Vauxhall Fete 2010 Photographs

I know I'm a week or so late with these pictures of Vauxhall Fete, but SE11 is very busy in the summer months.  I know that some of the shots lack people (and it was well attended), but I'm always worried that people will get shouty if I accidentally snap their toddler!

A particularly enthusiastic band:

A police incident in Vauxhall:

The sign on the side says, "Vauxhall London SW8":

Fiery red spiky plants:

Go karting, large slide and the Fire Brigade:

A particularly tropical-looking photo of Vauxhall Park:

More red spiky plant:

Standing above the crowd:

Donkey riding in the Park:

Donkey resting:

Believe it or not, despite the heat, this flower pot was really alive

(notice the hole on the side):

Summer is never really here until somebody splats the rat:

I'm afraid I didn't make it to the North Lambeth Parish Fete at the weekend  (a shame, as it's always fabulous).  There are, I suppose, probably only so many cup cakes and egg sandwiches that it's healthy for anybody to eat (and I'm well over that limit anyway), but I'm happy to add photos to the blog (feel free to email), if you took any and would like to add them to the record.

Diary dates: Kennington and Vauxhall summer fetes, fairs, garden shows and auctions

The summer season is about to begin here in South London (or Old North Surrey, if you prefer).  That means Pimms, scones and more tea vicar, in some rather attractive squares and gardens. 

I particularly recommend the North Lambeth Parish fete because the parish has been given permission by the Arcbishop of Canterbury to hold it in the Palace grounds, which are beautiful and not usually open to the public.

Kennington Gardens Society Summer Show - Saturday June 12th - 09:30 - 15:30
Roots & Shoots, Walnut Tree Walk, SE11 (Plant/flower entry fee at £0.50 per entry with cap of £3)

Albert Square and St Stephen's Association Summer Fete - Saturday June 12th
Albert Square (A bit out of SE11, but is always well attended).

Cleaver Square Fete - Sunday June 13th - 12:30 - 16:00
Cleaver Square

Open Garden Squares at Roots and Shoots - Sunday June 13th
Roots and Shoots, Walnut Tree Walk, SE11
(Entry £7.50 in advance and £9 on the weekend to see all of the open garden venues)

Portugal Day - Sunday June 13th - 11:00 - 17:00
Kennington Park

Friends of Vauxhall Park Summer Fair - Sunday June 20th - 14:00 - 17:00
Vauxhall Park

North Lambeth Parish Fete - Saturday June 26th - 14:00 - 17:00
Lambeth Palace Garden (Entry £3.00, concessions £2, families £5)

Kennington Association Bazaar - Saturday 17th July - 11:00 - 13:00
St Anselm's Church Hall

Lambeth Country Show - Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th July - 11:00 - 19:00
Brockwell Park

Kennington Association Charity Art Auction - Thursday 16th Sept (early viewing on Wednesday 15th Sept)
City & Guilds of London Art School

Vauxhall Park - wandering out of SE11

Last week, we went for a brief visit outside of SE11. We just about missed the Vauxhall Park fete - I had forgotten it was on, and we were looking for somewhere warm and sunny to go and relax. We were pondering the green space outside of the Vauxhall Tavern, but it was absolutely packed with sun worshippers already, so settled on Vauxhall Park. That's when I remembered the fete, but we arrived just as everybody was taking down the stalls. Still, there were quite a few people milling about, and we really really liked the green space. There was very little traffic noise from within the park, considering that we were parallel with the Nine Elms Intersection (in this respect, it seems better than Kennington Park)! I never realised that Vauxhall Park is so peaceful, nor so pretty. I haven't got any pictures of the main green space as it was cluttered with things and vehicles being removed. However, there's a big field of lavender that it's possible to relax in, and a well-grown pergola nearby which you can see below. Everybody was enjoying the sun... Excitingly, a new cafe is to open in Vauxhall Park. It hasn't been completely finished yet, but I imagine it should be complete within the next week or so. The picture I took doesn't really do it justice.


The pergola:




The field of lavender:



The new cafe: