A community orchard is the latest feature to be completed at a new base in Mays Lane for outdoor activities for young people

Despite the wettest of winters and having to struggle through mud, volunteers completed the planting of a community orchard in former farmland off Mays Lane, Barnet, which has become the home of The Green Wellbeing Hub.

A five-acre site within the Dollis Valley Green Belt was made available to the charity by Barnet Council as a base for outdoor activities to support young people with social, emotional and mental health needs.

Students from secondary schools and alternative education across the borough are among those who take part in activities at the hub and the planting of the orchard was a project which brought together youngsters and families.

Charlotte Antoniou, hub co-ordinator (see above) said apple, mulberry, quince, greengage and fig were among the fruit trees which had been planted after the land had been cleared of blackthorn and undergrowth.

Since moving on to the site in the summer of 2024, Charlotte and fellow co-ordinator Janine Young (above, right), have seen through the installation of facilities such as a wet-weather shelter, composting toilet and other features including a log campfire circle for events in the summer.

“The Green Wellbeing Hub is so fortunate to have use of the site which is made up of emerging woodland and tree covered glades,” said Janine who has been working on the project with Charlotte for the last five years.

Support and funding to help establish the hub has been provided by a range of groups including the charity Wild About Our Woods, Young Barnet Foundation and Big Lottery.

Oak trees are well established on much of the site and where areas have been cleared of blackthorn and undergrowth, there have been new plantings of wild cherry, rowan and birch. Many of the saplings were donated by the Woodland Trust.

Recent excavations include digging out a pond which it is hoped will add biodiversity to the hub and attract frogs, newts and perhaps dragon flies.

“We are developing what we hope will be a unique nature-based programme using tried and test outdoor therapeutic interventions to support the positive mental health of young people and adults,” said Janine.

“Activities connected with nature and outdoor skills such as cooking and bushcraft help young people build resilience and the deal with the challenges they face.”

The hub is close to the Dollis Valley Green Walk – which forms part of the London Loop – and the site can be accessed from either Underhill or Hendon Wood Lane providing an excellent route for summer walks, avoiding traffic on Mays Lane.  

For more information email: thegreenwellbeinghub@gmail.com