The Grove

The Grove documents a community of skateboarders who came together during lockdown, to build a DIY skatepark, in a derelict pub's car park in Dulwich, south London. DIY’s are never forever, this is an insight into the challenges and battles the crew faced on their journey.
A film by Nick Vieweg
Featured photo by Alistair Gleeson

[@skateguru5138]

Tilly's attitude alone brought me to tears, felt like I was right there with her as they built it and as they risked it being destroyed

[@betterunderstandingstudios8746]

I know! What a gem! Team Tilly for the Grove.

[@fransk8187]

need more people like Tilly ^^

[@mikeeli7059]

The image of Tilly sweeping the water is the embodiment of skateboarding even more than any of the tricks. I salute you! Well done to everyone involved!

[@happymealchiz]

Tilly is the embodiment of everything good in skateboarding. Every skate community needs a Tilly.

[@taybae6900]

Every skater should have a little bit of Tilly in themselves fs!

[@kirbymerby]

Tilly is an absolute legend, a hero! Thank you

[@midmodmadam]

Thank you Grove for giving my boy Bert meaning in his life, a sense of community, fun, love and skills and to Tilly for looking after our babies when we couldn't. Such a beautiful film. Congrats to all of you for being flipping fab x

[@EpicTheUnicorn]

Thanks for raising such a top gent

[@alex_hinton]

this should be submitted to film festivals, beautiful work!

[@blahblahblahyaddayaddayadd1633]

its a shame that municipalities or the old guard dont recognize this as "community." this stuff is better than any shopping mall or school club. it puts the power in our hands and teaches us that anything's possible. maybe they dont want that

[@paunchcoorlightly4000]

Tyshawn, please hand back the trophy. We did not know about Tilly at the time.

[@brookywookie1107]

Agreed

[@ishpants]

Thrasher just called and said she’s front runner for next year and that NIKE is holding all her footage till next November

[@non_brewed_condiment]

TRUE

[@AnglandAlamehnaSwedish]

Best comment ever bro

[@vancouverbill]

In modern England there are very few community centers or non commercial open spaces. A space where young end old are welcome, feel safe and can relax is truly a blessing

[@vancouverbill]

Props to everyone involved , you all are heroes

[@bluewhale201_2]

Tilly you are a national treasure ♥

[@commongentleman529]

People like Tilly are essential at skateparks, not only for the labour and upkeep of the park but to keep skateboarding fun and prevent kids from getting caught up in the bullshit that always ends up manifesting. Skateparks are playgrounds not turf to be defended.

[@kill5326]

tilly has a golden soul she's so motherly and caring for these children, reminds me of my aunt thank u for putting all your efforts in to the grove and the community

[@amarofpatel]

Buzzin’ watching this. Young folk coming together to make their own space. Not waiting for permission or provision. Out to the young king on the sofa looking to the future and many more DIY parks. And Tilly with the big 💜 I would go past this spot on the bus all the time and think, what a waste. Little did I know what was happening round the back. Great film too, pro levels, particularly the skate footage.

[@gibby4745]

Tilly will forever be appreciated for what she has done

[@treahugger5939]

I am bawling wishing Tilly was my mom she seems so sweet and protective and caring and providing a safe space for all of those kids

[@JahEerie]

Well played lads. Tilly deserves some sorta award 👏 👏👏

[@cypherarcade06]

i’m extremely new to skateboarding and i’ll never get over how good it must feel to land a trick in front of a bunch of people and just hear them cheer for you

[@1Lovew1zardz]

just remember that skateboarding is all about improving yourself for yourself, not improving yourself for other people!

[@abuhaneefa7422]

Tilly is such a precious gift for the grove. When you dont know what you got until its gone…

[@-L.B]

Tilly making everyone cry 😭. The silent Leader 👸🏻

[@eyecrudst4642]

Such a great video ! So much respect to The Grove and those involved definitely an added inspiration to DIY in skating. Heaps of respect to Tilly as well !! ❤

[@barniszasz-rd9dy]

Big love for Tilly ! good job Nick!

[@xscrumpygaming2712]

Tilly is actually such a legend whenever I come grove she’s always so nice and friendly to everyone and has 100% kept the place alive especially when in winter when it’s getting darker. Awesome movie though glad the grove getting sone proper recognition!!

[@carlkligerman1981]

See this is what I call ‘core’. Local, DIY, punk. A real community, no bollocks, truly inclusive minus the virtue signalling. Just skaters carving out an urban oasis. Tilly is rad!

[@Bigpimpa]

Tilly deserves the world. She is the true MVP of the spot.

[@JeremiahFernandez]

That kid's a legend in the making. Also tilly's a freaking hero

[@charlieturk6667]

I worked in London as a courier for a few years, rode past the grove early morning, had my board with me and had a roll about such a cool spot. Always wondered how it had stayed with it being so close to the road. Hope you guys get to keep it seems like youve built an amazing community, I often found some of the other parks a little intimidating not being a local, but can happily say everyone was great at the grove every time!

[@Reelsofeels]

Thanks to the creators for telling this story. Having lived in the area for the last ten years and felt how hard it is for communities like this to flourish, it was comforting viewing. Another one of those reasons to look back on the pandemic and see the other side of those strange times.

[@lonesomeknoteye]

11:07 the realest one!!! This world needs more people like this! All love

[@Francescofilmmaker]

This made me emotional. It reminded me of being a skateboarder. I did it for 20 years. I got older and the scene changed. Cardiff got more skateparks which is great - but we used to make anything Skateable Reminded me of good times :)

[@RD-jr8nv]

Jesus Christ Tilly. You have me in bloody tears. You’re an absolute gem of a human.

[@ievalesent]

we need this attitude in every small town skateboarder, this is such a good story

[@rayvieweg322]

Love the way the grove community builds and develops over the film. The video evokes all the emotions in me. Warmth, laughter and tears every time I watch it and I've watched it many times 😁👍

[@ianblackburn2645]

As someone who has followed this project from the first quarter and has skated it a few times it's been amazing watching it grow and a community grow around it

[@augustinfabvier3758]

thank you so much for this free, never cried in front of a skateboard related video before.

[@chriscross8077]

Can’t believe I only live 15 min away from this spot and never heard of it. Definitely gonna check it out this weekend! Big ups to everyone involved in the grove diy

[@marrickvillian]

I can't tell you how happy this makes me! As an old skater and DIY rave crew veteran I wish you all the best. This is how you build real community.

[@ThisFinalHandle]

How fucking dope is this. One of the few good things I've heard of coming out of lockdown.

[@snails5608]

I used to live a minute up the road from here. Spent some time there, walked past it nearly everyday on my way to work too. It’s so fascinating to learn the story and hard work behind this space!

[@oatmilkchailattes]

I remember going past here on a bus when there was a skate jam and i didn’t know what it was. thanks to the youtube recommendation i finally know it’s amazing

[@elgigante7081]

Brought me to tears. Amazing video. Big respect and love to Tilly

[@srcl9785]

so much things inspire people and this is definitely one. Tilly is a mother figure everyone needs to have. She reminds me of my own mom and that is special. Places like this are important for the growth of a new generation.

[@jeremylamovsky3669]

DIYs embody the spirit of skateboarding. Anywhere there are skateboarders, there's going to be a DIY at some point. There was a burger king that closed after a few years in the town I grew up in. It was back a ways off the road so when it was leveled, the foundation was the perfect place to build some shit. Painted probably a hundred feet of curbs that grind like butter, parking block ledge, cinder block ledges, flatbars, s rail, a spine ramp with those metal drive thru poles for the coping etc. They're amazing.

[@EpicTheUnicorn]

Can't beat those times

[@pang9520]

Brilliant filmmaking and storytelling. Love to see it

[@tomf4087]

That's it lads, and lasses, live life, make the most of your precious time coz it goes so quick. These are the precious minutes and hours. I would give my left nut to just carve and grind any park, but its not just age that caught up with me. Devastating back injury got me. At 30 years old, 17 years ago landed heavy on a back 360 and destroyed 3 discs in my back. Look after yourselves and each other especially when you have a good skate community like this.

[@alfotheduffer4789]

thank you for your service xoxo

[@profishernal9757]

This video deserves so much more attention

[@Kunn1ngDruger]

Nice little doc. Good work. Tilly is a legend.

[@littleclowncar]

what a wonderful group and community, Tilly is such a beautiful soul

[@thelostchapstick3281]

Yes the punk bands day, I need to be apart a community- like what that park brings, inspiring!

[@masoley6369]

🧡to Tilly ! What an angel!

[@saudiprince6532]

Tilly is so so sweet, great work guys ❤

[@ManualClips]

awesome film, stories like these are so cool and should be more in the spotlight

[@MrPeanutToes]

Yup 🙌 kids brought a whole community together and boomers still want to take it away

[@nathanpeachs2704]

Tilly becoming the skate Mom is just beautiful & just reinforced the skater spirit of ride or die in the most fun ways 😁😁❤

[@samtone6182]

Loved this piece! LONG LIVE THE GROVE!!!

[@josephpottersmovies7064]

best doc I've seen on YT, big up the grove

[@jfrb1742]

Great film, cycled past this spot everyday on the way to work and always wondered how it had come about

[@branchezra492]

Inspiring in todays climate of over policing that The Grove flourished for as long as it did. This film was well done as well.

[@BanterSkate]

This is purely beautiful ☀️ Been to the place and it’s bliss 👌

[@phatdawg1]

the skateboarding community is absolutely bulletproof

[@Emily_Lucille]

This is so cool, its really nice to see skating bringing people together like this :D

[@johnnykowalskiandthesexywe1973]

The skate egg and spoon race was an amazing idea. Beautiful documentary though ❤

[@n1ghtcrawler226]

Such a great video! Well done to nick for making it!

[@skateorSIGH]

Yes Nick! Great piece

[@hangsambo12]

Tilly is an amazing person. What a role model.

[@elisazouza]

The skating community kept me sane during lockdown

[@CantThinkofaCoolOne]

What a great watch. Great story. Great guys. Great Tilly.

[@ultralighthouse]

Tilly, you legend!! ❤❤❤ This is what skating is all about.

[@japhy6536]

super sick and deeply touching

[@OKUPA7]

What a wonderful video

[@whytebrow]

much respect for everyone involved in this. you think you building a DIY , but you are building a community

[@lilspittin313]

THis epic kind of creativity of skate grounds gets me stoked

[@fanzybikes]

This is the community work I love to see! Keep it up!

[@oliroche9850]

I loved this place, I used to live right next to it during lockdown and would always walk past it on walks to Dulwich park thinking how sick the community was. Keeping building guys!

[@taylor_madevlogs6472]

Real inspirational story huge respect to the people behind this. Shows the power of community 🙌🙌🙌

[@rruggerisara]

Love to see this. Such a wholesome and important message

[@LaurenOliviArt]

Awesome! I love this ❤

[@nickrichardsfilm]

amazing work everyone!

[@trenoles]

Such a great film, really captured an awesome community

[@daravazan3095]

This is absolutely beautiful

[@lightninggamer4655]

Great video, Wicked project. I hope everything continue's to work out. Dulwich is a notoriously posh arrogant neighborhood with projects for entertainment for kids always being rejected and the money put elsewhere aka the crime rate going up. When are Police and councils going to realize how much crime projects like these help community's

[@shaggythesecond686]

this is what skating is, amazing documentary

[@kaino6984]

Wowowowow! This is so cool, I love the dedication and passion put into this project. Best of luck with it all, and Tilly you are simply fabulous

[@merielvieweg1141]

Brilliant film Nick ❤

[@AlHodgson]

Nick you absolute legend

[@No14m3]

every city should have a tilly in their park 😢 so inspirational

[@freddietancock4330]

Great video, love the style of it

[@richjones7313]

this is truly great stuff

[@RDCCC]

Legendary. Representing SE! 🎉

[@willps_]

Great vid! Much love from Tampa!

[@Harlfcab]

Tilly for Sports Personality of the year

[@jackwatson7323]

The young fella is so well spoken for

[@yennni]

This is amazing.

[@AdamWho]

Crazy to see some of my skate mates on free mag!!! They smashed it with the doc and the skatepark ❤

[@EpicTheUnicorn]

Love u Adam

[@flomfilms.]

at my hometown skatepark, during lockdown we had such a community... every day loads of the homies skating. now sadly its not the same and its more jus lil kiddos now ... can anyone relate lol

[@totikki2130]

this is so sick!

[@Burgerss]

This is so amazing

[@metaljeremy]

Amazing!

[@billjohnson1809]

This is awesome!

[@Hassan-tg6rp]

Shoutout Nick! This is epic!

[@akidavideos]

amazing documentary

[@barrett444]

Absolutely awesome