MHA The Wilderness

08/12/2024

A garden always shows there is hope, even in the darkest of times and in the bleakest of days.

Amongst our newest additions to The Wilderness are our Autumn flowering snowdrops, which were planted the year before last. They didn't appear last Autumn and we were worried that they hadn't liked their new position. But low and behold on clearing the leaves beneath the Persian Ironwood they have at last appeared!

Common primrose (Primula vulgaris)
Mahonia x media 'Winter Sun'
Autumn flowering snowdrops - (Galanthus reginae-olgae)
Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica)
Stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus)

The garden is open to visitors and we do try to maintain opening times of 9am-4pm Monday to Friday, but if you are making a special trip or are not local please do contact us beforehand.

Our next weekend opening is on Saturday 4th January for our annual Wassail 11am-2pm.

Entry is free, and we do encourage donations to assist with the maintenance, development and our community events.

06/12/2024

One of our supported volunteer groups who are regulars to The Wilderness from Active Lives, did a grand job of re-charging our woodland walk yesterday with a fresh layer of woodchip kindly donated by BM Arboriculture. Thank you! 💚

01/12/2024

In South London Communities Gardening for Wellbeing workshop last Friday, participants were making festive wreaths using natural materials harvested in The Wilderness.

They were expertly guided by Lynette, who delivers these monthly workshops on the last Friday of every month. Each dementia friendly session is seasonally themed and centred around gardening or crafting using natural elements.

Lynette will be taking a break but her next workshop is Friday 28th February 11am-12.30pm.

If you are interested joining, please email [email protected] for more information.

28/11/2024

Our fabulous volunteers at The Wilderness have built this standing height raised planter from unwanted pallets and floorboards. Its amazing what you can create out of nothing when you know how!

This will be filled to halfway using Hügelkultur principles of decaying woody debris and other compostable biomass plant materials and then topped up with our homemade compost and leaf mould.

Lynette our dedicated volunteer, who delivers monthly gardening for wellbeing workshops will hopefully find this a solution for attendees who find it more difficult to bend down and can therefore garden at standing height.

The next session of gardening for well being will be Friday 28th February, 11am to 12.30pm.

If you are interested in joining Lynette's sessions email:
[email protected]

26/11/2024

Join us on Saturday January 4th 11am to 2pm for our annual Wassail at The Wilderness.

The fabulous will be joining us to wake up our apple trees and dance those post Christmas cobwebs away.

Bring your pots and pans and get ready to make a racket!

Hot drinks and homemade cakes available afterwards.

This event is free and no booking required.

Donations are however very welcome to help us continue to run community events like these.

For more information contact: [email protected]

25/11/2024

The Wilderness hosted it's second lantern festival in collaboration with local Methodist churches on Friday evening.

Over 150 visitors delighted at lanterns of all shapes and sizes, made by local community groups, partnering organisations, residents and community members. They also enjoyed homemade cakes and hot drinks.

Luckily, the weather was kind on Friday, but unfortunately Saturday's event was cancelled due adverse weather conditions.

A big thank you goes out to all our dedicated volunteers, South London Communities, Richard Lowson (Minister at Shirley Methodist Church), all the wonderful organisations who were so creative in their lantern making and Soraia, Hall Grange's wonderful new activity co-ordinator, who managed to get so many residents outside to enjoy the event.

🏮🏮🏮

21/11/2024

UPDATE ON OUR UPCOMING LANTERN FESTIVAL FOR THIS COMING SATURDAY EVENING 👀👀.

Due to the forecast adverse weather conditions for Saturday 23rd November, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the event scheduled for that evening.

All ticket holders have been notified.

We have to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both our visitors and volunteers, and thank you for your understanding.

PLEASE NOTE - If you have tickets for Saturday, you are very welcome to attend on the Friday event between 5 and 7pm.

A wonderful selection of lanterns made by community groups and local organisations of all shapes and sizes will be displayed throughout the garden.

Please do wrap up warm!!

Free tickets are still available via our MHA Wilderness Eventbrite page.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mha-the-wilderness-55167114403

15/11/2024

Thank You so much to The Crown Classic Pub in Wickham Road for hosting Quiz and Raffle in aid of our local greenspace The Wilderness and their community project delivered by MHAC South London on Wednesday 13th November - we raised funds and awareness about reducing isolation and loneliness in later life. A special 'Thank You' also to our local businesses Angulina - Italian Food and Cesar&Cruz for their donations of prizes for the raffle

11/11/2024

Our second lantern festival in collaboration with Shirley Methodist Church is less than 2 weeks away.

Come and see the garden in a different light, and check out the array of wonderful lanterns created by local community groups and organisations.

To book your family/group ticket please visit our Eventbrite page or go to: Discover The Wilderness Mha Events & Activities in London, United Kingdom | Eventbrite

Dates are Friday 22nd and 23rd November 2024 5-7pm. Hot drinks and light refreshments will be available.

11/11/2024

Good Week Everyone!
This is just a reminder of our Pub Quiz Night in aid of MHAC South London and The Wilderness Gardens, in Shirley.
Local Businesses and Local Designers, and members of our communities have been very generous with their donations and great prizes are waiting for you: join us this Wednesday from 8pm at The Crown, Wickham Road

08/11/2024

Fun, Great Food, Good Drinks and a Good Cause:
If you live in Shirley area and you would like to spend a lovely evening in one of the most charming pubs around, come and join us at the Crown – Ember Inns in Wickham Road on Wednesday 13th November from 8pm, where you can enjoy a delicious meal whilst having fun with a great Quiz Master – you will also have the chance to win some prizes with a raffle! Most importantly, we will all have the chance to support The Wilderness Gardens / MHAC South London for their community engagement.
Save the Date: 13th November 2024, from 8pm – click on the link below to book your table:
https://www.emberinns.co.uk/nationalsearch/southeast/the-crown-shirley

31/10/2024

Save the dates: 22nd and 23rd November (5pm - 7pm):
The Wilderness Lantern Festival.
Don't miss the chance to experience a beautiful evening walk and to see a display of lanterns crafted by individuals and groups from our local community.
Visit our Eventbrite page:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mha-the-wilderness-55167114403

28/10/2024

Thank You so much to all who contributed to the first Wilderness Local Artists Festival, had yesterday 27th OCT: the skilful designers; the supportive volunteers and the engaged visitors - Thank You all for creating such a wonderful event!
We had stalls from local artists including:
- Anne's Inspirational Cards
- Cesar & Cruz - Home Fragrance (www.cesarandcruz.com)
- Ensemble4U
- Paintings by Fran B
- Painting by Lucy Rodgers (champion of The Wilderness Gardens)
- Knitted Poppies beautifully created and delivered by our volunteers Eileen, Sheila and Barbara.
We also displayed intergenerational art-works produced during South London project's Soulful Connection.
MHAC South London & The Wilderness also provided an offsite Lantern Making Workshop creating connections between the local Methodist Church and South London Sanatan Mandir (Coulsdon).
What a fantastic day!

25/10/2024

Dr Jane Mclauchlin, one of our wonderful volunteers and fungi enthusiast will be taking visitors on an autumn fruits and fungi foray around The Wilderness on Sunday 27th October at 2pm.

It is also a great opportunity to see the autumnal colours in the garden.

No need to book, just turn up and meet outside the green gate at the entrance of the garden.

Light refreshments will also be available. 🍄🍁🍂

25/10/2024

22/10/2024

This coming Friday, our Gardening For Wellbeing (Dementia Friendly) session will enable you to create some fantastic mini terrarium to bring the great outdoor right on your home shelves - come and join us this Friday 25th October from 11am in our Wilderness Gardens Visitor Centre 🍃

21/10/2024

in partnership with The Wilderness are running a FREE family workshop on Monday 28th October 10am-12pm in our cosy cabin.

Children and their carers will be making their own beautiful and unique lanterns using natural resources, to be displayed at our lantern festival on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd November 5-7pm.

After the festival, lanterns can be collected and taken home to be kept & displayed as a memento.

For more information go to: https://www.calat.ac.uk/family-festival-2024/

Or email: [email protected]