2 HRS AGO - Giving the garden a tidy up, on a nice bright day, is a good way to start the year. Even in mid winter there’s plenty to do from pruning to planting – and any work put in now will pay off when the busier spring season arrives. Prune: Prune tatty looking perennials left for winter interest such as sedum – avoiding new growth. And remove old hellebore leaves to make flowers more visible. Cutback ornamental grasses to within a few cm of the ground before the new growth arrives Many deciduous trees, shrubs and hedges such as beech and hornbeam can also be pruned throughout the dormant period. (Exceptions are evergreens, tender plants and prunus species (cherries, plums, and apricots) as it makes them more susceptible to infection). Cut roses back just above an outward facing bud and remove crossing or dead braches and thin weak stems – I remove branches thinner than a pencil. Prune to the height you want creating an almost vase like shape with an open centre. Prune apple and pear Collapse

1 DAY AGO - This is a question I get asked a lot, and obviously it varies from person to person, and you need to make it personal. It needs to work for you. You know that old question, what’s the best type of exercise? Well, it’s the one that you can maintain. Consistency is key. Here’s what an ideal week looks like, taking out all the personal nuances of you and I – low intensity exercise, medium intensity exercise, and high intensity exercise: Low is activities like walking. It’s while I’m standing here in front of the camera. It’s while I’m walking around. It’s your basic daily life movement, so you should be doing that on a relatively constant basis seven days a week. Moderate activity three to five times a week. That could be a brisk walk, a light jog, something that just gets your heart a little bit higher, but it’s not high intensity. High intensity exercise two to three times a week. That could just be for two minutes or 10 minutes a day, getting your heart rate … The post Collapse

6 DAYS AGO - Hi my name is Stefan Mullings, I own and run Oven Rescue South East London. It is a domestic and commercial specialist oven cleaning service that covers all types of ovens (gas/elec). We also clean all models of extractor hoods, oven and stove hobs, microwaves and barbeques. How long have you lived in the area? I’ve lived here all my life. What has changed most during that time? I would have to say the food outlets, now there are so many varieties of shops, cafés, bars, restaurants, a little something for everyone even if you’re a bit fussy like myself, its great! What do you most value about the area you live in? The different choices of things to do, you can always try something whether you want to try a cuisine you’ve never had before or go on an art trail walk. There’s just so much going on! What’s the one thing you couldn’t do without? Sugar, I have a really bad sweet tooth that I’m trying to clamp down on. Belgian waffle and … The post The Last Word: Stefan Mullings, Oven Collapse

08/01/2019 - Open spaces provide a vital green lung to all of us living in London. With my colleague Maggie Browning, I represent Dulwich Hill, an area with much loved greenery. Residents often tell us how much they value our local open spaces; whether they use facilities within the ward such as Camberwell Old Cemetery or Dulwich Hill, or those just outside like Peckham Rye, One Tree Hill and Dulwich Park. As your local councillors, Maggie and I work with local people who are interested in our local spaces, along with councillors in adjacent areas, other local authorities and Southwark council officers. We’re keen to hear what you enjoy about our local open spaces. Whether to tell us about concerns or just to let us know how much fun your family is having in the amazing new Peckham Rye playground! We’ve been working with residents and local groups on how to improve Dawson’s Hill. Meetings on the Hill with local people and Parks officers have helped clarify how we can best spend Collapse

07/01/2019 - Having the right tools really can turn gardening from a chore to a pleasure. So if you fancy putting something gardening-related on your New Year wish-list or are thinking of buying a present for a green-fingered friend, take your pick from these “must have” tools. Secateurs  This is key for most gardeners – a sharp, good quality pair will make all the difference to pruning and harvesting herbs and flowers. I like Felco, which last a lifetime if you look after them, but thereare many other good varieties. For those with weak hands or arthritis, ratcheting pruners are a great choice. Try to buy quality, keep them clean and dry them if they get wet, so they don’t rust. Gardening gloves Protect your hands from mud and thorns with a good pair of gloves. Make sure they fit snuggly, particularly for fiddly jobs like tying in climbers. Bamboo gloves are light and stretchy, as are Showa Floreo. Thermal gardening gloves are cosy for winter and if you’re pruning roses leather is best. Hand Collapse

04/01/2019 - I am a long time resident of Dulwich and have recently been appointed as Chair of Link Age Southwark, a local charity providing befriending services and 24 groups for older people in Southwark. How long have you lived in the area? I have lived in Dulwich for 25 years What brought you here? Schools! My daughters were very lucky and were able to walk to school every day of their school career at Dulwich Village Infants school, The Hamlet and then Alleyns. What has changed most during that time? One of the lovely things about Dulwich is that things do not change that much, more traffic and different shops but otherwise changes are gentle enough that I have not really noticed them. What do you most value about the area/street you live in? I love the green spaces in and around Dulwich, yet can get to central London quite easily. I live down a little alleyway that is tucked away and hidden from view. What’s the one thing you couldn’t do without? It is not very environmentally friendly to Collapse