Author: Guest Contributor

Environment Matters: Street Trees for Living

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By Stuart Checkley Street Trees for Living (STfL) is a local charity which works with residents and Lewisham Council to raise funds to pay for street trees and to care for them. In recent years we have raised over £50,000 annually for trees and we have been able to plant more than 200 trees each year. Street trees come to SE23 We planted our first tree in Forest Hill in the winter of 2017/8 and since then across SE23 we have planted more than 50. Tree planting in our area is challenged by a steep and windy hill, by more than our fair share of London Clay and by a number of narrow pavements. Yet we have planted a range of small colourful trees which are now thriving. Modern varieties of Crab Apple such as those illustrated here are good examples of small trees with colourful flowers and fruit, which are of interest throughout the year. Surprisingly, many of these modern varieties are completely new to the streets of Forest Hill and Perry Vale. Local …

CPZ update from Councillor James McAsh

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Since before I was elected, the main local issue raised with me in Goose Green ward has been parking. It comes from two distinct groups. One’s experience of parking is a nightmare: road rage and dangerous driving on congested streets, hours wasted scouring the streets for a parking space, and air pollution soaring above safe levels. These residents demand controlled parking and cannot understand why the council is dragging its feet. For the other group, unrestricted parking is easy and free, and they worry that controlled parking would deter customers to the high street. Why would the council impose this on them – or is there an ulterior motive? These groups don’t live on different planets. Just different ends of East Dulwich. My response is always the same: It is illegal for the council to introduce controlled parking on our local streets just to raise revenue. Controlled parking should only be implemented with the consent of residents in any zone. A consultation can result in full implementation, full rejection, or partial implementation in a zone …

Everything is changing! Including The Illusioneer

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Some of you may know it as a tiny “shop front” you walk past on your way to the station in Herne Hill, others may have booked the tiny venue for a “Party Show” or special occasion. Some people believe “it only appears when you need it!” The reality is, I opened The illusioneer Theatre and Studio nearly 10 years ago, as a place for me to perform and develop a number of shows in a theatre style for all ages. I developed three core shows that worked well for The illusioneer brand and the Little Theatre but now it’s time for change. Over this time I sought to diversify the audience so a parlour show called “Midweek Magic Mix” was developed with other Illusionists and Magicians to bring in a new adult audience. The core team of Illusioneers have now been with me for over 5 Years and because of my background in theatre, events and TV they wanted me to promote a stage show and event to a bigger audience After lots of …

SE22 Councillor Jon Hartley

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By Jon Hartley, Dulwich Hill Ward At the most recent Dulwich Community Council meeting, my fellow Dulwich Hill Councillor Maggie Browning and I were able to assign funding to local projects via the Cleaner Greener Safer fund, Neighbourhood Fund and Highways Capital Investment fund. These snappily titled local council budgets are a really important way for us as your representatives to be able to support good ideas from the community and protect and enhance some local services that are under increasing pressure. This year we were able to provide funding towards improvements in Goodrich School playground and St Clement’s orchard, support the Plastic Free Dulwich initiative, and resources for the local Police team. We also reserved funds to deal with any extra street cleaning that’s required in the area, supported developing local resident groups, promoting links between different generations and funded traffic speed restrictions. Adding to an initial grant last year, we were glad to be able to fully fund improvements to the pathways in Dawson’s Hill park, making them safe and accessible. The need …

Education news: Computer Whizz Kids

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Robert Payne, teacher of ICT at Alleyn’s, on how to bring on our child’s knowledge of ICT. “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” (Benjamin Franklin) Knowledge and experience of using computer systems is important in an ever-changing information society. Our children use a variety of computer-based technologies ranging from tablets, phones and games consoles and while they often seem to teach themselves some of the core computing skills, it is important to encourage them to use these tools effectively, creatively and most importantly, safely. Here are a few ways that may help to develop ICT knowledge in older primary school age children up into the early years of secondary school. Computer literacy Children can develop their creative skills through software applications, and if you follow your child’s particular interests in choosing how they do this they will engage fully. They might choose to design animated stories, games or scientific simulation using software such as Scratch, remix music using GarageBand, or use PowerPoint to create animated presentations …