Elephant and Castle to Dulwich Park
Saturday March 16th was mostly a bright Spring day, but our valiant walk leaders had found the Essex mud a horrible and potentially dangerous experience. Instead 19 members took advantage of the fact that our inner City offers numerous green spaces for us to explore and appreciate.
Elephant Park is not yet finished and best enjoyed with young children when the water features are active. Our group moved on via Wansey Street Pocket Park to reach Nursery Row Park. From the top of the mound, there are views back to the North of Southwark, but our plan for the day was to head South towards Dulwich.
Elephant Park
St Peters Churchyard
The group were encouraged not to tally too long at East Street market, moving through Faraday Gardens to St Peters’ Churchyard. A lengthy stop for coffee and a visit to the bakery in the crypt gave time to enjoy the lovely gardens as well as the building.
The next short back road link soon met Burgess Park. Most of the group were missing hills and found some ups and downs which were not muddy and slippery. The cafe was not the time for another long stop, but the group enjoyed the gardens around the former almshouses.
Most of the birdlife to be seen was in Burgess Park although the cormorants were seemingly absent and not everyone would have seen the goslings.. The blossom was not yet quite at its best, but the walk around the lake is always a joy.
Egyptian goslings, Burgess Park
Dulwich Park Lake
No trip to Camberwell should miss Benhill Road Nature Garden, but the group were keen to get to a lunch break. St Giles Parish Church is an imposing structure also providing a final green space in the Churchyard prior to our search for appropriate eating places.
On such a nice day, the cafes looked full and some took the opportunity to drop out while a majority reached the top of the hill and the pub with more fine views over central London.
Only 5 members enjoyed the afternoon stroll around Ruskin Park and the decision to join the link beside Alleyn’s school to reach Dulwich Village, pleasant and busy as ever. Dulwich Park cafe was also very busy, and again we were too early for that park’s magnificent blossom display. We reached the homewardbound buses by about 4pm.
