After the cancellation of so many social events during the last 18 months because of the Covid.19 pandemic, the welcome return of the Barnet Medieval Festival with its battlefield re-enactments kicks off what promises to be a packed programme of weekend attractions for the rest of September.
Continue reading Packed programme of autumn social events brings Barnet back to life
A visit by a planning inspector to the Whalebones woods and farmland rounded off a week-long public inquiry into the future of a large open space that provides a green buffer between Arkley and High Barnet.
A determined campaign has been launched by the Hadley Wood Association to fight plans for 160 homes to be built on Green Belt land — one of a series of Green Belt housing developments being proposed by Enfield Council.
Continue reading Hadley Wood Green Belt threat: a timely warning to Barnet
A spirited plea to preserve one of High Barnet’s prominent green spaces was heard at the opening day of a public inquiry into plans to build 152 houses and flats on the Whalebones fields and woodland.
Continue reading Whalebones planning inquiry: heated debate over future fate of fields and woodland
An open day at the Grow Farm at Totteridge Academy in Barnet Lane was a chance to see the transformation of an empty field into a community farm where local school children are taught the practicalities of food cultivation and have an opportunity to build up agricultural skills.
Continue reading Pioneering community farm in Dollis Valley has ambitious plans for future expansion
On the eve of a critical public inquiry, Barnet Council has withdrawn its main objection to plans to build 152 homes on fields and woods in the Whalebones estate, Wood Street, Barnet.
Six iron arrowheads recovered from the site of the 1471 Battle of Barnet are on display for the very first time at the recently re-opened Barnet Museum — a must see exhibit for anyone hoping to attend the Barnet Medieval Festival in mid-September
Continue reading New Battle of Barnet display boosts build-up to Barnet Medieval Festival
After missing out last year, members of the Barnet Classic Car Club are raring to go — ready to parade up Barnet Hill and along the High Street to the annual vintage and classic car show which has grown from strength to strength in recent years.
Continue reading Classic car enthusiasts ready for the off: bonnets up, engines on display
After months of agonising uncertainty, Barnet Medieval Festival is definitely going ahead for a re-scheduled weekend of events and attractions on Saturday and Sunday 11-12 September at the Byng Road playing fields.
After closing its doors to the public four years ago, High Barnet Police Station is to disappear altogether from the High Street.
Continue reading Another High Street casualty: High Barnet Police Station is up for sale
A research project at University College London into the role of slavery in shaping British history has highlighted unlooked for — almost accidental — reminders of the slave trade in some of the historic street names of High Barnet.
Continue reading Legacies of slavery: unexpected links to the past in familiar street names
JCDecaux, which claims to be the world’s largest outdoor advertising contractor, is promising local authorities it wants to help declutter town centres — and then promptly abandons this pledge by pressing on with its controversial application for two advertising and communication hubs on the recently widened High Street pavements of High Barnet.
Gary Murphy, High Barnet’s most celebrated licensee of recent times, has given up his lease after having spent the last 13 years establishing The Mitre as a public house recognised across North London for its real ales and craft beers.
Simon Smith who spent the last 16 years managing over 60 of High Barnet’s historic almshouses has taken early retirement from his role as clerk to the trustees of the Jesus Hospital Charity.
Continue reading Fond farewells from residents to retiring clerk who managed charitable almshouses
After the success of the inaugural season of concerts arranged by the High Barnet Chamber Music Festival plans are already being drawn up for a repeat event next year.
Four high-rise blocks of flats proposed for Cockfosters Station car park would have such a grave impact on the local landscape, the Save Cockfosters from Tower Blocks campaign is hoping to enlist support from residents in Barnet and the rest of the surrounding area.
Continue reading Fears over impact on Green Belt of gruesome tower blocks at Cockfosters Station
Swifts which migrate to High Barnet for the summer months have lost one of their greatest admirers and staunchest guardians: Tim Friend who encouraged fellow householders to follow his example by installing swift nesting boxes has died at the age of 71.
A 1960s self-built house, described by the Barnet Society as being “uncompromisingly modern” for its period, was used for shooting scenes for a six-part thriller Ragdoll from the producers of Killing Eve.
Continue reading The house that Fred built becomes a set for tv thriller being filmed in Barnet
Another chapter has closed in the history of a much-admired art deco building in Barnet High Street, the former Montague Burton menswear shop, that has been used most recently as a dance studio.
Continue reading High Street dance studio closes due to unsustainable lockdown losses
Probably the oldest transport cafe in Barnet – the Hole in the Wall on the Great North Road – has ceased trading, a victim of the difficulties which lockdown has imposed on the catering trade.
Continue reading End of an era for a popular Barnet pit stop for an all-day English breakfast
Barnet Council’s highways department is preparing a new set of policies for the future safeguarding and maintenance of historic structures such as horse troughs and street signs.
A warehouse on the Queen’s Road industrial estate off Wood Street, High Barnet, is being converted into a temporary studio for filming scenes for a new six-part television thriller Ragdoll from the producers of Killing Eve.
Developers seeking to build 554 homes on the former gas works site in New Barnet have released new images to show how the height and density of the proposed tower blocks has been reduced in a fresh attempt to gain planning approval.
A rubberised footpath around the perimeter of the Byng Road Nature Reserve will finally allow wheelchair users and people with disabilities and limited mobility the chance to visit a highly popular natural trail.
Continue reading Easier and safer access for disabled people at Barnet Environment Centre
Evidence of a fresh sewage spill in Dollis Brook was an unexpected – and unpleasant – find when the DollisBrookers carried out their first litter pick along Barnet’s Dollis Valley Greenwalk.
Continue reading Anger over foul-smelling sewage spill polluting Dollis Brook
A Barnet charity that advises and assists cancer patients – and which is celebrating its 25th anniversary – hopes the gradual easing of lockdown will speed up the resumption of its support services and especially its fund raising activities.
Continue reading Proud 25-year record supporting cancer patients and their families
Nearby residents and pillar box enthusiasts are urging the Royal Mail to replace one of High Barnet’s historic post boxes which was demolished during a car crash at the junction of Manor Road and Wood Street.
Continue reading Historic post box reduced to a pile of rubble in car crash
Objectors to the building of 152 new homes on the Whalebones farmland in Wood Street, Barnet, are rallying opposition ahead of a public inquiry in the autumn.
Continue reading Rallying opposition to redevelopment of Whalebones woods and fields
Fly tipping of garden rubbish and even builders’ rubble has become a worrying problem along the edges of Monken Hadley Common – and the worst offenders are a few of the owners of the priciest properties in roads such as Parkgate Crescent, off Camlet Way, and Fairgreen, off the Cockfosters Road.
Continue reading Fly tippers beware: Monken Hadley Common curators intend to fight back
Albert Bone who in 1959 opened the first fruit and vegetable stall at what was then Barnet cattle market has died at the age of 95.
Continue reading From cattle to fruit and veg: death of pioneering stallholder at Barnet market
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NEW: Two deputations from Underhill challenge Barnet councillors
RT @BarnetCouncil: Free child car seat safety checks this Friday 6 March 🚗 🦺
No booking needed, drop in 10am–3pm at Brent Cross Hendon W…
✨ Plenty of memorable moments on home soil this campaign!
We host the Exiles and the U's in the capital this month! 🏟️
Back the Bees in the business end of the season! 🎟️
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NEW: Mayor’s team to decide on its own planning application
NEW: Redevelopment of Dollis Valley estate set to re-start
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