Little Ecological Arts Festival

The Little Ecological Arts Festival (LEAF), will take place on Albion Millenium Green. There will be a series of events running from 2pm to 8pm on Wednesday 1 May to Saturday 4 May. In true artistic fashion, all timings are approximate! For latest details, check the littleecologicalart blog.

• ‘Tree / Book’ an Interactive Installation by Camilla Nelson
  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 2pm to 8pm
  Make your mark on this interactive web of tree-related reading & writing materials
• ‘Enclosure’ an Installation by Dan Eltringham
  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 2pm to 8pm
  Dan needs more space for his things. He's staked a claim and privatised part of the Green. He might consider leasing it to you.
• ‘Labyrinth’ an Installation by Maria Strutz
  Wednesday, Thursday 2pm to 8pm
  A walkable sculpture
• ‘The Keithettes: Divination’ a Performance by Beetle and Bird
  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 2pm to 3pm
  London based performance company Beetle and Bird pay homage to their Irish heritage. The Keithettes retell a traditional Irish May Day folklore with the help of some snails.
• ‘Nest’ a Performance Installation by Nathalie Hauwelle
  Wednesday 5pm to 8pm, Thursday, Friday 2pm to 8pm
  A nest fit for a human is built from wood found on The Green.
• ‘Insect Hotel’ Performance by the International Collective of Ecological Actors
  Thursday, Friday 2pm to 8pm, Saturday 2pm to 6pm
  You are trying to check in but the receptionist is busy building bed-space for some exceptional guests.
• ‘The Tempest’ by Teatro Vivo
  Thursday, Friday, 7pm to 8pm
  The Spirits of Albion Island invite you to come and celebrate Independence Day! The tyrannous Prospero has relinquished control and the Spirits will be celebrating by planting a memorial. Discover lovers and kings, monsters and men creating a storm in the undergrowth. This will be a work in progress showing inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest
• ‘I Surrender’ by Rachael Henley
  Friday 2pm to 8pm, Saturday 2pm to 7pm
  Live Performance Installation Knitting - Live .
• ‘Gleaning, Leaning and the Lean’ Workshop by Natalie Joelle
  Friday 4pm to 5pm
  What does it mean to glean and what are the ecological implications of its gestures?
• ‘The Last Cuppa’ Theatre by Elaine Pantling
  Friday, Saturday 4pm to 8pm
  There is comfort in a cup of solitude but there is much more pleasure in sharing a pot of tea with friends. Every cup, every sip stirs up a story and invokes a memory never to be forgotten…
• ‘Linus Slug’ by Mendoza
  Friday, Saturday 6pm to 7pm
  Insect Poetry from Northumberland.
• ‘Sprites In Shorts’ a Performance by Simon Harrison and Phiip Engleheart
  Saturday 6pm to 8pm
  The festival finishes with Crystal Palace's finest. Famous for their ‘Blessing of The Pond’ on Albion Millennium Green
• ‘Where Do We Go From Here?’ Interactive Installation by the International Collective of Ecological Actors
  Thursday, Friday, Saturday 2pm to 8pm
  Reveal the path to the future

One Tree Hill Festival

Last weekend saw the start of the One Tree Hill Festival, with a performance of works by Mozart, Holst and Mendelssohn from Southwark Sinfonietta - but fret not! There are plenty more events for you to go along to. The second One Tree Hill Festival runs from 28th April to 19th May and has a wonderful mix of music and performance. As well as their Sunday services, which have a theatrical feel, they will be joined by West End singers performing excerpts from Les Miserables, using the story to explore different responses to God.

Events include

• An Evening of Musical Theatre - Saturday 4 May, 7:30pm
  Adults £5, Children £2
  After the success of previous musical theatre concerts at St Augustine’s, local and West End singers present an evening of songs from popular British and American musicals. Directed by former West End performer and local vocal coach Lisa Olsworth-Peter the concert will inspire and entertain as we listen to an array of well loved tunes.
• Gilbert Rowland performs music for harpsichord - Sunday 5 May, 3:00pm
  Adults £5, Children £2
  Gilbert Roland, renowned harpsichord soloist presents a programme of music for harpsichord by Domenico Scarlatti, G F Handel, Francois Couperin and Padre Antonio Soler.
• May Fayre - Saturday 11 May, 11am to 3pm
  Free entry
  Our popular May Fayre returns to St Augustine's with the usual selection of cakes, stalls and shies
• Lewisham Concert Band present: Swing into summer! - Saturday 11 May, 7:30pm
  Adults £5, Children £2
  An evening of toe tapping band favourites from the popular Lewisham Concert Band. Founded in 1967 and conducted for many years by the late Joseph Proctor, the Lewisham Concert Band soon found fame for its numerous BBC Radio 2 broadcasts during the 70s and 80s on Friday Night is Music Night and Listen to the Band. Today, under the musical direction of Leslie Lake, it is still one of the South East’s most highly-regarded wind bands and consists of professional and amateur musicians based in London and the Home Counties.
• La Bohème by Opera Bohemia - Sunday 12 May, 7:30pm
  £13, Concessions £11 from www.wegottickets.com
  Opera Bohemia, Scotland's dynamic professional opera company, presents Giacomo Puccini's romantic tragedy La Bohème. Rising Scottish star Catriona Clark leads a cast of emerging young artists in the role of Mimi, the young seamstress, whose failing health can’t prevent her from falling in love with the charismatic poet Rodolfo, played by Alistair Digges. This energetic and youthful production, accompanied by violin and piano, captures all the emotional highs and lows in Puccini's romantic score; from playful banter to the rush of first love, to the devastating pain of heartbreak and loss. Sung in Italian with English surtitles, this critically acclaimed production promises to be a memorable night for opera lovers and newcomers alike.
• Fairlawn Singers: ‘Songs for a Summer Evening’ - Tuesday 14 May, 7:30pm
  Adults £7, Children £1
  Under the direction of Alistair Digges, this popular choir made up of parents, staff and friends of Fairlawn Primary School in Honor Oak Park return once again for a wonderful evening of fun summer music. Proceeds will be split between ‘The Ahoy Centre’ and St Augustine's Church.
• Studio Craft Workshop - Saturday 18 May, 10:30am to 1pm
  Free entry
  A family craft activity morning for the young and young at heart to make decorations for the One Tree Hill Festival celebration service on 19th May. Based at the Liturgical Design Studio at Holy Trinity Centre (www.holytrinitycentre.org.uk), all materials will be provided and all skill abilities welcome. Parents and carers are asked to remain with their children.
• Mock Tudor Band present a programme of renaissance and baroque music - Saturday 18 May, 7:30pm
  Adults £5, Children £2
  Join the Mock Tudor Band as they take a musical journey through time from rollicking Tudor dances to regal Baroque masterpieces.
• Festival Celebration Service and drinks reception - Sunday 19 May, 10:30am
  Free entry
  As the festival concludes you are invited to celebrate and give thanks to God for our local creative community. It is also the day we celebrate St Augustine and the Holy Spirit. There will be a drinks reception after the service which all are welcome to attend which will also be an opportunity for us to say thank you to those who have given financially towards our living heritage campaign to address the tower and high stone work which is now complete.

All events (except for the Studio Craft Workshop) are at St Augustine’s Church. For more information visit www.augustineonetreehill.org.uk or phone 020 8699 0172. Tickets are available at the door or can be purchased in advance from www.ticketsource.co.uk/augustine1treehill

Ed Olsworth-Peter and all the team at St Augustine's look forward to seeing you.

May Food Fair - Sunday 5th May - Forest Hill Station

Bringing the Forest to Forest Hill

62 trees potted up ready for the Edible High Road. Click through to see more photos on Facebook.

Join the Revolution!

300 people
Each cycling 1km on an exercise bike
In a 24-hour relay
Setting 1 World Record!

Local charity Widehorizons and Sainsbury's Forest Hill have rescheduled the date of their Guinness World Record® attempt.

There will now be an exercise bike outside Sainsbury's from 7am on Saturday 28th September until 7am on Sunday 29th and they want as many people as possible to go and cycle one kilometre in a 24-hour relay. If 300 people take part, they will set a new Guinness World Record®! However, before this can go ahead, they need people to sign up to take part as they are only allowed one attempt at the record.

They are asking participants to raise money for the work of Widehorizons in providing life-changing adventures for children and young people. There is no minimum amount - just raise as much as you are able! So if you can spare five minutes in September, sign up now at www.revolution300.org.uk, click "start fundraising" and register to become a Revolutionary! (£5 registration fee applies).

Widehorizons is an independent charity which was originally formed in 2004 as a result of a joint initiative on the part of the London boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham. They believe that every child should have access to adventure as part of their learning and throughout their lives. Widehorizons currently provide inspirational, high-quality outdoor learning for over 32,000 children every year through the six outdoor education centres which they operate across England and Wales. These include:

• Horton Kirby, a day centre in Dartford
• ECS, a day centre in Eltham
• Margaret McMillan, a residential and day care centre on the North Kent Downs
• Townsend Centre, a residential centre in Swanage, Dorset
• T'yn y Berth residential centres in Corris Uchaf situated on the southern edge of the Snowdonia National Park and
• Bryntysilio Outdoor Education Centre in Llangollen.

Adventurous activities run from the Centres include rock climbing, mountain walking, abseiling, gorge scrambling and underground mine exploration (a bit like caving). They also have ropes courses, orienteering, team building and problem solving activities. Imaginatively delivered outdoor education can benefit a child’s life in every way and have a long-lasting impact. Using outdoor spaces can introduce a child to the concepts of responsibility, trust, and cooperation enhancing their own personal development whether this happens through working as a team to build a forest shelter, overcoming a fear by going mountain climbing, or simply getting muddy with friends!

Join the Lewisham Design Review Panel

Lewisham Council is looking for professionals in architecture, urban design, development, landscape architecture, sustainability and other built environment professions to join their Design Review Panel as advisers.

Lewisham’s Design Review Panel (DRP) was set up in 2001 to improve the quality of urban design and architecture through the borough's planning process. The Panel's advice is meant to assist and encourage developers and their design teams to achieve and deliver high quality design in their development proposals. It is made up of about 30 independent specialist design advisers who meet regularly to promote high standards of design in Lewisham's new developments, assessing and reviewing development schemes at either pre-application or application stage of the planning process. A flat daily rate will be paid to members to cover their expenses.

While the panel does not have decision-making powers, it serves as an advisory body helping the Council to achieve the best built environment. Comments from the Panel will be fed into the assessment of pre-applications, applications and appeals. This is a real opportunity to make a difference to one of the most dynamic and interesting parts of London and to impact on the lives of Lewisham residents for years to come.

Lewisham wants to attract members of the highest calibre and credibility in their respective fields. If you are interested in becoming a member of the panel or chair of the panel and you have vision, creativity and the desire to make a real difference to the future design of the borough they would like to hear from you.

To apply to be a panel member or the panel chair, send your CV and statement of intent to Jennifer Currier as detailed below. Please note that if sending via email, any message should be 5MB or less.

Jennifer Currier
Principal Urban Designer
London Borough of Lewisham
Planning Service
Laurence House
1 Catford Road
London SE6 4RU
jennifer.currier@lewisham.gov.uk

Candidates applying for the panel chair will need to indicate this within their statement and if shortlisted attend an interview in June.

Applications from both inside and outside the borough are encouraged and the deadline for submission is 17 May.

Find out more about the Design Review Panel on Lewisham's website.

An Eventful Time

Potting Up for the Edible High Road
Saturday 27 April, 10.00am, Devonshire Road Nature Reserve
Potting up and decorating of the fruit trees. Please come along if you can lend a hand potting up to 70 trees prior to the official launch of the Edible High Road in Forest Hill and Honor Oak.
Organised by Forest Hill Society and Lewisham Gardens

Open day at Dacres Road Nature Reserve
Saturday 27 April, 12-3pm, entrance via Catling Close, off Dacres Road SE23
As Dacres Wood Nature reserve is a bit of a hidden gem, there's a plan to have regular open days on the last Saturday of every month from spring to autumn. The next one is this Saturday. There will be refreshments and tours of the reserve, and opportunities for those visitors coming with sturdy gloves and secateurs to help with some conservation work.
Organised by Friends of Dacres Wood

Sydenham Market - street food, craft & vintage
Sunday 28 April, 10am-4pm, Sydenham Station Approach
Organised by SEE3

Forest Hill Food Fair
Sunday 5 May, 11am-3pm, Forest Hill Station
A Forest Hill Society Event

Syd Soc event: visit to the Brunel Museum & Thames Tunnel, Rotherhithe
Friday 17 May, 10am
The Brunel Museum in historic Rotherhithe is directly above the Thames Tunnel which opened in 1843. We'll be taking part in a one-hour tour of the tunnel, followed by a visit to the museum and lunch at the nearby Mayflower pub. The cost of the visit is £6, payable in advance. To book your place and arrange payment, please email jacquelinealdridge [at] gmail.com
A Sydenham Society Event

Edible High Road Launch Day
Saturday 18 May, 1pm, Forest Hill Station
Official launch of the Edible High Road, with a celebrity guest!
More details at http://www.foresthillsociety.com/2013/03/the-edible-high-road.html
Organised by Forest Hill Society and Lewisham Gardens

Dulwich Fesitval - Local Artists' Open Houses

Artists’ Open House 2013 is on Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th May and Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th May 11 am - 6pm

Across Dulwich and surrounding areas (including Forest Hill) artists are opening their houses to visitors to see their work. Forest Hill's open studios are centred around Havelock Walk, just off London Road.

Full details of all participating artists and other activities in the Dulwich festival can be found at http://www.dulwichfestival.co.uk/content/artists-open-house-3 

Saturday 18th May (2pm) is also the launch of the Chelsea Fringe Edible High Road in Forest Hill and Honor Oak. More details to follow.

Museum of the Year Photography Competition

To celebrate the Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year 2013, the Art Fund are organising a competition for photographers.

The best shot representing each of the ten finalists will be chosen by the Art Fund, who will then hand over to a public vote to decide the winner.

We’re looking for the most innovative, atmospheric and even humorous images of the Horniman, from a stunning exterior shot to a close-up of your favourite object. The winning picture will creatively capture the spirit of the museum.

Upload your signature snap today and you could win some fantastic prizes including:

• An Apple iPad mini
• A year’s National Art Pass
• A selected image published in Art Quarterly
• Two tickets to the Museum of the Year ceremony on 4 June at the V&A, London

The photograph of the Horniman Museum and Gardens which makes it into the final ten will also be displayed in our main building (next to the shop) for one month.

You can enter by filling in an online form, emailing the Art Fund at photo@artfund.org (make sure to include your name, title of the photography and the name of the museum), or send it via twitpic @artfund.
You can also share your entries with the Horniman by adding them to the Horniman Flickr group, or sharing them on Twitter @HornimanMuseum.

Before you enter please make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully.
The last call for entries is Wednesday 15 May.

Doodlebug Days

We recently received the following from one of our members who grew up in Forest Hill. If you have any childhood memories you would like to share, please email email@foresthillsociety.com

I was fifteen years old, a schoolboy in South London, and about to sit my General Schools Exams. It was late June, and V1s had been dropping on London for a couple of weeks. The school - The South London Emergency Secondary School - which operated in the buildings of Alleyn's School, Dulwich, which had been evacuated to Rossall School at Fleetwood, Lancashire - had been closed down because of the flying bombs, and we fifth formers, who were just finishing our secondary school years, were only in the school because we needed to take our exams.

The exams were held in our form room, which was on the second floor. It had big windows, and nothing much in the way of blast protection. Before each exam, we were instructed to continue to work even after an air raid warning sounded; should a doodlebug be heard approaching, we would be instructed when to duck under our desks and wait for it to - we hoped - pass us by.

The exams stretched over several days. Each day without fail the sirens would go, and each day there would be several occasions when we'd hear the two-stroke drone of a V1 heading in our direction. The invigilating master would give the signal, and under our desks we went. We were too preoccupied in praying that the buzzbombs would keep going, to have time to exchange notes on how we were doing with the English Literature or Latin paper, and mercifully - for us at any rate - they all did, though a few crashed close enough for us to feel the room shake.

One of my vivid memories is of our English teacher, one William Hutt, whose nickname was 'Polly'. He was about six foot three, with straggly hair and a shaggy moustache which gave him a very lugubrious expression. He was also a brilliant teacher, and cultivated in me a love of the works of Hugh Walpole, Tennyson and Matthew Arnold which has stayed with me to this day. He was our invigilator for several exams: when the first sounds of a doodlebug were heard, he would stand up, slowly and deliberately, extend a very long forefinger toward us and then downwards, with the admonition "Down!". Down under our desks we went. Polly, meanwhile, would step to the side of his desk away from the windows, and lower himself down so that his back was against the desk, with his legs stretching out for what seemed like yards and yards, toward the classroom door. This exercise he somehow completed with his hands in his pockets.

Once Hitler's latest unwanted present had buzzed by. Polly would elevate himself, and extend the imperious pinkie toward us and upwards. "Up!!", he'd say, and up we'd get, and on we'd go with our exams. His whole manner was so calm and reassuring, that it made this bizarre routine seem perfectly normal. I don't recall that we were given any extra time to compensate for these interruptions. I do remember that some of us took the trouble to learn the French words for things like "air raid", "siren" and "bomb", in case they came in handy during our oral French exam, but as luck would have it, they took place without an air raid to disturb our syntax.

And so the days passed, the exams finished and we ended our school years with no graduation ceremonies, no farewell parties, but just quick goodbyes. I heard later that one of our number who had taken the exam with us, was later killed by a flying bomb on his home, but I suppose that that was the law of averages catching up with us. He had, I remember, carved a beautiful model doodlebug out of balsawood: maybe that was one graven image too many.

Studying for the exams hadn't been made easier for any of us by the advent of the V1s. I personally was a Civil Defence messenger, and was on duty many nights and weekends leading up to and during the exam period. On Friday June, 23rd 1944 my father, my uncle and I were standing outside our house watching the bombs coming over, and when one of the horrid things not only seemed to be coming straight overhead, but its engine suddenly cut out, the three of us tore down the basement steps and skidded along the hall on top of one another, as the earth shook and our ears were shattered by the sound of the explosion. The bomb had fallen on Forest Hill Station, three hundred yards down the road, and we were soon down there helping dazed victims off the platforms, and carrying stretchers – of the dead and the living -away from the scene to waiting ambulances. Three people were killed, and 18 injured.

Many, many years later, I learned that the authorities had calculated, after about a month of flying bomb attacks, that the 'ground zero' aiming point for the bombs had been Tower Bridge, but in fact a plot of where the bombs had all fallen to date put the real 'ground zero' right on my school, in the Alleyn's school buildings in Dulwich! And not only that, but those same authorities went to great lengths to try to convince the Germans that their bombs were in fact falling where they were supposed to - so that, by their keeping the same distance settings, the bombs would fall short of Central London, and thereby cause less loss of life. Somehow I'm glad I didn't know that at the time!

Pip Wedge