Spring has officially sprung! Grey clouds have given way to sunshine as we all head back outdoors for Easter bonnet parades, chocolate egg hunts, four-day weekends, beer gardens and – most likely – the occasional rain shower!

That’s not to say that we hibernated last month – far from it!

SE22 Magazine celebrated its 14th birthday with a big party at The Palmerston. The fizz was flowing all night as local business owners and friends of the magazine turned up to raise a glass and toast this incredible milestone.

Last summer, the East Dulwich Action Group asked locals and visitors to submit their favourite photos that capture the spirit of East Dulwich. I was honoured to be asked to join the judging panel of this wonderful competition and am very excited to now see the winning images exhibited on lamp posts around the area.

If there was an award going for the best cuppa in ED, then SE Cakery on Upland Road would be a very strong contender! Not a stainless steel teapot-for-one in sight – just a proper big mug of tea with the bag left in! Just how I like to drink it at home.

This month, the Horniman Museum and Gardens will be holding their annual Easter Fair (20-21 April) with fun events and activities for the whole family including art workshops, pond dipping, storytelling sessions, a mini-beast safari and a family bat walk.

The Dulwich Picture Gallery will be exploring the work of David Milne over the school Easter holidays with a programme of holiday camps, workshops and a Great Outdoors family day.

Regular local events include Tea and Time – an informal and fun coffee morning for anyone over the age of 60 at Christ Church on Barry Road (Mondays at 10.30), Goose Green Coffee Morning at St John’s Church (Wednesdays at 10.30) and the Dulwich Runners Club meets every Wednesday night at the Edward Alleyn Clubhouse.

If you have always fancied joining the WI then the Honor Oak group meets on the first Tuesday of the month (2 April), the East Dulwich WI on the first Wednesday of the month (3 April), the New Dulwich WI on the second Monday of the month (8 April) and the ladies of the Nunhead WI get together on the third Monday of the month (15 April). I was a member of the East Dulwich WI for many years and made some great friends, as well as picked up a few new skills! #WIversityforever

Ashley Banjo’s Secret Street Crew 3
RX6 – WI
©Chris Lobina for Sky1 HD

There’s an opportunity for local professionals to meet and network at the Cooking with Scissors event at The Palmerston (24 April), which I’m hoping to go along to for the first time as I start to grow my own business.

Next month, the annual Dulwich Festival returns (10-19 May) with an exciting programme of events including the popular Artists’ Open House weekends, Dulwich Festival Fair on Goose Green (12 May), Love West Dulwich Spring Fair (18 May) and Dulwich Park Fair (19 May).

Details of all local events including ticket and booking information can be found on our events page and on Instagram @arounddulwich.

This article first appeared in the March 2019 issue of SE22 magazine.