Last week Burgess Park finally re-opened to the public after an £8m transformation project.

At 46 hectares, Burgess Park is one of the largest parks in South London, and has been undergoing a radical transformation since spring 2011. This has included new walkways, woodland, lawns, BBQ areas and a bridge.

The wow factor comes from several new “hills” which provide panoramic views to the north, as well as two 30ft fountains in the extended lake.

Progress on the redesign is on-going however, with many areas of the park still closed off to the public. The grass seed planted in May and June is very much still settling in, and unfortunately this means the expansive lawns are not as lush as visitors might expect.

Have you visited the new Burgess Park? Let us know what you think, and how it compares to the site before regeneration.

Earlier this week, Southwark Cathedral commemorated the 800th Anniversary of the Great Fire of Southwark with two firework displays from the tower of the Cathedral. Here’s a video capturing the occasion.

The specially commissioned fireworks took place after an Evensong where the London Fire Brigade presented their old Standard to the Dean of Southwark Cathedral, The Very Revd Andrew Nunn. Standard bearers from the Fire Service presented the flags while wearing full ceremonial regalia.

The Very Revd Andrew Nunn said, “This 800th anniversary gives us, here in Southwark, the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to the more than 7,000 members of staff of the London Fire Brigade, 5,800 of whom are uniformed operational firefighters and officers, which comprises a significant proportion of the total number of fulltime firefighters across the UK.”

For more information on Southwark Cathedral, visit cathedral.southwark.anglican.org

Join the Mayor of Southwark, Councillor Jeff Hook along with staff from Laithwaites, Vinopolis, Borough Market Stallholders and other customers for a glass of champagne at the new shop in Vinopolis from 4pm.

Even more exciting is the wine lucky dip Laithwaites are offering on Saturday 20 February (tomorrow).

Between 10am and 10pm, Laithwaites are offering you the chance to buy one of 500 mystery bottles of wine for £5.

Among the wines up for grabs in this lucky dip are Lafite, Haut-Brion, Mouton, and other established classics and New World discoveries. All the bottles are worth over a fiver; you have to leave it up to chance to determine how much more than that you get for your cash!

As well as the lucky dip, there’ll be plenty of opportunities for tasting wines from Laithwaites extensive range, at one of the world’s longest wine tasting tables in the new store.  

Get there early to bag one of the 500 mystery bottles!

Opening of the Laithwaites Store: today from 4pm
Wine Lucky Dip – tomorrow: 10am-10pm
Where to find Laithwaites new store: Vinopolis, No.1 Bank End, London SE1 9BU