Beautiful Cherry Blossom Trees - Melbourne Grove

[ed_pete]

Just gorgeous !

[rch]

This was one of my tree projects when I was a councillor.

We did an experiment with two Yoshino trees at the corner of Melbourne and Lytcott (in front of the Urban Orchard), then a Yoshino avenue along Winterbrook (and half of Stradella) in Herne Hill, then Milo Road off Lordship Lane.

I meant to do more along Melbourne, but there were complex residential issues.

[cookie]

I was compelled to take a picture when passing this week.

[CPR Dave]

There are lots dotted about the area. They all look splendid. Nice to see bees buzzing about them too, collecting pollen. Good signs of spring and summer to come.

[zork]

12 hours ago, rch said:

This was one of my tree projects when I was a councillor.

We did an experiment with two Yoshino trees at the corner of Melbourne and Lytcott (in front of the Urban Orchard), then a Yoshino avenue along Winterbrook (and half of Stradella) in Herne Hill, then Milo Road off Lordship Lane.

I meant to do more along Melbourne, but there were complex residential issues.

Well many thanks are due to you then! I live right here and watching nearly every passersby stop in awe and smile bring almost as much joy as the blossom itself 

[sunbob]

"corner of Melbourne and Lytcott (in front of the Urban Orchard),"

I didn't know that was an urban orchard. Must go and have a look! 

[rch]

Yes, sunbob, it’s been an Urban Orchard for years… you can read the background on the notice board there. It was basically designed to stop the antisocial behaviour in that space while giving everyone free apples.

Over the years there’s been a neighbourhood gang that goes out and picks all the apples overnight, but I think it’s been slightly better recently, fingers crossed.

[alice]

We used to call that Scrumping. 

[Earl Aelfheah]

25 minutes ago, rch said:

Over the years there’s been a neighbourhood gang that goes out and picks all the apples overnight

Middle class gang warfare.

[first mate]

I thought those trees were planted on council property. Are the blocks of what were council flats now all privately owned?

[Penguin68]

1 hour ago, alice said:

We used to call that Scrumping

Scrumping was theft for personal use, this sounds like wholesale theft, and is despicable in a way that Scrumping wasn't. And Scrumping was commonly for windfalls.

[ianr]

I was under the age of criminal responsibility when I took the goosegogs, m'lud, and it still remains on my conscience.

[Angelina]

No better way of keeping a secret than sharing it on social media.

Expect ALL apples to be stolen by everyone now, and not just the people who live there.

Well done.

[rch]

Yes, that’s council property at the edge of a housing estate. I tried to sort out the inside garden as well, but that got vandalised.

One year I counted approx 2000 apples available, but the orchard hasn’t been maintained properly, so it’s probably diminished now.

It’s really sad raising public money to make things better for a community and then just watch it get trashed… so I’ve given up trying to improve the area now.

[alice]

An outdoor gym would suit the spot

[Sue]

3 hours ago, Angelina said:

No better way of keeping a secret than sharing it on social media.

Expect ALL apples to be stolen by everyone now, and not just the people who live there.

Well done.

Careful. You're being sarcastic there. The forum police will be upon you 🤣

1 hour ago, rch said:

Yes, that’s council property at the edge of a housing estate. I tried to sort out the inside garden as well, but that got vandalised.

One year I counted approx 2000 apples available, but the orchard hasn’t been maintained properly, so it’s probably diminished now.

It’s really sad raising public money to make things better for a community and then just watch it get trashed… so I’ve given up trying to improve the area now.

The community garden outside Dulwich Hospital, which we and others put a lot of time and effort into raising money for, building and planting,  was trashed by whoever rebuilt the hospital.

Despite their assurances that it wouldn't be. 

I'm not sure which is worse, that or theft/vandalism 😢

Edited March 28 by Sue

[first mate]

Both are equally bad, the trashing of the community garden outside the old hospital was awful and loads of work was put into it. Also remember RCH raising funds for fruit trees by the Council flats on Melbourne Grove. Such a shame these things are not better appreciated.

[alice]

Perhaps that wasn’t what everybody wanted. Was there a consultation?

[Guest]

6 hours ago, rch said:

Yes, that’s council property at the edge of a housing estate. I tried to sort out the inside garden as well, but that got vandalised.

One year I counted approx 2000 apples available, but the orchard hasn’t been maintained properly, so it’s probably diminished now.

It’s really sad raising public money to make things better for a community and then just watch it get trashed… so I’ve given up trying to improve the area now.

That's a shame, I appreciated all the works you did improving the area, especially the tree planting.

[heartblock]

Thank you rch for organising so many great tree planting schemes in East Dulwich, I love the cherry trees in Melbourne…this year no hail storm the day they are in full bloom!

[James Barber]

On 28/03/2025 at 09:06, rch said:

Yes, sunbob, it’s been an Urban Orchard for years… you can read the background on the notice board there. It was basically designed to stop the antisocial behaviour in that space while giving everyone free apples.

Over the years there’s been a neighbourhood gang that goes out and picks all the apples overnight, but I think it’s been slightly better recently, fingers crossed.

Robin's tree ideas in Village ward described by here inspired us East Dulwich Councillors to have the cherry trees planted on the northern section of Melbourne Grove and elsewhere in what was then called East dulwich ward and now largely Goose green ward. 

[CPR Dave]

Well done James, and Robin.

A lasting legacy that makes the area look special many years later and will do so for many years to come. 

Unlike the ridiculous rotten street furniture and planters the current lot put in.

I wish we still had sensible and forward thinking councillors like both of you.

[Sue]

21 hours ago, CPR Dave said:

Well done James, and Robin.

A lasting legacy that makes the area look special many years later and will do so for many years to come. 

Unlike the ridiculous rotten street furniture and planters the current lot put in.

I wish we still had sensible and forward thinking councillors like both of you.

The planters would be lovely if only the plants had been maintained once they had been planted.

I think it would have been better not to have had them at all than to just leave them with plants in very poor condition.

Were whoever installed them hoping that  residents in the relevant streets would look after them? 

[CPR Dave]

The wood they are made of looks rotten though. They look derelict, like they are about to fall to pieces.

They've also been graffitied. A terrible eyesore.

[northernmonkey]

If you're talking about the wooden planters at the end of Melbourne Grove, Elsie, Tintagel etc they were always temporary and clearly in place longer than their lifespan but the work taking place now is to put in the permanent scheme.  So the falling apart planters will be removed as part of this.