha also has a podcast which looks at the herbs studied on her course retrospectively.

Dulwich, like Blackheath, has a classic timelessness. There is a little-known walk called Cox’s Walk which leads to Sydenham Hill and is kept wild – here you will find a swathe of nettle and blackberry. The nettle is a native super-food, packed with vitamins and iron. It’s best to pick

foragebotanicals.com 51

SE LONDON JOURNAL

secret gardens Stray off the beaten track with our selection of the best secret (and sometimes not-so-secret) gardens in South East London.

PHOTOS: Benedetta Martini

Opposite: Sexby Gardens, SE15

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History & Culture

Opposite: Sexby Gardens, SE15; William Morris' Red House, Bexleyheath This page, clockwise from top: Centre for Wildlife Gardening, SE15; Manor House Gardens, SE13; Greenwich Peninsula, SE10

Previous: Chumleigh Gardens, SE5; Opposite, clockwise from top left: Eltham Place, SE9; Brockwell Park Walled Garden, SE24; Chumleigh Gardens, SE5; Red Cross Gardens, SE1 This page: Horniman Botanical Garden, SE23 59

John Hawkins Framing & Fabrication hawkinsframing.net instagram.com/hawkinsframing

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020 8299 4102

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Inside a Home Pots, Plants, Prints London Terrariums Plants for Urban Living Botanical Skincare Plant Dye Workshop 61

SE LONDON JOURNAL

Inside a rented home

Home

Aaron Dunkerton SELJ: Tell us a bit about you and your home, how long have you lived here?

Aaron Dunkerton: I moved to London after graduating four

years ago; I’d studied in Kingston and had no real attachment to any one area of London, and it was due to a friend having a spare room that I moved to Peckham in the first place. I was only supposed to be here on a short-term let, but sixteen housemates and three addresses later, I still love it. I’ve been lucky enough to live in some pretty amazing spaces — with some even better people — since I moved to the area, but this current flat is the first where I feel I’ve made it my own. I now live with my partner, and whilst the initial move-in was a little stressful (who’s furniture gets pride of place… etc.) it’s been really nice making ourselves at home.

SELJ: How have you managed to make it your own space within the constraints of having a landlord?

AD: To be honest, I’ve not had the best luck with being a tenant over the short period I’ve been renting. Everyone knows what its like to be dealing with an unsympathetic estate agent but we seem to have landed on our feet with our current landlady. This was her home only a few years ago, and so it’s not your typical bodge-job rental property; it was clear that she really enjoyed living here and wanted to make sure that we did too. When we moved in, everything had been freshly painted, and aside from the palm tree wallpaper in the lounge, it was pretty much a blank canvas. Both of us being lovers of plants, we’re fortunate in that it’s a really bright flat, and now every surface seems to house a few. It was actually quite a challenge to fit everything in when we first moved here, we're both collectors (him with an eye for prints and books, me with an eye for furniture and homeware).

We really have loved making it our own, and even though we’ve been here almost a year now, it’s still an ongoing project.

SELJ: Do you think you’ll be able to stay here for a long time?

SELJ: How has renting changed over the course of your time

in London?

G: We’d love to; we actually emailed our landlady yesterday AD: I’m sure anyone who has lived in Peckham, or anywhere

about staying on another year. We love the area, we’ve built our lives here, and it does really feel like home now. So many of our friends have moved nearby, and I don’t think we’ll ever choose to move to another part of London, we’re forever bumping into friends. As I said, we’re fortunate with our landlady and to be living as a couple; but we have had a few friends who have been forced to leave the area due to the rise in rental prices. I know this is happening all over London, but it does seem to be happening rather fast in the South East. I guess thats just what comes with living in such a fast changing and vibrantly blooming area of the capital — we can’t have it all!

in the South East will tell you, it’s not easy finding new rental property. It’s incredibly stressful. The rental market in London is extremely fast-paced and sometimes, a bit brutal. And of course, anyone who lives in the area will tell you, prices have gone up, but it doesn’t seem like there’s much to be done. The more we celebrate our area, the more people will migrate towards it; so we may as well all just enjoy it whilst we can still afford to. dayofrest.co.uk Photos: Taran Wilkhu

65

Joe Hamblin SELJ: Tell us a bit about you and your

home, how long have you lived here?

Joe Hamblin: We moved to Peckham

just over a year and a half ago after running Peckham CoDesign where we spent two months speaking to as many people as possible about the development of Peckham Rye Station in order to create a brief which reflected the aspirations of the community. We fell in love with the area; as soon as we moved in, we felt like we’d lived here for years and bumped into familiar faces as we walked along Rye Lane - something everybody says doesn’t happen in London often. Our home is somewhere to work, host friends and relax. When we’re not out and about on our bikes, we enjoy pursuing our own projects from furniture design to print making. In our small flat we need to find the room to not just store all of our materials and tools but organise them too. We have a housemate so we’ve had to think carefully about how to create spaces with dual-functionality where we can all be in same room, at the same time, comfortably doing different things. Our living room is semi-divided into two ‘rooms' so someone can socialise at the table while someone is reading on the sofa and still has some privacy. In our bedroom, the curtain around our bed and half height wardrobe at the end means one person can be working at the desk while the other is in bed. Obviously we’ve made compromises and it’s not a set up that would suit everyone but for right now, when we’re both about to start our masters in Architecture, it’s perfect.

SELJ: How have you managed to make it your own space within the constraints of having a landlord?

JH: We met our landlord on the East Dulwich Forum and he made it clear when we first viewed the flat, that this is our home. He lets us paint and hang pictures which might sound like simple things, but it allows us to express

66

SE LONDON JOURNAL ourselves and turn it into our space. The bare bones of the flat are quite simple, when we moved in it was a blank canvas and we had no furniture so we saw it as a design opportunity. With some brilliant second-hand East Dulwich Forum finds, IKEA classics and multiple trips to Whitten Timber, we’ve been able to build a flat we love to live in. All of our furniture is designed so we can dismantle and flat-pack, then set-up and edit it to fit the next place we live. It’s like owning a pop-up flat.

This gives us the security of knowing that wherever we go, we'll be at home.

SELJ: Do you think you’ll be able to stay here for a

long time?

JH: Renting can be a long-term option when people have the security that comes with long term lets, we’re fortunate that our landlord was happy to have a longer contract. We’d love to stay for a very long time.

The area is changing at such a pace it’s inevitable that we’ll have to move on eventually. It’s quite hard to think about because we feel so at home in our flat and in the community but it is the sad reality of the rental/housing market. We’re in the heart of a rapidly changing South East London and learning as much as we can about how cities and neighbourhoods develop and respond to change. It’s fascinating to be a part of the creative and engaged community of Peckham and we are making the most of our time living here.

SELJ: How has renting changed over the course of

your time in London?

G: Short-term lets and increasing costs are partly the cause of a transient population swimming around London, always on the move and looking for the next place to live. It prevents people forming relationships and becoming part of a community. When large swathes of residents are disengaged it gives room for an area to be forced into rapid change and without an organised community to question this, the distinctive qualities of that area can be lost forever. Unique places we love for their individuality and diversity turn into monotonous places of new build flats and chain shops.

We are at risk of losing the fantastic collage that makes up London. It was promising that Sadiq Khan was advocating long-term tenancies during his campaign; if it comes to fruition it will give us renters security and most importantly, time to invest in our area. josephandgemma.com Photos: Claudia Difra

67

Joseph Walker & Nick Haley SELJ: Tell us a bit about yourselves and

your home.

Joseph Walker: I studied Design at

Goldsmiths, specialising in spaces and the objects that inhabit them. Since graduating I’ve set up my own company rarrin.com, which supplies reclaimed and restored furniture and curiosities.

I’m always drawn to classic things, simply because they’ve stood the test of time and thus are often better designed and made. I think that’s why our little cottage appealed to me so much. ‘The Peripheries’ as I refer to it is just off the South Circular. A ramshackle cottage, it was built in a space that used to be a stable building for the adjacent 17th Century former bake house. Unusually for London the property is surrounded by trees, secludedly tucked away down a long narrow garden. Our living space is packed with characterful features split over two floors, which includes my home studio. We’ve kept things simple but bold and rustic too. It was Nick who found the place, for which I’m so grateful.

Nick Haley: I work in-house directing content and online ads at Leo Burnett.

The house has seen a transformation under Joe I think. I remember getting the particulars through, the decor was tired in places and the photos didn’t do it justice, but something about the frontage and the garden drew us in I think. We found a little gem.

SELJ: How long have you lived here?

JW: For about a year and a half. We moved here from Peckham after seeing the house just once and instantly fell in love with the space, character… everything. It was also the only place Nick and I viewed, a stark contrast to the thirty-something properties on the

68

JW: I feel it’s kind of difficult to anchor yourself anywhere in London longterm, especially when renting. You need to love somewhere to stay and take care of it and due to the fact that London is so transient there’s a definite lack of that. We’re on a rolling contract with no plans to move, but I really want to be able to fully put my mark on somewhere. This is definitely our home for now, but seeing as we cannot afford to buy given the elevated London market, I don’t see us being here for more than a couple of years.

last move. There’s something about Forest Hill that feels right too; it was seeing St.David’s Coffee House from a passing estate agent's car window that first attracted me here.

SELJ: How have you managed to make it your own space

within the constraints of having a landlord?

JW: It has been really quite easy. On viewing we realised

that there was some work to be done and it also came fully furnished, which given my work, was definitely not needed. We were also up against another couple who wanted the property.

Undeterred we offered less money per month with the proposal that we would improve and maintain the house and garden cosmetically. In addition we offered to buy the furniture from them, to sell on. We got to know the estate agent, which probably helped as the landlords accepted our offer swiftly and threw in the furniture for free! We’ve improved everything from redecorating the bathroom to landscaping an unkempt garden bit by bit. It all takes time time but worthwhile for sure.

SELJ: How has renting changed over the course of your time

in London?

JW: Having explored much of London I’ve always felt most

at home in the South East. When it came to moving on after student accommodation in New Cross, I had a wide search area across South London but struggled to find somewhere; eventually, I discovered a Victorian ground floor flat in Peckham that worked out reasonably. We saw Peckham change so much in the course of a year or two, which was interesting. Toward the end of our time there we had trouble with a cantankerous

SELJ: Do you think you’ll be able to stay here for a long time?

69

Down to the sea.

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neighbour and our landlord became difficult after listing the property for sale, so it felt right to move on. I do believe that whilst London's market can be fast-paced and extortionate, if you hold out for long enough and hunt down something special then good living spaces do exist.

NH: Crazy London renting had now

taught us to pounce when we like something! The fact that this is our third home in four years does say something though. We’re being increasingly forced to be nomadic and be ready to up and move, which definitely hampers how much effort or investment some might make in making a rented house into a home. rarrin.com Photos: Claudia Difra

71

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We have commissioned some of our favourite local artists and illustrators to create their own botanical print.

The limited runs are available to buy on the SELJ shop: selondonjournal.co.uk/shop

Pots, Plants, Prints 75

This page: Print by Egle Zvirblyte Pots: Ella Hookway ellahookway.com, Rigby & Mac, SE21 Paint: Farrow & Ball 'Green Smoke'

Previous: Print by Alice Tye Pot: Bunka, SE23 Paint: Farrow & Ball 'Cromarty'

Print by Joe Gamble Pots: Denys & Fielding denysandfielding.co.uk Paint: Farrow & Ball 'Studio Green'

Above: Print by Abigail Read Pot: Fresh Flower Company, SE22 Paint: Farrow & Ball 'Studio Green'

Below: Print by Kirsten Houser Pot: Ella Hookway ellahookway.com Paint: Farrow & Ball 'Blackened'

Print by Grace Helmer Pots: Jumping Bean, SE23 (above), Roc & Clay, rocandclay.com, Conpot, conpot.co.uk (below) Paint: Farrow & Ball 'Calamine'

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Home

London Terrariums London Terrariums started about three years ago, born out of the desire to have a garden while living in London where so often this is a luxury. We started by using the pickle jars you find on the shelves of your local chip shop, collecting whatever we could from around us, foraging for stones and moss and taking cuttings from our own house plants or those of friends.

It soon became clear that making these miniature bottle gardens was highly addictive: they ended up everywhere, furnishing floors and window ledges all over the place.

The first real opportunity for London Terrariums was when my friend Lerryn was just about to open the great café that is Lerryn’s on Rye Lane, and asked if we could make some to decorate her space. From here orders started rolling in and workshop requests started.

I think this was the point in which I realised I had to learn a lot more about these Victorian beauties, and started to become fascinated by the history and science behind them.

Once a terrarium has been built it is given an initial water; this could be enough to keep it going for years. I think it is amazing

that I have a jar on my window ledge that hasn’t been touched for a few years, and in it there is a whole fully-functioning ecosystem. Granted, after all this time the delicately placed

plants may have been swamped with moss or grass, but for me the fact that these closed cycles work means they are truly beautiful, even if some may see it as a mess!

Starting out in my kitchen, it came to a point when pebbles and compost were taking over the dinner table. Spoons and forks kept disappearing and turning up on the ends of gardening sticks, 81

so about two years ago London Terrariums moved into V22 Studios in Bermondsey. This is such a great place to be working right now, and being surrounded by so many other studios and workspaces is a real driving force. There is a really nice ‘open door’ atmosphere in which everyone is really interested in what is going on, and we all help each other out – a few weeks ago I turned up and there was a box of sand and soil outside the door with a little note saying ‘we thought this might come in handy for you!’

I have learnt a lot along the way, first and foremost that building a terrarium never goes to plan. You may have an idea of what you want a specific vessel to turn out like, but it always turns out differently! The smaller vessels we use, such as the demijohn and the tinyjohn, have a select few plants that can be used; for example, the small leaved Fittonias work really well with some moss and a few pebbles, it is really just a space issue with these as you need to leave room for the plants to grow. That brings me to an important point: I don’t really see a terrarium as finished after we’ve built it, because the process is an ongoing development with

SE LONDON JOURNAL

the growth of the plants inside being the most exciting part. I love the unexpected element of not knowing what a terrarium will end up looking like after a few years; each vessel will turn out completely different.

This brings me on to the workshop part of London Terrariums, which at the moment are a massive part of the LT schedule. These are great as I am still learning myself, so in a way each workshop develops from the previous one, and I’m forever picking up handy hints and tips from people along the way. We didn’t start out with the intention of holding workshops, but now I would say they are our biggest avenue – and my favourite!

Showing people our handmade tools and teaching them the best way to get a large plant into a small vessel is so much fun. We want to show that making a terrarium is so accessible – in fact, you can create one using anything you have lying about the house: a jam jar, some

compost and moss from the garden, and a cutting from one of your houseplants are the perfect components to get you started. Everything we teach at the workshop can be put into practice at home. Our first tool consisted of a stick with a cotton reel on one end and a corn on the cob skewer taped to the other, one for patting down the soil in the hard-to-reach places and the other for ‘jabbing’ things and getting them out again. It’s all pretty resourceful! But mainly we love just passing on what we know and watching people get so protective over their own terrariums – after workshops we’ve had panicked 1am emails from people with questions as to whether their terrarium is looking ok!

As well as the workshops I really love our big install projects. Last month I had 250 terrariums for different clients on the agenda; this really pushed me and made me realise how much I enjoy a new challenge, no

matter how tiny and fiddly! With each project definitely comes a new challenge, as the plants, lighting and temperature will always be different from place to place. Inevitably, we’ve had some casualties along the way – but it’s the best feeling when you realise what has gone wrong, and you can rectify it. One of our first installs was at an East London restaurant called Merchant’s Tavern about two years ago. It was so exciting, the space was quite dark so we used carboys and a lot of plants which would survive in the low lighting conditions. After this we also installed at the furniture emporium Heal’s on Tottenham Court Road, which seemed to be the perfect conditions for the terrariums to thrive in. The first floor showroom hosted a few of the vessels and it was great watching the plants grow in them over time.

I plan to push the workshops much further and in new directions, for example we have just had a discussion about doing a terrarium supper club collaboration, which would work so well as most of the tools we use originated from our kitchens.

I am also very interested in collaborating with local schools and getting children involved in building a terrarium for their home – the scale is perfect for this, they can use a jam jar and have a garden to watch develop over time. There are also a lot more big installs coming up and we will be hosting workshops and talks in the summer at GROW London and taking LT to the seaside, visiting Whitstable and Brighton amongst other places! londonterrariums.com

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Studio photos: Joe Woodhouse, joewoodhouse.com & YMC Other photos: Alex Harley, alexharley.com

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a small walled garden at the back. The road runs south to north, therefore our windows face east and west. The flat may as well be in the Arctic Circle in the winter, with no direct sun-light.

However, at this time of year we are fortunate to

Rented accommodation leaves little opportunity for a personalised interior. Decoration needs to be nomadic, with each year’s rental review dictating whether you can afford to stay in your home. It’s hard to invest in anything permanent; we have a cactus that completely changed stature from the previous address to the current. Once short and stocky with dense growth, it suddenly changed in character upon moving to Peckham with skinny fingers stretching upwards from the bulky palm of a hand.

Our first house plant was a half price palm – sad looking, with a few stumps of severed fronds lost to neglect. The Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time panel always screams to 'keep walk-ing' when you see these sad neglected plants at cut prices; they don’t need a saviour and will make perfectly good compost. But we persevered with ours and despite looking sad for a few seasons, the plant is now beginning to outgrow our small London flat, a triumph against adversity. We are anything but experts at looking after plants, but hopefully through our experience of successes (and failures), the following will help guide you to houseplant success.

Our flat is typical for South East London.

Formerly a Victorian terraced house, now split into three flats, we occupy the ground floor, a narrow slither of a building one room wide with

have the breakfast table dappled in early morning sun through the leaves of the cherry tree outside, with our small studio over-looking the garden baked in afternoon light. As we write this in our living room, a quick head count shows we have more than 20 plants in this space alone. Most of them have a story, whether it’s a memento acquired to commemo-rate an auspicious occasion or a living gift from a friend.

When thinking of plants suitable for city living, cacti and succulents are the obvious choice.

They are incredibly forgiving, left for months in the corner of a room, only to spring back to life with a little water. In fact, caring too much for your cacti with over-eager feeding is the most common reason for their demise. A simple rule is to water your cacti regularly from April to September, allowing the soil to dry slightly between each feed.

Outside of this pe-riod, allow the cacti to rest, keeping watering to a minimum.

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house plants

Monstera deliciosa, also knows as a cheese plant, is popular and with good reason. Attractive and forgiving, they are a great choice for even the most inexperienced plant grower. The Monstera was one of artist Henri Matisse’s favoured plants; the leaves feature in many of his paintings and cut-outs.

Our first Monstera was bought as a souvenir after a sunny day at Kew Gardens. Young plants will have full heart-shaped leaves but as yours matures, new larger leaves will grow and slowly unfurl to reveal beautiful cut patterns. Each new leaf is slightly larger than the one before and the holes will be bigger and more plentiful; it’s lovely to see a plant develop and grow so clearly before your eyes. Monsteras often come with a coconut husk pole, but we think it’s best to let the plant grow unrestrained. Ours has found a corner to lean against and is slowly creeping up the wall. Happiest in bright rooms with indirect sun-shine, the Monstera plant’s soil should be allowed to dry out between feedings.

Rubber trees are perfect for an area of the home that receives no direct sunlight; ours sits on top of a chest of drawers in the corner of our bedroom. The plants need plenty of watering and don’t like to be moved too much. My grandfather planted his rubber tree in 1964 and now it spans the entirety of his living room ceiling.

Keen to have a plant in our bathroom, which is damp, has a tiny window and no sunlight, we have had many failures. When picking a plant for a dark room you need to find one which would naturally grow on a forest floor in full shade. We experimented with a variety of Caltheas, all of which succumbed to the dark, wet conditions.

However, our Asplenium fern is thriving with new fronds appearing regularly. The Asplenium is easy to care for, needing soil which is moist to the touch and regular misting of the leaves.

garden plants

We fully appreciate how lucky we are to have a garden in London, so we don’t let it go to waste. A low brick wall separates us from our neighbours on one side; their generous jasmine bush now spans both gardens so we get to take advantage of the amazing smell and delicate white flowers. That said, our own garden is anything but floral. Two tall bamboo trees offer both privacy and shade. Both our Arrow bamboo and Black bamboo are planted in large pots with good drainage; they need to be watered regularly and generously. The tall willowy silhouettes of the bamboos are a wonderful contrast to their neighbour, a bushy Japanese Maple tree. Completely bare in winter, when spring arrives the small buds on the Acer seem to burst all at once to reveal a riot of intense red leaves. As visually striking as it is easy to care for, the Acer is a hardy plant which is well suited to a small garden with in-termittent sun.

Our three year old Brown Fig tree is in a large pot in a sheltered but sunny corner of the gar-den. As well as boasting beautifully shaped leaves, last summer it rewarded us with a crop of delicious figs. It produced so much fruit that we ate figs fresh from the tree for breakfast. Keep the plant in well-drained, moist soil and fertilise for a good crop of fruit.

We grow rocket quicker than we can eat it. Sew the seeds anywhere is some loose soil and in a few months the leaves are ready to eat. Despite last summer’s poor weather we also had a great crop of tomatoes; sweet and bursting with flavour, they make you never want to eat shop-bought fruit again. This year we are also attempting to grow rhubarb, yellow courgettes, aubergines and fennel as well as oregano, coriander and basil. Oregano is one of our favour-ites; delicious on top of pizza, but also a beautiful trailing plant. Most of these plants could just as easily be grown in window boxes on a sunny ledge. conpot.co.uk 87

But greening neglected urban sites is a complex task requiring dogged persistence, financial backing and an inspired local community. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), a more modern and creative organisation than its name might suggest, last year launched its Greening Grey Britain campaign with the aim of transforming 6000 hard grey spaces into living planted places by the end of 2017. There are thousands of community groups and RHS Outreach groups around the UK already transforming neglected local environments (rhs. org.uk/communities)

If the need for dogged persistence, financial backing and inspiration leaves you feeling a little daunted, don’t despair. The joy of urban gardening can be small in scale – in fact, the most modest projects are perhaps the most urgent, with some surveys suggesting that more than half of London’s front gardens are paved.

Gardens, however small, play a crucial role in urban areas, providing health benefits, supporting wildlife, and protecting against flooding and extremes of temperature. You might feel a few paving slabs make little difference, but when three million front gardens have been paved over in the past ten years the scale of the problem becomes apparent.

The failure of imagination which has led to front gardens being converted into miniature carparks with a bit of soulless topiary might

alexandra nurseries The Himalayan Blue Poppy (Meconopsis betonicifolia) is a wonderful, beautiful plant. Hard to find and hard to grow, it is probably best left to thrive in its native Himalayan uplands. Once I stopped buying it to die in my shady damp Wimbledon garden, I learned one of the most important lessons in urban gardening: to avoid constant disappointment and expense, choose your plants wisely, plants which will at the least tolerate – and at best, thrive – in the conditions you have.

We can’t all have the inspiring Highline in New York on our doorstep (thehighline.org) but the zoned naturalistic planting by the renowned Dutch master plantsman Piet Oudolf can certainly guide us in our own urban landscapes. The planting schemes at the Olympic Park in East London also provide loads of similar, achieveable plant ideas. Another disused elevated railway nearer home may one day give us our own authentic version of the Highline; to see trees such as Cercis, Betula, Amelanchier, Acers and Rhus thrive on the Peckham Coal Line would be genius – if the backers come forward that is (peckhamcoalline.strikingly.com).

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illustrate my Himalayan blue poppy theory. The idea of the garden being a difficult, expensive and disappointing place finally takes hold and we give up on our green space in favour of a maintenancefree pavement. It doesn’t have to be like this. Lowmaintenance planting is completely achievable – try a little patch of tulips and vibrant Allium Purple Sensation over a carpet of blue flowered, longlasting perennials such as Geranium Johnsons Blue and Salvia sylvestris, add purple leaves of Sedum Matrona to mingle with the ghostly silver grey of Artemesia ‘Silver Queen’ and you have an easy, inexpensive but striking planted space.

timber furniture can become plant theatres (a Victorian favourite), filled with small terracotta pots and red geraniums at least, auriculas for the more adventurous. Just don’t be afraid to make this room outside an extension of your interior style. Add a little pond simply using any watertight receptacle (try old galvanised containers or bread crocks), stick in an Arum lily and wait for the amazing white cornets to show all summer through – a genuine treat of a plant, and nothing to do except look at it.

Build up the sides (very important if you don’t want to see a drowning frog unable to escape a verticalsided container) with old bricks or logs and wait for the frogs, and toads if you’re lucky, to come and fill it with boiling gobbets of spawn. Kids love and are appalled by this in equal measure.

Wall planting in pallets’ pockets, sedum walls, and small trees in containers can all add to a courtyard at reasonable cost, and relatively little work. (Check out Pinterest for more ides than you can happily cope with.) These days, even a small patch of artificial lawn laid on a bed of sharp sand will add depth to a small back garden; not for the purist maybe, but quality and appearance is much improved. Don’t buy from the big sheds though, I like trulawn.co.uk who have good choice of appearances.

Please don’t be afraid to plant trees – the urban landscape desperately needs them. The beneficial impact is huge and increasingly regarded as a vital component of an urban ecosystem. The potential to damage buildings is often overstated (go to rhs.org.uk for good advice ); admittedly, an English Oak may be best left to the park, but choose from the Highline’s list above and add pear, apple, birch plum and rowan to your wish list.

All of the plants described are available (or at least obtainable to order), along with inspiration and good advice, from our own little ‘urban oasis’ in Penge. alexandranurseries.co.uk

And it’s not all about the ground cover. Those of us without even a front garden need not be left out; stairways, balconies and roof terraces can all be turned into little green spaces, patios can hold pot-grown fruit of every type. Balconies can be transformed into private bamboo and acanthus jungles, and roofs and decks into mini vegetable allotments with raised beds. Any size and shape of container will make a herb patch. Move vertically with canes, beanpoles and trellis for climbers, mixing clematis and other flowering climbers with peas, climbing French and runner beans and unusual Malabar spinach.

When my final blue poppy had given up and our little lawn had succumbed to a full-scale replica of Euro 96, I enjoyed turning the back garden of our small terraced house into a courtyard garden with plenty of terracotta pots and troughs.

This surely is the ultimate urban garden – pots of all sizes with all sorts of planting. Spring bulbs can be layered to appear for three months continuously and the pots then moved to a corner to hibernate, to let summer and autumn flowers and shrubs take over. Other decoration can add interest and curiosity: a small piece of the Goldstone Ground pitch, fairy lights, mirrors and interesting objects salvaged from skips. Old tiles, slates and bits of 89

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Botanical Skincare Nom Nom Baby Butter, Calendula and Evening Primrose

This unfragranced butter contains shea, calendula and evening ideal for a baby’s bottom, around the mouth, sore noses and cheeks. nomnomskincare.com Nathalie Bond Lavender + Chamomile Body Oil

Lavender is known for its calming credentials, whilst chamomile can raise the spirits – so this body oil will do more than just make you smell great. The Voewood, SE3 Nom Nom Lavender, Chamomile + Frankincense Relax oil

A nourishing blend of almond, apricot and calendula base oils combined with beautifully scented essential oils will help soothe and calm during pregnancy and labour.

Use for massage or swished into a warm bath. nomnomskincare.com

Nathalie Bond Orange + Clove Soap

Orange and clove combine to create a delightfully fragrant soap full of immunity boosting properties; it brightens tired skin and helps acne prone areas. And, it is vegan friendly.

The Voewood, SE3 Neal's Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm

This can be used as a rich cleanser, gentle exfoliant or deeply nourishing balm to quench areas of dry or dehydrated skin. The high levels of wild rosehip oil, a potent antioxidant proven to help repair, firm and smooth the skin. Neal’s Yard, SE3 & Dulwich Trader SE21

REN Flash Defence Anti-pollution Mist

A fine mist to instantly shield and protect skin from the effects of environmental pollution. It helps to strengthen the skin's natural defences. Gently Elephant, SE4 & North Wood Aesthetics, SE19

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Nathalie Bond Lavender + Chamomile Bath Salts

Packed with valuable minerals such as magnesium, calcium, bromide, iodine, zinc and potassium, this salty solution can detoxify the skin, strengthen bones and nails, improve circulation and calm the nervous system. The Voewood, SE3 REN Moroccan Rose Otto UltraMoisture Body Oil

Combines the healing and soothing properties of Rose Otto Oil with a complex of ceramides, phospholids and Omega six and seven essential fatty acids to boost skin repair and softness. Gently Elephant, SE4 & North Wood Aesthetics, SE19

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Plant Dye Workshop

The plant dye workshop at Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses is a wonderful way to learn the craft of dying fabric and yarn naturally, with wild or home grown plants and flowers. With thanks to Penny and Diane at Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses. The fantastic people at Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses host an interesting and varied program of workshops.

PHOTOS: Alex Reyto  alexreyto.com brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk 92

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Design led products for the modern family

Cissy Wears

210-212A Hither Green Lane, SE13 6RT Mon- Sat 9am-5pm

or shop online at www.cissywears.com

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Children & Families

What's On Children's Edit SE Little Journal 97

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What’s Nature Explorers: Pond Dippers 02 JUNE

Pickup Activities FROM 17 JUNE

The Wondercrump World of Roald Dahl UNTIL 03 JULY

Try your hand at pond dipping in our Nature Trail Pond and discover the variety of life to be found in London during the early summer.

The Nature Trail is carefully managed to encourage wildlife, and you will find an early summer environment bursting with life. All equipment is provided and a tutor will guide you through the process and identifying your finds.

Pick-up the latest free, artistdesigned activity and explore Tate Modern’s spaces and art displays in new ways, with exciting ideas to get you talking and creating in the galleries together as a family.

Choose from activities that take you through art displays, from the Tanks to the Start Gallery and many of the spaces in-between.

Did you know that Roald Dahl used to be a spy? And also a fighter pilot, inventor and historian of chocolate?

The Wondercrump World of Roald Dahl is a brand new interactive experience that takes visitors on a magical journey through Roald Dahl’s imagination. Featuring exclusive archival material from the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.

Horniman Museum, SE23

Tate Modern, SE1

Southbank Centre, SE1

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Children & Families

On Play day: Swing, Climb, Balance!

05 AUGUST

Frogprince Baby Music Classes EVERY WED, 3PM

Community Wild Meadow Planting Day 11 JUNE

Join the Play Local team to celebrate children’s right to play in public space. Using materials from the Shop of Possibilities we’ll be making DIY tree swings, ziplines, tightropes and hammocks to encourage lots of playful happenings throughout the day.

Curated by multi-instrumentalist Stefano and based on the most popular songs and nursery rhymes for children, the class is a path toward the joy of socialising through music. On top of this it is a great occasion to dance, have fun together and make friends.

Join gardener Rosie Hollands and florist Yolanda Chiaramello for their wild meadow flower planting. Visit their floral installation, eat delicious edible floral pizzas by Van Dough and take home wild flower seed packets designed by Horniman Primary school children.

Sceaux Gardens Estate, SE5

Surrey Docks Farm, SE16

Horniman Primary School, SE23

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Open Evening Art & DT Show 2016

FOR PROSPECTIVE PARENTS

Wednesday 29 June 2016 6.30 - 8pm See our website for Autumn open events and bookable taster days

020 8557 7004 admissions@syd.gdst.net

D’

www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net

Design-led children’s books that pass the coffee-table test.

Captivating stories • Amazing Illustration • Imaginative Interactivity www.smallprint-online.com Use ‘JOURNAL’ for 10% off

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Botanical Childrens Edit

by Cissy Wears & Small Print Books

Tiny Cottons Botanical Romper; Nano block Flamingo; Tiny Cottons Pastel Pink Pots Pant; What's Hidden In The Woods by Aina Bestard; The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes; Tiny Cottons Pastel Pink Pots Tshirt; Fine Little Day Blanket; Tiny Cottons Stripey Tshirt; Brio Little Forest Train Set

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That cheeky whippet called Captain loves munching on

sticky weed!

We lost him in the bushes...

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...when he wasn't on his lead.

He chewed and gobbled all day long just like a little pig,

and when he emerged he was wearing a

green and sticky wig!

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Colour In Cacti

Hmmm, looks like a few cacti have gone missing from their pots!

Can you draw them back in? Try to match the bodies to the eyes!

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Tropical Time

These plants could do with some colour – try using different types of green for different plants like a real tropical forest!

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Insect palace

Cool Cardboard Cacti This craft is a great way to build a cool collection of cacti; you don’t need to worry about watering them or about getting spiked by their prickly spines!

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You will need…

Green cardboard A pencil Scissors Crayons or pastels

To finish…

A plant pot Some brown scrap paper

Draw out the shape of your favourite type of cactus with a 2cm tab at the bottom of the shape. You also need to draw out a middle section of the cactus to create the 3D effect.

Cut out the cactus shapes, you might want to ask an adult to help with this part.

Draw patterns onto both pieces to represent the spines and grooves of your cactus.

Carefully cut a line into the top of the main cactus piece about 1cm long and cut a longer line from the bottom up on the second cactus piece stopping 1cm before the top.

Carefully slot the two pieces together.

Scrunch up brown paper and put it in a small plant pot. Place your cactus into the pot and wedge it in place with more scrunched paper. Now start your collection!

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“Forster Park is a good school with outstanding, rigorous, extremely thoughtful leadership and outstanding Early Years provision.“

VISITS TO THE SCHOOL ARE WELCOME - PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE OR CALL 020 8698 5686

OFSTED, JUNE 2015

FORSTER PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL BOUNDFIELD ROAD CATFORD SE6 1PQ A TEN MINUTE WALK FROM SANDHURST PARADE • • • •

Caring staff and a deep commitment to the progress of every child as an individual Fully renovated classrooms, library and dining hall State of the art computing, music and design technology rooms Brand new playground with enriching games and resources, including qualified sports coaches, shaded areas, climbing wall and quiet area • Breakfast and after-school clubs for wrap-around care from 7.30am until 6pm www.oakbridgefederation.co.uk/forster-park-campus

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