2.30pm-4pm
This is a Friends of West Norwood Cemetery public talk, that will be held in the Old Library, 14-16 Knights Hill London SE27 0HY
Advance booking is by donation (minimum £1 + 2% EVB fee) and essential due to limited places HERE 
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In his book published last year 'The Wood That Built London', Chris Schuler charts the fortunes of the Great North Wood that once covered much of South London. A number of mature trees, survivals of the Great North Wood, were included in the landscaping of the South Metropolitan Cemetery. A tree survey performed by the Parks Agency in 2005 identified one oak thought to date from 1540–1640, while core samples showed that 14 more oaks and an ash also pre-dated the foundation of the Cemetery in 1837.

Chris tells the history of the Great North Wood, the ancient woodland once extending from Deptford to Selhurst. Remnants remain even now in the five boroughs neighbouring West Norwood Cemetery. The biggest remnant is in Sydenham Hill Wood, where Chris frequently volunteers. He takes us from the pre-Roman era, through the Norman Conquest, explaining how the Dulwich Estate's active woodland management helped preserve ancient semi-natural woods well into the 19th century. His illustrated talk will include images of his own hand-drawn copies of historic maps and his photos of some of remaining areas of ancient woodland. Chris is an author of several books on history and landscape, a former Rough Guides staff member, and has written for The Independent, The Financial Times and the New Stateman among others. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Find out more about the Friends of West Norwood Cemetery, their research, walks and talks, publications for sale and membership HERE.