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Family open day at Barnet fire station — exciting for children and for mums and dads to understand challenges faced by rescue services  

Youngsters queued up to sit in the cab of a fire engine and try on a firefighter’s helmet when Barnet Fire Station held its family open day – and it was also an opportunity for parents to learn about other challenges facing the emergency services.

Advances in fire prevention have led to a marked reduction in the number of fires but there is no fall off in rescue callouts to assist ambulance crews and paramedics and to help at other emergencies.

Firefighters of today must be skilled in cutting out injured passengers from crashed cars or gaining entry to houses where the occupants might have collapsed inside.

Barnet’s crews often assist at the aftermath of high-speed crashes on roads such as the M25 and A1.

Long-serving Barnet firefighter Nick Russ showed Barnet Vale Councillor Richard Barnes the heavy-duty metal cutter needed to cut through the bodywork of a crashed car, take off the roof and free injured passengers.

“Since I started as a firefighter 25 years ago, the number of callouts to fires has gone way down because fire precaution procedures are so much better.

“But we now have new challenges at serious road crashes or when people who are injured and who might have collapsed and are locked inside their own homes.

“We have the kit to gain entry to a house or flat and it is a task we do for ambulance crews and paramedics.”

Barnet fire station holds family open day with youngsters queuing up to sit in fire engine can and mums and dads learning about challenges for rescue services.

Councillor Barnes congratulated the fire station staff for welcoming local families to the station and allowing children to try on a firefighter’s helmet and sit inside the cab of the big pump fire engine.

“Only the other day I was speaking to one of the Barnet firefighters who told me he visited Barnet fire station with his grandfather – and now he works there!

“That illustrates the importance of us all getting to know why it is so important to have a local fire station that can deal not only with fires but also assist at terrible car crashes and rescue people in emergencies.”

Barnet fire station has a complement of 28 firefighters who are split into four watches of seven – so on anyone day there would be seven fighters on duty. Firefighter Nick Russ said he and his colleagues were delighted to have the chance to answer questions about what they did and allow children to climb into the fire engine and try out the equipment.

“The thrill of sitting in a fire engine never dies for some people. Only the other day the Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson came along to see us and asked if he could climb into the cab.

“He said that as a child he had always wanted to get inside a fire engine but never had the chance.”   

The family day was in aid of Macmillan cancer charity – one of the charities which the Barnet station supports, together with the charity for injured firefighters.

During the summer, a fire engine from Barnet can often be seen visiting schools or at a fete, all part of the outreach from the station.

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An “apple and pear celebration” in New Barnet – and a chance to turn crates of surplus fruit and windfalls into apple juice

An abundant crop provided an ideal opportunity for the chance to turn surplus fruit into apple juice at an autumn open day in New Barnet organised by the campaign group Incredible Edible.

Each crate of apples produced around a litre of juice – and that required plenty of volunteers to cut up and then prepare the apples ready for pressing.

Wendy Alcock, founder of a Barnet-wide campaign to encourage home cultivation in gardens and on unused land, said apples and other fruit had all benefited from a wet winter and warm spring and summer.

“What better way could there be of using up surplus fruit and windfalls than turning them into apple juice”, said Wendy seen above at the cutting up table, with from left to right, Janet Smith, Wendy Alcock, Elaine Jackson, Sue R and Sue Taylor.

What had been billed as an “Apple and Pear Celebration” was held in the community garden established by Incredible Edible on former spare land beside St John’s United Reformed Church in Mowbray Road.

Campaigning group Incredible Edible organises apple juicing day at New Barnet to take advantage of bumper crop of apples and pears

After cutting the apples into pieces the next task was to crush them in what is known as scratter, a crusher which was in the capable hands of Dave Ford (left), assisted by Daniella Levene, founder of the group Community Harvesters.

Daniella and Wendy were both delighted with the abundance of fruit this year, including apples, pears, plums and peaches.

So far this autumn Community Harvesters have collected around 750 kilos of apples and pears for distribution to local foodbanks.

The apples have been slightly smaller than some years, due to the drought, but there had been plenty of sweet fruit.

Incredible Edible organised a morning of activities for children all based around apples, including cutting out apples for printing shapes in different colours.

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Fine summer results in excellent flavour for Barnet honey but beekeepers’ association faces difficult times after move from Whalebones  

Honey of exceptional quality collected this summer has been a bonus for members of the Barnet and District Beekeepers’ Association during what has been a year of uncertainty for a well-established society.

Senior judge Fiona Dickson-Wood (above, left) was full of praise for exhibits at the association’s 111th annual show at the Hadley Memorial Hall when she was welcomed by show secretary, Linda Perry.

She congratulated the entry from Adam Armstrong whose honey won best in show for its clarity, depth and flavour. 

Adam also won the prize for the best mead. Such was its quality, that he was encouraged to exhibit nationally as well at his local show. 

Entries were lower than expected although beekeepers have been the beneficiaries of a good spring and fine summer weather which has produced honey with high density and velocity.

Overall, 2025 has been a troubling year for the association which is on the point of leaving its longstanding headquarters on the Whalebones estate in Wood Street and is having to move its equipment to temporary storage at a farm in Arkley.

For decades the stable block at Whalebones had been home for the beekeepers’ association.

It was left for their use by the late Miss Gwyneth Cowing who built an adjoining timber-framed studio used by members of the Barnet Guild of Artists.

However, last year the Miss Gwyneth Cowing Will Trust and Hill Residential were granted planning permission for build 114 houses at the farm and fields adjoining Whalebones House (which had been the Cowing family home, and which is now in private ownership).

A new studio for the artists is to be built by the trustees and a lease for its use is about to be signed by the artists’ guild. It has acquired charitable status to meet its enhanced responsibilities.

Miss Cowing’s trustees’ original proposal was that the artists and beekeepers would share the new building to be constructed in Wellhouse Lane, next to Well Cottage, and directly opposite the bus terminus outside Barnet Hospital.

But after lengthy discussion members of the beekeepers’ association have decided that the potential financial liabilities of signing a lease – and the need to establish charitable status – were too onerous for such a small organisation.

Instead, the beekeepers have been offered temporary storage space in a container at a farm in Akley while the association looks for a more permanent base.

Once the beekeepers have moved out of the stable block the building will be transferred to the private owners of Whalebones House.

If all goes to plan, the guild will move to its replacement studio towards the end of 2026.

Once the new building is up and running, work is expected to start preparing the Whalebones fields for redevelopment.

Preparatory work will include demolition of the artists’ studio and the adjoining agricultural buildings which made up Whalebones farm, a small holding run by a former tenant farmer, Peter Mason, who died last year.

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Last chance to have your say on Barnet Heights

… or High Barnet Place, as the development proposed next to High Barnet Station is officially called (see above). But Barnet Heights would be a more accurate description of 283 flats over the whole of the present car park in blocks of 5 to 11 storeys high.

Whichever, it’s the most serious threat to Chipping Barnet’s character and functioning in decades. And Friday 19 September is the deadline for public comments on the planning application.

The Barnet Society strongly opposes the proposals, and urges you to do so too.

Our key reasons for objecting strongly to the current planning application are because:

  • It breaches many policies in Barnet’s recently-adopted Local Plan.
  • It would create homes of unacceptably poor safety and quality in terms of layout, detailed design and amenity.
  • It would be no more accessible – and probably less safe – than the present site.
  • Contrary to the developers’ claims, it would be unsustainable by many environmental standards.
  • It would irreparably harm the identity of the neighbourhood, nearby and from afar.
  • No compensating benefits of significance are offered in terms of transport connectivity or new/improved facilities to the existing community.

We’re currently finalising a full justification of our objections. A draft summary of them can be found here.

The Society would welcome a development that combined a genuine improvement to the public realm and public transport connectivity alongside well-designed homes at a sympathetic scale of development. But this application is not that.

As I write, over 300 objections have been posted on the Council’s planning portal – impressive, but we need more.

In March Dan Tomlinson MP’s position was neutral, but his current stance has not yet been made known. Former Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers has submitted an objection.

Curiously, of the 26 supporters of the scheme, hardly any actually live in Chipping Barnet.

How you can comment

Have your say one of these ways:

  1. on the Council’s planning portal (ref. no. 25/2671/FUL) via the Comments tab;
  2. email comments direct to planning.consultation@barnet.gov.uk (cc sam.gerstein@barnet.gov.uk); or
  3. post your comments to the Planning Officer: Sam Gerstein, Planning and Building Control, Barnet Council , 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, NW9 4EW.

In the cases of 2 & 3, be sure to include:

  • the application ref. no. (25/2671/FUL) clearly at the top
  • the site address (High Barnet Underground Station, Station Approach, Barnet EN5 5RP) and
  • your name, address and postcode.

Sending a copy of your comments to our MP dan.tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk and to your local Councillors will increase the effectiveness of your objection.

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Leading pioneer in renewable energy – and fellow of Women’s Engineering Society – is guest of honour on return visit to QE Girls’ School  

An award-winning engineer in the development of offshore wind technologies, visiting professor Emily Spearman – who grew up in High Barnet – returned to Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School to present prizes at the annual celebration of excellence.

Securing an A in GCSE mathematics at QE Girls in 1996 had been the springboard for Emily’s career – a career that included her nomination last year as one of “100 women brilliant in renewable energy.”  

She was delighted to congratulate Ejona Hasani – above, left – on winning the school’s 2025 trustees’ prize for outstanding achievements in maths.

Ejona – also an Abbott prize winner – is taking up a place at Warwick University to study economics.

Recalling her five years studying at QE Girls, where she remembered rushing through the corridors from one class to the next, Emily said was a chance to reflect on what school life had taught her – lessons she was keen to pass on to the pupils of today.

She had a strong sense of purpose; she knew what she liked and didn’t; she found English and history hard work; but was always curious and she gained an A in maths GCSE which secured her a place at Woodhouse sixth form college and then Nottingham University.

“One of the teachers in the maths department at QE (Mrs Sheena Duncan) recognised my potential.  She believed in me and recognised in me what others hadn’t. Through her support I have been able to achieve what I have.”

Pupils always had to fight for themselves, find sponsors and advocates, as everything achieved was a springboard to the next achievement.

“QE Girls was my springboard to college and university.”

Emily, who became an environmental officer for her university, found herself at the age of 21 as the only woman on an oil rig off Aberdeen, assisting in research and the collection of deep-sea data.

Other assignments included making environmental assessments on major construction projects across the world and, after eight years, she returned to academic life gaining an MBA in global energy at Warwick University.

Currently she is a senior leader of a BP offshore wind company, where she is working on offshore technologies such as drones and robots, and a visiting professor in energy and power at Loughborough University.

Emily’s return for the prize giving was a chance to meet up with Nigel Royden (above, left), her history teacher at QE Girls in the early 1990s, who taught at the school for 36 years, and who was presented with a long service award on his retirement.

Members of the Spearman family are no strangers to QE Girls: her father Jeffrey was chair of the school governors when the school hall was rebuilt after being destroyed in an arson attack in 1991 and her sister Jessica was also subsequently a chair of the school trustees.

Former QE Girls' School pupil, now leading pioneer in renewable energy,, presented awards at annual celebration of excellence.

Head teacher Violet Walker (far right) welcomed the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Danny Rich.

As guests mingled after the presentation, Emily – at the suggestion of the Barnet Society – agreed that given her role in the development of renewable energy –and as a judge in climate change awards – perhaps she would like schools to do more to encourage a greater interest in the subject.

One idea would be for an annual prize for the pupil devising the most imaginative strategy for tackling climate change – a suggestion Mrs Walker agreed was a possible innovation.

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Campaign underway to secure long-term future for highly successful on-site school farm at Totteridge Academy

A bumper summer crop of pumpkins, tomatoes, cucumbers and other produce is another illustration of the continuing success of GROW, the school and community farm which has been created on a six-acre field next to The Totteridge Academy in Barnet Lane.

Visitors were welcomed at an open day by the farm’s managing director Lucy Hollis (above, far right) who is encouraging local residents to give their opinions on whether GROW should be granted a ten-year lease of the land.

There was nothing but praise for the way this educational charity has encouraged pupils at The Totteridge Academy to get involved in the planting and growing of vegetables, fruit and flowers.

A fascinating look back at the inspiration behind the development of an innovative school farm – and GROW’s success over the last six years – has been prepared by Anna Robins (see her text below).

Some of the produce from the farm goes straight to the school kitchen for seasonal meals for pupils and surplus is sold at a farm shop at the school entrance.

GROW’s contribution to the community has expanded since it opened in 2019 with the introduction of raised-bed gardens for use by families who have no outdoor space and through the organisation of regular gardening clubs for children on Saturdays and in school holidays.

GROW’s aim is to gain security of tenure of its site with a ten-year lease and ensure community support for any future planning applications.

The open day marked the start of a month-long consultation to test public support for the farm and to gain approval for a lease agreement with United Learning Trust (on behalf of Totteridge Academy) and the Department of Education.

For Rob and Yvonne Verrill – above with Lucy Hollis – the chance to be shown around the farm brought back family memories.

“Our son went to The Totteridge Academy, and it is great to see how the school is now offering local children the chance to learn how to cultivate and grow food.

“It is so beneficial to get children involved out-of-doors activities. It is great for their self-esteem.”

Another first-time visitor Nick Gagen was shown the raised beds where families without gardens can grow produce.

“I live in Manor Road and have walked past the farm lots of times but never been inside. It’s great to see what GROW does for the school and local community.

“I grew up in the Cambridge Fens, so I know how important is to understand all about nature and plants.

“My family used to say that when children who were evacuated from London during the last war arrived to stay, they had no idea that food was grown out in fields. They thought it all came in tins and boxes.”

For farm manager Chis Haigh the tomato crop has exceeded expectations with lots of varieties doing well – heritage tomatoes, Roma, gourmand and gardener’s delight.  

He says that securing a long lease on their field – which was previously unused by the school – would assist in planning future cultivation and make it worthwhile to plant more fruit trees such as apple, pear, quince, plum and mulberry.

GROW has already planted over 60 fruit trees and around 500 hedge-row trees around the perimeter of the farm.

In her history about the development of GROW, Anna Robins (above) – chair of the Byng Road Allotment Committee – explains that this initiative was part of a recovery plan for The Totteridge Academy after several troubled years and a falling school roll.

In 2016, Chris Fairbairn was appointed the new head teacher by United Learning Trust, which had taken over the management of the school, and he set about a five-plan to make Totteridge the “most improved school in London”.

Anna – who said Mr Fairbairn knocked his promise “out of the park within two years” – takes up GROW’s story:

“While Mr Fairbairn and his team steadied the ship and set it on a course to success, the school was also moving up the social ladder. The school’s hall was featured in a 2018 John Lewis advertisement and Mr Fairbairn’s invited his university friends to deliver assemblies and classes – radio and television presenter Rick Edwards, historian Dan Jones, and television presenter George Lamb.

“According to George Lamb’s interview with the Harmony Project, he was having his own crisis that mirrored The Totteridge Academy.  While he achieved success as a radio and television presenter, he ‘felt empty’ and his achievements were ‘pointless and did not know what to do with himself’ – a fact echoed by his dad: ‘a game show host […] Not a very serious guy in the scheme of things’. 

“Affected by the 2011 riots, George Lamb threw himself into volunteer and community work focussing on disenfranchised and disengaged people.  In 2016, like The Totteridge Academy, in times of turmoil, George Lamb also turned to Mr Fairbairn.  Over the next few years, George Lamb became a regular visitor at Totteridge because he “liked the energy that his friend brought to the school”. 

“He was looking ahead to the next generation, realising that raising young people’s environmental IQ was important as ‘there will be no human rights, if there is no planet’.  On his next visit to TTA, George Lamb spotted a derelict six-acre field next to the school’s old car park that was supposed to be redeveloped into football pitches.  Due to a lack of funding and declining pupil numbers, this was never actualised, and so these six acres were dedicated to GROW.

“In December 2019, GROW submitted a planning application to change the use of these six-acres from school playing field to a City Farm with educational farming.  Officially launched in 2019 by George Lamb, the school grounds started their transformation into a community farm. In June 2021 it featured in the Evening Standard, on BBC’s Gardeners World in October 2021, and Children in Need in 2024. 

WHAT DOES GROW DO?

“By far the main beneficiary of GROW is the Academy itself. The initiative’s biggest achievement is connecting the school kitchen to GROW’s food to create seasonal dishes for pupils and staff.  Pupils can see the journey of their food from field to fork. Over the past six years, GROW has provided food for over 100,000 school lunch plates for the Totteridge Academy community.

“Also, GROW’s aim is to integrate itself with the entire school curriculum and to apply the subject knowledge on the farm. While some subjects are easily applied to the GROW farm, like science and the recently revived Food Technology, GROW’s challenge is to support all subjects across the curriculum so all pupils can access and learn from GROW.  Other subjects that have used the GROW farm are photography, English, and geography – most of which were re-introduced to the Academy’s curriculum due to its academic success.

BENEFITS FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY

“The local community can access GROW: by a community stall in the academy’s car park, where fresh food is affordable and accessible for all ( Wednesday 3pm-6pm. from November 3pm-5pm); Grow-Cook-Share which provides local families with no outdoor space with a raised bed to grow fruit and vegetables; and BUNCH an AQA qualification in floristry for people aged between 13-16 years old. 

“GROW also provides after-school programmes and holiday clubs for free school meal recipients. 

“In the last few years GROW has spread its initiative across the London Borough of Barnet.  They are working with Underhill School & Children’s Centre and Whitings Hill Primary School by supporting them to set up their own farms to help their communities access fresh food and enhance their wellbeing through farming.

“Grahame Park now has its own community garden welcoming local residents to grow food, learn new skills, and connect with their neighbours. It is a thriving hub with over 550 visitors joining the community garden. 

“Together with Live Unlimited, GROW runs two additional clubs on Saturdays.  Live Unlimited was set up in 2018 for children who are or have been Looked After by the London Borough of Barnet.  Its aim is to help children gain life skills, build relationships and networks, reduce isolation and providing them with the best opportunities possible.  Live Unlimited ensures that all care-experienced children and young people reach their potential and lead happy and fulfilling lives. 

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES

“Residents of London Borough of Barnet can also access GROW by volunteering to help grow food and flowers, learn how to farm their own food as well as help with their mental health.  It is available to anyone over the age of 16 years old and takes place on Wednesday morning from 10.00am – 4.00pm.  Wellies, waterproofs, gloves, and tools are also available for volunteers to use. If that is not enticing enough GROW also provides a vegan lunch made from GROW farm produce and offers a 20% discount at their community stall. 

“Adults who need additional support are not forgotten either.  They are invited to volunteer at GROW Friday from 10.00am to 1.00pm.  Volunteers will work in a group of no more than five adults and will get involved in a range of activities that best suit their individual needs and interests.

“Since January 2025, GROW has sown over 25,000 seeds – 1,200 pumpkins, 5,000 leeks and 450 tomatoes and are on target to sow a total of 64,500 seeds by the end of August.  It has sold a half a tonne of food to the community, had 153 people participate in their various programmes and had another 48 volunteers join GROW.” 

For further information, please visit their website:  https://www.wearegrow.org/.  Or if you have any questions or would like to volunteer at GROW please contact:  hello@wearegrow.org

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From toy shop to branch Post Office – another franchised business moves into Barnet High Street

Barnet’s Crown Post Office, which is about to become a franchise operation, will move across the High Street at some point in November to new premises in a former toy shop.

Once it becomes a franchise – as from Thursday 11 September – the branch will offer customers longer opening hours to include Saturday afternoons and Sundays (11am to 4pm).

Toy Galaxy, at 112 High Street, which closed some months ago, is to be refitted as a Post Office branch and stationery store.

It will have two open plan serving positions, four self-service machines and, initially, two additional counters.

There will be level access to the new Post Office through an automatic entrance. Inside there will be low-level serving counters, a low-level writing desk and hearing loops.

The new branch will be managed by the UOE store group (Universal Office Equipment UK) which already operates a chain of franchised Post Offices around London and the Home Counties, including Potters Bar and East Finchley.

Elliott Jacobs, who is chief executive of UOE and Postmaster for the franchised business, told the Barnet Society that the empty Toy Galaxy shop would be undergoing a “major refurbishment”.

His company was proud to be enhancing the delivery of an essential service with a seven-day a week Post Office and retail stationery store.

As part of the closure process, the Post Office is to carry out a six-week consultation exercise during which customers can give their opinions on the siting of the new location, ease of access, and any other feedback. 

After always having had its own Post Office – trading for more than a century from an imposing Edwardian building close to the parish church – Barnet is one of the last 108 town centres across the country to lose its Crown office.

This follows the Post Office’s decision to cease all retail operations and offer redundancy payments to existing staff – all of whom at the Barnet Crown Office, said to number around nine, are thought to have accepted the offer.

Barnet Post Office, which was rebuilt during the reign of King Edward VII, re-opened in 1905.

It was designed by the architect Jasper Wagner and displays – right at the top – the King’s motif ER.

An early post card illustrates the prominent position of the building in the High Street and hints at its significance as the town’s Post Office.

Barnet had a distinguished history having been a regular stopping off point for mail coaches heading out of London for Scotland and the north.

Set in the wall, just to the right of the letter box, is one of the original boundary stones of the ancient parish of Chipping Barnet.

Barnet's Crown Post Office becomes a franchise business and is to move across the High Street to a vacant toy shop and offer a seven-day service.

Its massive wooden front door also has a story to tell – set within the frame is a small grille and window.

Local folk lore has it that police constables patrolling the High Street sometimes popped into the Post Office late in the evening and at night – and could peep through it unobserved to keep an eye out for any nefarious activity.    

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Work underway to stabilise precarious brickwork in fire-ravaged Hadley Green house before reconstruction starts

A massive crane has been brought in by contractors to help install scaffolding and internal braces to stabilise the walls of a large Georgian house on Hadley Green which was gutted in a disastrous fire over the May bank holiday.

Seventy firefighters supported by ten fire engines fought the blaze at Hollybush House, but the roof collapsed and all that was left was the shell of the Grade II listed building and its chimney stack.

Plans are now being prepared for the repair and restoration of the house, which was built in around 1790 and which the owners say they recognise is an important part of the historic heritage of Monken Hadley.

An application has been submitted to Barnet Council for the post-fire reconstruction, including repairs to the walls, high-level masonry, windows, doors and roofs and the reinstatement of historic stairs and rooms.

Work starts on reconstructing Hollybush House, a Georgian property on Hadley Green which was gutted in dramatic May bank holiday fire.

A report to the council by architects and historic building consultants Donald Insall Associates says masonry at a high level and in some areas at the rear of the property was left structurally unstable and needed to be stabilised.

Work is due to start on the reconstruction in October and should be completed by March 2027.

Because the internal floors and fabric of the building were totally destroyed, the architects say it will only be possible to recreate the original appearance of the house.

The rebuilding would go “as far as it is possible” to restore the significance of the Grade II listed building and its contribution to the character and appearance of the Monken Hadley Conservation Area.

Hollybush House is one of several Grade II-listed buildings along the east side of Hadley Green, including Wilbraham Almshouses and Grandon to the north-

east, and Livingstone Cottage, Monken Cottage, Monkenholt, and Fairholt to the south-west.

The houses along Hadley Green Road are all located within the registered battlefield for the 1471 Battle of Barnet, a defining conflict of the Wars of the Roses.

Hollybush House is described in the consultants’ report as a modest country house formed of an amalgamation of 18th century domestic buildings and later additions.

It is thought that the site began as an early-18th century cottage, which was extended in the late-18th century with a classic Georgian country house façade.

The main house, which retained the majority of the historic features and decoration, suffered the worst damage.

However, there are some surviving historic items – a few sashes, shutters, and doors – which were temporarily removed for repair and refurbishment, but the loss of original historic fabric meant that the significance of the house had been permanently diminished.

Soon after the current owners purchased Hollybush House in 2020, they applied for planning permission to restore the building.

After 18 months of restoration work, which included installing a new roof and windows, the refurbishment was due to have been completed sometime in early 2026 – until fire broke out in one of the rooms in the early hours of Bank holiday Monday and spread to the roof.

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Work to start soon on a new studio for Barnet Guild of Artists – a continuing legacy of Whalebones benefactor Gwyneth Cowing

Members of Barnet Guild of Artists are preparing for their 74th annual show in October – in what might become their final year in their unique and much-loved art studio.

Tucked away in the woods at Whalebones, off Wood Street, the timber framed studio was built by the late Miss Gwyneth Cowing who left it for the artists’ use.

The guild have been rebuilding their membership after a difficult few years following the cancellation of activities during the covid pandemic and uncertainty surrounding plans for the redevelopment of much of the Whalebones estate.

Helen Leake, the guild’s membership secretary – see above – says they will be very sorry to leave Miss Cowing’s original studio which holds so many happy memories for generations of local artists.

If all goes to plan the guild is due to move into a replacement studio towards the end of 2026 on a site in Wellhouse Lane, next to Well Cottage and directly opposite the bus terminus outside Barnet Hospital.

New premises for the artists are to be built by Hill Residential, and the Gwyneth Cowing Will Trust, which were granted planning permission last year to build 114 new houses on fields adjoining Whalebones House.

A lease on the proposed new building is about to be signed by the guild which has acquired charitable status given its enhanced responsibilities.

By moving into a new premises, with a much bigger art studio, full disabled access and modern facilities, the guild will have the opportunity to widen their appeal and work with other arts groups.

“We do want to engage much more with the wider community and our new premises will give us the chance to work with other organisations and arrange community sessions for local artists,” said Helen Leake.

The guild now has a membership of 128 artists and is appealing for a treasurer and new trustees to help with the administration.

Members are currently preparing for their annual exhibition to be staged again at the Wesley Hall during the last week of October.

Seen at work in the well-lit Whalebones studio – under the watchful eye of Gwyneth Cowing’s portrait on the wall – are from left to right, Helen Leake. Carole Wilson and Victoria Vickers.

Recent works completed by guild members are about to go on display at the Open Door Cafe at Christ Church in St Albans Road.

An ambitious project completed by guild members under the leadership of Toni Smith was the painting of a large mural on an external wall of Brunswick Park Primary and Nursey School in Osidge Lane.

The mural is of a tree and owls and the school’s colours.

One member who helped with the project was Mark Wiltshire, above.

Such was the size of the mural – measuring four metres by five metre – that scaffolding has to be erected to provide access.  

For more information on the guild’s activities see www.barnetguildofartists.com

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Smaller apples than usual but plenty of surplus produce on its way to foodbanks as volunteers tackle fruit-laden trees

A bumper crop of apples and plums is being collected for foodbanks across the London Borough of Barnet by volunteer fruit pickers from Barnet Community Harvesters who save and redistribute surplus produce.

Despite record summer temperatures and a prolonged drought, many trees have been fruiting far better than expected.

On their fifth visit of the season, volunteers picked 103 kilogrammes of cooking and eating apples from three adjoining gardens in Sebright Road, High Barnet.

Three crates with 45 kilogrammes of fruit were delivered to Chipping Barnet Foodbank and the rest went to Colindale Foodbank.

This is in addition to over 200 kilogrammes already donated Colindale and the Finchley Foodbank.

Organiser Daniella Levene (above, centre) who established the group five years ago – seen with volunteers Chris Schwarz (left) and Sue Goodwin – said the exceptionally hot and dry weather had advanced the fruit harvest by at least two weeks.

“Usually, we do our fruit pick at Sebright Road in early September, so to be here in the last week of August just shows the impact of climate change.

“We have noticed how fruit is ready for picking earlier and earlier each autumn but there has been a real change this year.

“When there is a drought, the trees do get stressed and can produce more fruit.”

Daniella said apples they were picking tended to be smaller but often sweeter than usual.

There was plenty of fruit on the trees and especially good crops of plums and damsons.

Surplus apples and plums on their way to Barnet's foodbanks as volunteer fruit pickers from Community Harvesters get to work

The visit to Sebright Road was hosted by Helen Harte (left, above) who was delighted that surplus apples from trees in three adjoining gardens would be going to foodbanks.

“There are far too many apples for us and otherwise they would have to go into our green bins which is such a waste.

“Unfortunately, there is a limit on the amount of fruit we can leave out on our doorsteps, so we are delighted the fruit is being picked in top condition and then going straight to foodbanks.”

Daniella said the fruit collected by Community Harvesters’ volunteers was always gratefully received at the foodbanks.

“Colindale is one of the busiest in London and fresh produce is so expensive in the shops, so our initiative is really appreciated.”

Although delighted by this autumn’s crop of fruit, Daniella doubted the group would match their record year of 2022 when the harvesters donated 1,800 kilogrammes of fruit to local foodbanks.

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Landing on Barnet Hill soon – unless the Council can be persuaded to refuse it

This development would permanently alter the identity of Chipping Barnet. If approved by the Planning Committee, it would set an extremely damaging precedent for the town centre and neighbouring areas. We have until Friday 19 September to comment on it – see how to do so at the end of this post.

The planning application

Places for London (PfL, a partnership between Transport for London & Barratt London) want to build 283 flats over the whole of the present car park in blocks of 5 to 11 storeys high. You can see the full application at https://publicaccess.barnet.gov.uk/online-applications/ (reference no. 25/2671/FUL).

At a public meeting on 20 March Dan Tomlinson MP was neutral about the scheme, but asked PfL to deliver more benefits for the community. Examples suggested were moving the northbound bus stop closer to Station Approach and providing bus access to the station forecourt. Frustratingly, the application offers only some benches and better lighting to the pedestrian ramp and a couple of extra disabled car bays.

Mr Tomlinson has told the Society that he is reviewing the application and will reassess his position.

The Barnet Society’s response

The Barnet Society strongly objects to the application.

We do so with regret because we respect Barnet’s need for new homes and support good design. We also accept the principle of building at transport hubs, and would welcome improvements to this prominent site.

But the designs submitted are not appropriate for this location. They amount to massive overdevelopment, to the great detriment of the character of Chipping Barnet and with almost no compensating benefits to the local community. Our main objections are summarised below.

An alien imposition

The designs are entirely out of scale and character with our green and historic neighbourhood.

At the top and bottom of Barnet Hill, few buildings exceed three storeys, but those proposed would rise over three times as high. They would totally dominate the existing townscape and greenery that make High Barnet, Underhill and Barnet Vale special. They would break the historic skyline from several viewpoints.

Two of the published visualisations are particularly misleading. View 2 (from Underhill) shows only three of the five blocks. Our own version (above) shows a truer picture.

View 14 (from Pricklers Hill) hides St John the Baptist’s church, which currently dominates the skyline, behind a tree. Below, our version demonstrates how the development would compete with – and detract from – the traditional preeminence of the church.

We do not object to gentle densification of our neighbourhood, but this would be a brutal and irreversible step-change.

It would also be a clear breach of Barnet Council’s own recently-adopted Local Plan, which expressly rules out buildings over 7 storeys at High Barnet Station.

The developers’ claim that ‘the tallest building serves [as] a welcoming and attractive gateway from the Station’ is a sublime example of marketing oversell. The trees lining both sides of Barnet Hill already provide a distinctive and beautiful southern ‘gateway’ to our town. The Station needs no such a grandiose landmark: its reticence is part of its charm.

An unsustainable neighbourhood

The applicants and their designers describe their proposals as an ‘exciting well-connected and highly sustainable residential neighbourhood’ (Planning Statement 2.6). On the contrary, it is disconnected and unsustainable at almost every level.

The constraints of the A1000, Northern Line, TfL structures, unstable geology and sloping topography force the applicants to propose a height and density that would be expensive to build, service and maintain for decades to come.

Squeezed between the busy, noisy and polluted road and railway, the new homes could not economically provide healthy environments internally or externally. The promised Passivhaus standards require levels of construction skill and expenditure that we doubt would be attainable.

Flat layouts are often poor.  Some are only single-aspect and, facing north-east, would have very poor sunlight and natural ventilation. A high proportion face south-west with potential to over-heat in summer. Expensive acoustic mitigation and mechanical ventilation (costly to run) would be necessary.

Only 35% of the total number of flats would be ‘affordable’. No guarantees are provided to restrict buy-to-let or overseas investors. At least some of the flats would probably become over-occupied, resulting in a population of nearly 1,000 with no gardens and minimal amenity space.

It would have a high proportion of children but only token outdoor play space. Outdoor play and social space for older children, young adults and the elderly would be negligible. Family stress would increase.

A truly sustainable scheme would place public health, community energy and low waste at its heart. It would be complemented on-site by a rich range of habitats and community gardening, and supported by excellent public transport connections and cycleways. None of these are on offer. Biodiversity net gain could only be achieved by substantial off-site provision. Residents would lack most of the physical, social and economic infrastructure necessary for a settled, inclusive and intergenerational neighbourhood.

An unsafe environment

We are unconvinced that there would be a net improvement in safety. Removal of all general car parking spaces would increase risks to women and other travellers with concerns for their personal safety, especially in late evening and early morning.

Although the ‘woodland walk’ would get an upgrade, the new recessed benches are likely to encourage misuse. The long and contorted strip between the new flats and the tube tracks would invite anti-social behaviour. With its many dark recesses and corners, the project would rely heavily on CCTV cameras and external lighting to meet Secure by Design standards.

Lack of community benefits

Connectivity between tube, buses, taxis and private vehicles would remain poor. Direct bus access to the Station forecourt is ruled out. TfL make no commitment to moving the northbound bus stop closer, or to a cycle lane on Barnet Hill. Pedestrian and wheelchair accessibility would be only slightly improved. Congestion would worsen.

New demand for local surgeries, nurseries and schools would be significant, with no certainty of the developer’s contribution to meeting it.

Loss of car parking

We are unconvinced by the rationale for removing the car park. The only spaces left would be a few disabled bays and (ironically) those for TfL staff. Yet park-and-ride is an option highly valued by residents on the fringes of Barnet and Hertfordshire and boosts tube use. Without improved public transport and connectivity to the Station consequences would be severe, both for travellers and for residents near the Station.

The inconvenience and distress caused by CPZs has lately been illustrated at Underhill South. Similar protests can be expected from residents in the proposed Zones E (Barnet Lane & Sherrards Way) and F (Meadway, Kingsmead, Potters Lane, Prospect Road, Leicester Road & King Edward Road) as well as others affected in Barnet Vale and parents of pupils at St Catherine’s RC Primary School, many of whom have to drive considerable distances due to its wide catchment area.

Postwar mistakes repeated

The mistakes of postwar estate planning – not least in the nearby Dollis Valley Estate – have been forgotten. If approved, in a few years’ time future Barnet residents, politicians and planners will wonder how this development was allowed to happen.

Above: proposed view from King George’s Fields

How you can comment

Have your say one of these ways:

  1. on the Council’s planning portal (ref. no. 25/2671/FUL) via the Comments tab;
  2. email comments direct to planning.consultation@barnet.gov.uk;
  3. post your comments to the Planning Officer: Sam Gerstein, Planning and Building Control, Barnet Council , 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, NW9 4EW.

In the cases of 2 & 3, be sure to include the application reference no. (25/2671/FUL) clearly at the top plus your name, address and postcode.

Increase the effectiveness of your objection by sending a copy of your comments to our MP dan.tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk and to your local Councillors.

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By walking a mile and a half a day, High Barnet store director raises over £1,000 for cataract operations by Sightsavers charity

A familiar face in Barnet High Street, Pragna Raghwani, who is store director at Specsavers, has raised well over £1,000 for the international medical health charity Sightsavers.

She spent a month walking a total of 100 miles – by completing a mile and a half early each morning before work – as her way of attracting donations towards Sightsavers’ mission to provide cataract operations across Africa and Asia.

Partly blind herself, Pragna says that what she has found so satisfying during almost 20 years at Specsavers’ branch in High Barnet, has been her ability to support and advise customers who are also visually impaired.

High Barnet store director Pragna Raghwani raises over £1,000 by sponsored walk for Sightsavers charity for cataract operations in Asia and Africa.

Pragna was diagnosed with normal tension glaucoma in 2010. Despite undergoing four eye operations, she has lost her sight in the left eye and has only 30 per cent vision in her right eye.

“As someone who lives with visual impairment, I know about the problems first hand and how life changing it can be.

“Over the years I have been able to help lots of customers in High Barnet who are also partially sighted, and the work is very rewarding.”

After previously being store director for Specsavers at Borehamwood, Pragna became store director at High Barnet in 2007 and has built up connections and friendships with other traders and businesses in the High Street.

Pragna has won recognition for her contribution to optical and audiological care. She has been an examiner, mentor, and coach for the Association of British Dispensing Chemists and was Specsavers ambassador during Glaucoma Week.

Her voluntary work includes taking part in local school career fairs where she engages with teenagers and young adults interested in pursuing careers as opticians and audiologists.

Her challenge to raise money for Sightsavers had the support of donations from friends, family, colleagues and local supporters and contributions are continuing to add to the £1,000-plus already collected.

“To complete the 100 miles within a month, I walked a mile and a half every morning between 6am and 7.30am in my local park at Kingsbury.

“My son bought me a pedometer, so I have been able to count the steps and make sure I walked the right distance every say.”

She wanted to support Sightsavers because of what she says is the “incredible work” the charity does in providing life-changing cataract operations in Africa and Asia.

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A thinning out of trees around the wooded entrance to High Barnet tube station was needed on “safety grounds”

Some of High Barnet’s much-loved mature trees have faced a sustained summer assault at the hands of the chain saws of tree surgeons.

A height reduction and the removal of what were said to be overhanging, or dead branches has resulted in a dramatic make-over of the trees at the pedestrian entrance to High Barnet tube station.

After reducing the height of the trees along the station’s wooded frontage in Meadway contractors started cutting back trees at the junction with High Street and Barnet Hill.

The work was said to be necessary because of the overhang of branches and the danger of them falling onto pedestrians or vehicles.

Pedestrian access had to be closed off during the work which also necessitated the installation of temporary traffic lights causing considerable congestion on Barnet Hill.

By the end of the day the path up from the tube station towards the crossroads at Meadway had been transformed… with a much reduced tree canopy.

At the upper end of the High Street a sycamore on the courtyard between the Huddle Cafe and the MinimuMaximuM shop had to be felled because it was dying back and posed a danger.

The tree was self-seeded but dead branches had been falling off for some time and the owners of the land said that the tree had to go as it was an accident waiting to happen.

However, shade from the sun in the seating area beside the Huddle Cafe is somewhat reduced following the tree’s removal.

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Future road closures such as Wood Street, High Barnet, could cost contractors as much as £2,500 a day

A three-week closure of Wood Street, High Barnet – resulting in widespread rush hour traffic disruption and a lengthy diversion for three bus routes – is an illustration of why there is likely to be strong support for Barnet Council’s plan to force utility companies to speed up their work.

Road pricing would impose lane rental charges on excavating main roads across the borough punishing contractors with escalating costs.

Currently the scheme is out for consultation and if approved by both the council and the Secretary of State for Transport, the charges would take effect from April 1 next year.

Lane closures on Barnet’s busiest main roads would cost utility companies and contractors a daily charge of £2,500.

Wood Street’s closure in both directions between the Black Horse roundabout and Hillside Gardens – from August 5 to August 26 – is causing traffic jams, delays and unnecessary costs for road users.

Three major bus routes along Wood Street – 107, 263 and 307 – are being diverted along Stapylton Road, St Albans Road and the High Street.

Ambulances serving Barnet Hospital are also unable to use the most direct route.

Adding to the congestion is the pinch point beside the Black Horse public house where buses and large commercial vehicles have to pass in single file along a narrow section of Stapylton Road.

Thames Water has put up notices apologising for the inconvenience. Contractors are working at a depth of 3.5 metres to repair a collapsed sewer.

But as with a similar three-week closure of Barnet Road, Arkley, for sewer repairs – again in both directions and resulting in lengthy bus diversions – there appears to be little if any late night or weekend working by the contractors.

Nearby residents in Arkley complained vociferously about the time taken to complete the work.

A diversion of the 107 (New Barnet to Edgware) required buses to follow a route along the High Street, St Albans Road and the A1 and meant the withdrawal of buses along Wood Street and Barnet Road.

Barnet Council’s consultation on the introduction of a lane rental scheme for the borough’s main roads opened on 30 July; closes on 9 September; with feedback due by 25 September so that a decision can be taken by a government deadline of 30 September for schemes to take effect next April.

A note on the consultation –  https://www.engage.barnet.gov.uk/lane-rental-scheme-consultation  – says the introduction of lane rental charges on the busiest roads at the busiest times should limit the amount of disruption across the borough’s road network.

Transport for London have been operating a lane rental scheme on some highways since 2012 and the introduction of the scheme in Barnet would affect just under 14 per cent of the borough’s roads.

Road closures such as Wood Street, High Barnet, could cost Thames Water and contractors £2,500 a day under new Barnet Council road lane rental plan.

Wood Street is one of the main roads that would attract the highest charges of up to £2,500 a day for lane rentals between 7am and 7pm on weekdays and between 7am and 10am and then 3pm to 7pm at weekends.      

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Time is running out for “Morty” the graffiti vandal whose tags have disfigured shops and buildings around Barnet

Graffiti vandal “Morty” who has sprayed a tag on countless doors, walls and hoardings might be about to be unmasked after a two-month spree of damage to premises in and around Barnet.

Oak Hill Park cafe proprietor Eva Danielewicz (above) hopes the culprit will be required to clean off graffiti which she has been unable to remove from the walls and shutters of her cafe.

Following the launch of an appeal to try to find who is responsible for the tags, officers at Barnet Council believe they might have identified a social media account belonging to “Morty” or perhaps to “Morty’s” father.

Council staff are said to have been hard pressed to keep up with the task of cleaning off “Morty” tags from premises around High Barnet, New Barnet and East Barnet, and especially on bus shelters, telephone cabinets and on walls and passageways.

East Barnet Councillor Simon Radford – seen above with recently-applied graffiti on the bridge over Pymmes Brook in Victoria Park – has reported numerous examples of “Morty” tags over the last two months.

“This clean-up has already cost Barnet Council thousands of pounds in staff time, man hours and cleaning materials.

“In the last few months ‘Morty’ has become a real nuisance. We are determined to try to put a stop to it and the first step is to identify who is responsible.”

A passageway between New Barnet Station and Station Road has been another regular target.

After the council launched an appeal on social media to try to identify the culprit there has been some success. Officials believe they have found “Morty’s” social media account or perhaps that of the father.

“Let’s hope that at last something can be done about it,” said Councillor Radford.   

Eva Danielewicz feels especially aggrieved over the way her cafe has been disfigured with “Morty” tags.

Graffiti vandal "Morty" whose tag has been plastered on premises around Barnet might be be about to unmasked and held to account

She has welcomed Councillor Radford’s support and thanked him for all he had done in reporting the problems being caused by the graffiti.

“One morning last month we found a ‘Morty’ tag had been sprayed in a couple of places at the front of the cafe and on the back door as well.

“I’ve got nowhere myself trying to clean it off. The only alternative is to repaint the surfaces so I do hope whoever has done it can be made to come along and get rid of it.”

Ms Danielewicz has been running cafe and Malibu soft play area at Oak Hill Park – at the junction of Church Hill Road and Parkside Gardens — for the last 30 years and has been distressed by the appearance of the graffiti.

Councillor Radford said “Morty” tags were especially annoying as they were popping up everywhere.

“The council has responded well in dealing with this graffiti but at a time when financial resources are so stretched we shouldn’t be spending money needlessly on such mindless vandalism,” said Councillor Radford who is the borough’s cabinet member for finance.

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End of an era in Barnet town centre: Dory’s closes after 71 years in business leaving customers dismayed by the loss of a welcoming cafe  

Dory’s, High Barnet’s celebrated family run cafe which provided refreshments and a warm welcome for generations of satisfied customers, has closed for business after the retirement of its proprietors Guiliano Cardosi and Angela Casali.

Surprise at the sudden loss of a town centre institution prompted tributes across social media and a flood of fond memories of the three generations who have produced a constant supply of full English breakfasts, hot meals, snacks and endless rounds of teas and coffees.

People unaware of the closure lined up to read notice of the sad news to customers and friends:

“After 71 wonderful years of serving our community, we would like to share the news that Dory’s, our family run business, will be closing its doors.”  

Angela Casali (above, far right in the family photo) told the Barnet Society that she and her brother had decided to retire.

“Sadly, running a cafe does not appeal to the next generation of the family”.

Her grandfather Ottorino Pellicci opened the cafe in 1954 on taking over from the Mancini family.

Dory’s was the name chosen for the cafe – the name by which Ottorino was known – at the corner of Bruce Road and St Albans, a prime location next door to the former site of Barnet Market.

So far, no decision has been taken about the future of the cafe, a business which was rightly proud of its claim to be the oldest family business trading in Barnet town centre.

Guiliano (above, front row, far let) and Angela said they were “incredibly grateful for the support, loyalty, relationships and memories built over the years”.

They were constantly surprised by who came through the front door of the cafe – sometimes someone who remembered their grandfather or perhaps a television star or celebrity.

When the cafe’s doors closed on Thursday 31 July word spread quickly – but not fast enough for a steady flow of customers turning up next day hoping for some refreshments.

They were all shocked by the news and dismayed by what they thought was the end of an era.

David Clark (above) said that although he had only been a customer for the last three years, he thought it was a tragedy Barnet was losing such a vital community hub.

“Whenever you went into Dory’s you ended up talking to other people – that was its secret, it was such a friendly place.

“You really couldn’t expect not to start up a conversation, so I will miss it. For me, Barnet will never be the same again.”

The week after Ottorino and his wife Crimene opened for business in 1954, Barnet’s cattle market closed, but the subsequent success of Barnet’s stalls market ensured a regular clientele.

The couple’s daughter Dorina (who died in 2021) and her husband Tony Cardosi (centre, front row in family photo above) took over the business and were then succeeded by their son and daughter Guiliano and Angela.

After 71 years trading in High Barnet, Dory's family run cafe closes for business to dismay of generations of customers.

Angela (above, fourth from the left) has fond memories of helping her mother and father when stalls filled the former cattle market (now the site of a car park).

“Back in those days trade was so good we used to get queues outside our door.   

The closure of Dory’s marks another sad loss among the dwindling number of family and independent businesses in High Barnet town centre.

Dory’s demise follows the closure of the Victoria bakery and Julian’s hardware shop.

Peter Wanders, proprietor Wanders shoe shop, is now thought to be the oldest trading name.

He opened his shop in September 1986 followed a year later by the arrival of Vajsur (Vince) Gadhavi at Smokers’ Paradise, now the Paper Shop.

Peter and Vince both had fond memories of the extended family which ran Dory’s and the welcome they offered. 

“It was renowned for being a proper working man’s cafe,” said Vince. “Sometimes there would be customers waiting outside ready for Dory’s to open at 5am.

“My paper shop is open from 6am, but Dory’s was always busy by then, so we are all really going to miss the early morning comings and goings just across the High Street.”  

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The High Barnet Station car park planning application is in!

Places for London (PfL), the partnership of Transport for London and Barratt London that wants to build on High Barnet Station car park, has submitted a planning application to the Council. Members of the public have until 2 September to comment on it. Above is a visualisation by jtp Architects & Masterplanners.

The designs are basically the same as those exhibited in February-March this year. The Barnet Society’s web post on 17 March set out our views on the development. Our conclusion then was that unless our concerns – especially regarding its overbearing scale, alien character, poor accessibility, and loss of almost all car parking – were addressed, the Barnet Society was minded to oppose the plans.

Since then, PfL have reduced the number of homes from 300 to 283 but increased the height of the tallest block to 11 storeys. They’ve also made some other adjustments to the designs of buildings and landscape. We’re scrutinising the 120-odd documents in discussion with Barnet Residents Association. As soon as we’ve come to a conclusion, we’ll publish a more detailed web post.

Meanwhile, you can view the application on the planning portal (reference 25/2671/FUL). The best documents to begin with are the Summary of Proposals followed by the Design & Access Statement (in 8 parts). Have your say via the Comments tab (but you’ll need to register first).

One drawing we haven’t been able to find so far is a single view of the whole scheme, but cut’n’pasting two elevations gives an overall impression of it from Barnet Hill.

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New initiative from Barnet’s Incredible Edible campaign – a festival to celebrate the brilliance of the humble bean

A celebration of the joy of growing and eating beans organised by members of Barnet’s innovative Incredible Edible campaign group was a journey from start to finish – from seed to plate.

Despite the sustained drought of recent weeks, a patch of runner beans in a community garden beside St Mary’s Church in East Barnet was in great shape with the first beans almost ready to eat.

Wendy Alcock (above left), founder of a much admired local initiative to encourage home cultivation in gardens and on unused land, had organised what she described as a celebration of the brilliance of beans.

St Mary’s community halls in Church Hill Road presented a beanfest — starting with advice on sowing and growing beans followed by cooking demonstrations and a tasting competition for a range of dips.

“We wanted to hold the event when there is still time to plant beans and get a crop by the late summer.

“We also wanted to demonstrate the great versatility of what is a favourite vegetable for so many people.”

Betty Greenwood (above left) and Elaine Jackson were on hand to describe the many varieties to choose from. Their plant display included borlotti beans, dwarf French beans and white runner beans.

They agreed it had been a difficult year because of the lack of rain. Bean plants needed to be watered regularly, and their water butts were nearly exhausted.

“If we go on getting such dry summers perhaps, we shall have to switch to some of the French and Italian varieties which adapt better to sustained hot weather,” said Betty.

In another room, community nutritionist Filomena Komodromu (above right) had prepared three different dips from beans and pulses – from green peas, red lentils and white beans and visitors were asked to rate them.

“My role is to advise people how to eat healthily and, on a budget, and beans and pulses are a great source of protein, they have lots of fibre, iron and Vitamin B.

“The one tip I always give people is that when they use tinned beans, they should be thoroughly rinsed first before eating.”

Beside the church halls is the council owned Church Farm Open Space where Wendy Alcock has established a community garden, one of four developed across the borough with the help of Barnet Council.

“We got funding for this project last year and the aim is to develop more community gardens across Barnet after people have been on a free eight-week course to gain experience of growing plants and vegetables.”

Jennie Bradford (above, left) signed up last year for the East Barnet course, and has taken on the leadership this year.

Wendy said the aim of this initiative – “Ready, Steady, Grow!” – was to show people how to grow vegetables in their gardens or public spaces.

“We do now have four new community gardens across the borough, but I would like to see many more.”

The July course is fully signed up but there are vacancies for the course in September. Further information and a sign up available at www.yourhealthbarnet.org or email food@barnet.gov.uk

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Relaunch of Barnet’s folk dancing club to focus on widening interest and appeal of Balkan folk dance culture  

Barnet’s long-established international folk dance club is being relaunched to take advantage of the growing popularity of the traditional folk music and dancing of the Balkans with the hope of attracting a wider membership.

Their experience in recent years – despite having built up a repertoire of hundreds of folk dances from around the world – is that Balkan dancing continues to attract by far the greatest interest.

In future the club will be known as Dunav: Barnet Dances Balkan and a revamped programme kicks off with their annual summer party at 7.30pm on Friday 25 July at Church House, High Barnet.

Two long-standing members, Margaret Luck (above left) and Irene Nichols have been helping to organise and promote the event – an evening of live Balkan music and buffet to which all are welcome. (Entrance fee £10).

Barnet International Folk Dance Club was established in 1962, initially meeting in Hendon, before moving to High Barnet, and from the start the founder members were fascinated by the intriguing rhythms of Balkan dances.

With the gradual opening up of travel to Eastern Europe, and with the freedom of movement following g the enlargement of the EU, group members began visiting countries in the Balkans and became even greater admirers of their folk-dance culture.

Such was the club’s interest that their sessions at Church House regularly featured an appearance by leaders of a Bulgarian ensemble — artistic director and dance teacher Iliana Bozhanova and music director and accordion player Tudor Yankov (see above).

Brian Dowsett, who led the Barnet group for many years, helped to establish a flourishing Balkan dance scene in London which now features a monthly Balkanplus event at Cecil Sharp House in Camden, home of the International Folk Dancing Society.

Charlotte Clare, a member of the Barnet club, teaches simplified versions of Balkan dances with live music from the band Ygra.

Barnet's long established international folk dancing club is rebooting to celebrate popularity of Balkan culture of folk dancing and music

Another band that often visited Barnet was Dunav – see above – that specialised in the music of south-eastern Europe.

Irene Nichols said that for their regular dance evenings – on the second and fourth Fridays of the month – they take advantage of a mini-iPad which is loaded with a full range of music.

“Balkan dancing is by far the most popular and Charlotte teaches accessible versions on their dances.

“Our great admiration of Balkan dancing was reinforced by a trip we made to Bulgaria.

“We went around the villages which have still have an active folk dance culture – so we experienced at first hand dancing together in village squares with local residents and their brass bands.”

Margaret Luck, a founder member of the Barnet club, said they hoped that by focusing on Balkan dancing they could build up the membership of the group.

“We are hoping to attract new members, and for example, we would love to welcome residents of the Bulgarian and Romanian communities living here in Barnet and around North London.

“They know the music and understand the rhythms of the dances.”

Another event in the club’s rebooted programme is a visit in September by Ziko, a famous Serbian accordionist.

For more information about joining the club or attending the summer party email: irene.nichols@gmail.com

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Plain clothes police proving more effective in tackling Barnet’s shoplifting and drug users than uniform patrols in High Street

Since the start of the year police officers in the neighbourhood team for High Barnet and Barnet Vale have spent most of their time in plain clothes targeting persistent offenders including shoplifters and drug dealers and have made a total of 55 arrests.

Their team leader, Sergeant Glenn Parker, acknowledges that many residents would like to see more uniformed officers on duty in the town centre, but he insists their tactics are currently proving to be far more effective.

Through tackling shoplifting and arresting repeat offenders, there had been a decrease in house burglaries over the same period – down by 25 per cent in High Barnet and 52 per cent reduction in Barnet Vale.

Sergeant Parker – seen above, from left to right with police constables Sam Emmott, Richard Maggott, Sergeant Parker, and Mike Tearle – addressed the annual meeting of the Barnet Society (19.6.2025).

He said that the neighbourhood police team had a choice: go back to visible policing in the High Street, which could be ineffective, or adopt plain clothes tactics to tackle shoplifters and drug dealers to help restore trust in the Police.

“I would like to send officers out into the town centre in uniform, but my priority is to tackle the shoplifters, so either you have officers parading up and down the High Street or you take action that will really help to make people feel safe.

“I know residents want to see officers out on the beat, but we have to assess whether having officers walking up and down the street is effective. We want the public to have faith in what we are doing.”

Before the team started their targeted operation, there had been a tangible loss of trust among High Barnet shopkeepers and businesses.

On taking up his position in January, Sergeant Parker said he had been distressed to find that the manager at Waitrose in The Spires had felt it was no longer worth reporting shoplifting because of a lack of a police response.

“The shops had videos of shoplifters filling their bags and walking out. That was the challenge. We need the shops to engage with us.

“If the public see a policeman in uniform in the High Street, they might think that is fantastic, but the criminals can see us as well and I don’t want them to have that advantage.”

Since the start of the year the team had been building up intelligence passed on by retailers and arrests had followed.

One persistent offender, known to have been involved in 40 shop lifting offences in and around High Barnet and Barnet Vale, had been arrested and sentenced to 96 weeks in prison.

Sergeant Parker said the turn-around in arrests had been seen in wards across the northern parts of the borough – High Barnet, Barnet Vale, Underhill, East Barnet, Totteridge, Whetstone, Mill Hill and Edgwarebury.

During 2024 there were a total 34 arrests across the eight wards – a result which he considered was unacceptable; there were only 12 stop and searches of suspects.

In the five and a half months up to June 18 this year there had been 154 arrests across the same eight wards – five times the number of offenders arrested – with 55 arrests in High Barnet and Barnet Vale.

“If we had not deployed officers in plain clothes, it would have been half that.”

Sergeant Parker stressed the importance of stop and search, a tactic which had decreased massively in it use because of a lack of trust in the Police. He was determined to change that.

In the last three months 27 people had been stopped and searched in High Barnet and Barnet Vale resulting in 13 arrests for offences including knives and stolen items. There had been 20 drug searches and five arrests.

Further targeted operations, based on intelligence, were about to be launched including in one in an unnamed street where there was “a nuisance address” from which offenders had been causing problems. He promised they would be “smashed and removed”.

In opening the meeting, Mahender Khari, chair of the High Barnet community action panel which liaises with the police, praised Sergeant Parker and his officers, describing him as an “action man” who was building the strongest police team in the borough.

In replying to questions, Sergeant Parker told Dr Jenny Remfry, the society’s vice president, that currently the best way to report non-urgent suspected offences or get crime advice,  was to email the neighbourhood police team or to ring 101 which went through to the call centre in Hendon which would assess the information and could forward it to the neighbourhood teams.

A new messaging service for public use — known as Met Engage – was about to be introduced by the Metropolitan Police.

Training for neighbourhood officers began a month ago and it would create a centralised system for alerts to be emailed directly to the police and allow officers to respond.

Once residents signed up, email groups could be established, perhaps in a road or a group of streets, and this could facilitate police appeals for CCTV and other information.

In response to another question about the use of new technology, Sergeant Parker explained the value of the rapid increase in the installation of CCTV, door cameras and dash cams.

Although a potential intruder might be wearing a balaclava when caught on a door camera, offenders might well be captured on a neighbour’s camera further along the street, perhaps removing a balaclava – footage that could be of potential significance.

“Once it is up and running in the next couple of months, a system like Met Engage will make it easier for people to give us local intelligence.

“We will be able to reply, and it should make it easier for neighbourhood policing to integrate with the community.”

He told the society’s vice chairman Eamonn Rafferty, who was concerned about drug users congregating in the car park at Chipping Barnet Library, that this was precisely what they wanted to hear about.

“We need to the community to step up. The more information we get, the more action we can take.”  

Barnet Society member John Gardiner asked whether neighbourhood policing was still being disrupted by the extraction of officers from the suburbs for deployments elsewhere by the Metropolitan Police.

Sergeant Parker said that increasingly neighbourhood policing was being “ring fenced” and other officers were being deployed. In May, no officer in his team had been extracted for other duties and there had been only two occasions so far in June.

Frances Wilson, the society’s minute secretary, asked if there was any chance of the Metropolitan Police re-opening High Barnet police station to the public.

Sergeant Parker said there no plans to re-open station for operational police officers with a custody suite and desk open to the public, but it would continue as a base for the neighbourhood teams and other police services.

Robin Bishop (above left), who leads for the society on planning and the environment, warned that significant planning decisions were on their way.

Transport for London through its development subsidiary Places for London was due to submit an application by the end of June to build flats on land around High Barnet tube station and an application to build a new stadium for Barnet Football Club at Barnet Playing Fields was due to be considered by the strategic planning committee in July.

 

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Safe space with entertainment attractions for young people being supported by the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice

A purpose-built space where young people can be themselves has been built in the grounds of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Byng Road, Barnet.

“The Lounge” includes a wide variety of attractions – as well as a fridge stocked with drinks and snacks – and is a dedicated area away from the main building for youngsters aged 13 and above.

The aim is to encourage young people transitioning to adult palliative care to spend time at Noah’s Ark.

The hospice believes this is more likely if there is somewhere youngsters can spend time in a safe space set up for their age group and interests.

Anand and Savita Patel – see above – helped to fund the cost of building and equipping The Lounge in memory of their daughter Kinnari who was supported by Noah’s Ark before her death at the age of 12.

The Lounge is a fully-airconditioned 30-square metre space with a ceiling hoist, television and gaming equipment, an arcade machine, sound system, games, books and craft supplies.

An inaugural prom for young people was held in the new building to road test its facilities.

Special events are organised by the hospice’s family activities team to help young people prepare for the transition to adult palliative care.

This is considered an important rite of passage which can be facilitated in a safe and accessible way by offering coaching in life skills.

New building at Noah's Ark Children's Hospice provides safe space for youngsters to be themselves while transitioning to adult palliative care

The Patel family also commissioned a neon sign in The Lounge which illustrates one of the favourite sayings on their daughter Kinnari – “I don’t like it, I love it.”

Also contributing to the construction of The Lounge and its furnishings were the MariaMarina Foundation which was established in 2009 in memory of Maria Holder and her daughter Marina Brewster, mother and sister of the foundation’s president and chief executive Christopher Holder and the hospice’s 2023 Winter Ball Committee.   

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1st Barnet Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association awarded seven King’s Badges in exceptional year of achievement  

Seven Barnet winners of the King’s Badge – the highest award in the Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association – were honoured at a special service at Barnet United Reformed Church after an official presentation at Guildhall in the City of London.

The award of as many as seven King’s Badges is an unprecedented achievement for the 1st. Barnet Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association whose members have previously won a total of only four over the preceding 50 years.

They were congratulated on their success at a prize giving evening where awards and certificates were handed out by Dan Tomlinson, Labour MP for Chipping Barnet, and Martin Russell, representative Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Barnet.

Alan King, the brigade captain, said that in the 50 years that he had been with the brigade only four members had won what was the Queen’s Badge and is now the King’s Badge.

“We have usually secured one of the badges every ten years or so. Therefore, to get seven awarded in one year is very rare and very special for our brigade.”

Mr King said the success of the seven was down to the fact that they had worked together as a group and had taken part in every activity the brigade had to offer.

“Almost half of them joined as five-year-olds and they have been dedicated members for the last 12 to 15 years.”

Mr Tomlinson (above, left) added his congratulations to the King’s Badge holders and paid tribute to the work of Alan King and all the other volunteers.

“It is people like you Alan, and the people who run the brigade, who make our community stronger. As an MP there is nothing that I can do which can compare with the work you do day in and day out to make our community even stronger.”

Exceptional year of achievement for 1st Barnet Boys' Brigade and Girls' Association in being awarded seven King's Badges.

Among the other awards was the presentation by Martin Russell of the Deputy Lord Lieutenant’s certificate of appreciation to colour sergeant David Hay who had been a Boys’ Brigade member for over 12 years.

He congratulated David for an outstanding contribution to the brigade which included over 400 hours of voluntary service with the junior section.

Earlier in an address the minister, the Reverend Dominic Grant, said the presentation of awards was a testament to everything which united the world-wide fellowship of Boys’ Brigades and Girls’ Associations.

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Barnet Medieval Festival becoming a premier event in Wars of the Roses celebrations – and a fun day out for the whole family

Mock battles with weapons made from foam were one of the highlights for children attending the annual Barnet Medieval Festival at its new and enlarged site on farmland in Galley Lane.

A range of inter-active attractions for youngsters of all ages – including training for jousts on the battlefield, fencing, archery and axe throwing – reinforced the festival’s appeal as a popular family fun day out and an engaging community event.

After a record participation among military re-enactors and medieval traders — and the best-ever attendance — the festival organisers are already thinking ahead to 2026.

Barnet is well on the way towards establishing its festival as a premier event in the calendar of Wars of the Roses celebrations.

Crowds lined the event field for a packed programme including the much-anticipated re-enactments of the Battle of St Albans (1461) and – see above – the Battle of Barnet (1471).

Almost 500 re-enactors representing 40 different households and military companies – some from as far afield as Devon and Scotland – were brought together by the Wars of the Roses Federation.

Displays of medieval firepower were another of the highlights.

Master gunner Ben Godden, who was the compere for the display, and his wife Linda Godden, the festival event co-ordinator from the House of Bayard, were delighted to be back in Barnet after the cancellation of last year’s festival due to waterlogged ground.

“This has easily been the best ever festival,” said Linda.

“We can all see how popular it’s become. We had a very good crowd even when we had a little rain on Saturday but the turn out all day on Sunday was a record.

“We are all looking forward to next year already.”

For travelling players Myal Pyper – who kept the crowds entertained with medieval music – their second visit to Barnet had exceeded their expectations.

“We thought the atmosphere was wonderful the first time we came, but this year it’s been even more enjoyable.

“What is so special is that people come up and ask such interesting questions which makes it all worthwhile.

“It’s obviously a great community event as so many people seem to know each other and are busy chatting away and enjoying the day out.”

Another popular re-enactor away from the battlefield in the medieval campsite was Flossie, a 14th century warrener, who was looking after two ferrets to send down rabbit warrens.

Her two ferrets – Filthy and Grunt – had no shortage of admirers.

Flossie (in real life Felicity Pattenden from Norwich) said rabbit ferreters would have accompanied a medieval army and hunted as they went along to provide them with a supply of meat and fur.

Probably the youngest medieval re-enactor was 15-month-old Zina – from the 3rd company of Tudors — with her parents Eleri and Alex from Wolverhampton, who were enjoying a rest in their tent.

Zina was dressed in a linen shift over a double-sided linen kirtle; Eleri was wearing a linen shift with kirtle and a linen bonnet; and Alex was wearing split-leg hose, linen shift and skull cap.

“In Tudor times Alex would have been in the fighting force, and I would have been considered a camp follower, one of the women who looked after the men,” said Eleri.

Two re-enactors taking a well-deserved rest in a nobleman’s tent were Steve, a medieval archer, and Marion, who were from the Plymouth Medieval Society.

“It’s our first time in Barnet. It has been a really well organised festival with plenty of space for all the medieval tents. We do hope to be back next year.”

Inter-active events for youngsters including mock battles reinforced Barnet Medieval Festival's reputation for a family fun day out.

For farmers Daniel and Fiona Lewis – proprietors of Lewis of London Ice Cream at Fold Farm – hosting their first medieval festival had been a great experience and they too were looking ahead to think how it might be expanded and improved.

“This is a great event for the military re-enactors with lots of space for their displays, tents and activities,” said Daniel.

“We have loved seeing how much fun it is for the youngsters, training to be knights and then having a go in the battlefield. Wherever you looked there was something happening, even everyone having a go at medieval dancing.

“Perhaps in future we could get even more themed events and activities for the children. Another innovation might be more themed food. I really do think the festival has great potential for the future.”

For festival director Dr Susan Skedd there was a sense of mission accomplished.

“It really has been overwhelming to see so many people coming along to the festival and clearly having a wonderful time. It has made it so worthwhile for all the volunteers who put so much into making the festival such a success.”

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Mays Lane residents are increasingly concerned about the continuing failure to restore the derelict Quinta Youth Club building

After being boarded up for the last 20 years a fresh attempt is about to be made to see whether it might be possible to get the abandoned Quinta Youth Club in Mays Lane, Barnet, refurbished or rebuilt and returned to community use.

After their success in obtaining and maintaining protected status for Quinta Village Green — which adjoins the derelict clubhouse — residents are increasingly concerned about continuing vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Barnet Council and representatives of other local groups are to be sounded out by the Quinta Village Green Residents Association to see what could be done to restore a sadly neglected building.

Planning approval was given in 2021for use of the clubhouse to be changed from community use to become a store for the library service for schools in the Borough of Barnet.

Although said to be “derelict and in a poor condition” and vacant since 2006, the council proposed to refurbish the existing single-storey building, install new doors and windows, and use it for the storage, archiving and dispatching of library books as part of the borough’s Schools Library Resource Service.

But nothing further has happened to the building in the intervening four years, prompting residents’ concerns about continuing vandalism, resulting in their appeal for more thought to be given as to its future use. 

After the being re-established and named after Quinta Village Green, the residents’ association has been engaged in several campaigns against threats to the Green Belt and is seeking better consultation on road safety schemes in Mays Lane.

Residents to launch fresh attempt to see whether derelict former Quinta Youth Club in Mays Lanes can be restored for community use.

Gina Theodorou, the first chair of the newly formed association, promoted their work with a stall at the Arkley Village Fayre.

“Given all that we have been doing to strengthen the Quinta village community, we do think it is perhaps time to see whether something can be done about the abandoned youth club.

“As it has been boarded up for the last 20 years, we are now reaching out to Barnet Council, who own the building, and to other local partners to explore opportunities for restoring it and bringing it back into community use.”

Currently the association is crowdfunding for the cost of legal representation at a public inquiry into an application for a travellers’ caravan site on Green Belt land in Mays Lane.

So far, a crowdfunded appeal has raised half the cost, but the association still needs to raise almost £7,000.

After getting the village green registered as a public open space, the association liaises with the council to ensure maintenance of the green and to ensure that fly tipping is removed.    

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Ten fire engines and 70 firefighters tackled blaze that swept through historic house being renovated on Hadley Green

Fire engines and crews from around north London were called to a massive fire which engulfed one of the large Georgian houses beside Hadley Green.

Such was the ferocity of the blaze that for several hours water had to be pumped from Brewers’ Pond just across the green.

Hours after the fire was brought under control just before 5am on Bank Holiday Monday morning, a fire crew on turntable ladder was still damping down smouldering roof timbers.

Hollybush House, a Grade II listed mansion which it is thought went for an estimated £4.5 million when last sold in 2020, was in the process of being renovated and refurbished. A new roof had recently been completed and new windows installed.

Ten fire engines and 70 firefighters were called to the fire in Hadley Green Road, close to the junction with Sydney Chapman Way at around 1am.

Next door neighbour Richard Holmes, who lives in another historic property attached to Hollybush House, was woken by fire crews at 1.10am. 

“I was in bed, fast asleep and was amazed to find what was happening. It was what firefighters call a ten-pump shout, there were fire engines everywhere.

“They were lined up all along the road. The fire crew on the top of the turntable ladder were being supplied with additional water from Brewers’ Pond just across the green.

“The crews did a great job. They managed to stop the fire at the wall of my house which is attached to Hollybush House.

“At one point they feared they might have to take the slates off my roof, but they have now said it is ok. There is no sign of the fire having spread to my roof timbers. I have had the all-clear.”

Mr Holmes’ house, close to the Wilbraham’s alms houses, has a blue plaque commemorating the time when Fanny and Anthony Trollope resided at the property.

Nearby on the other side of Hollybush House is Livingstone Cottage where the Victorian explorer Dr David Livingstone and his wife Mary lived in 1857.

Hollybush House, built in the late 1700s, was in the process of being renovated by Seacon Ltd, specialists in refurbishment projects.

Work began at the house – which is surrounded by protective hoardings – 18 months ago. The property had nine bedrooms.

London Fire Brigade — which released this picture on Twitter of the scene at the height of the fire — said later In a statement, that the entire roof, as well as the first and ground floors, were alight and that subsequently the building suffered a partial collapse, but there were no reports of any injuries.

Helping to guide the crew on the turntable ladder was one of two drones being operated by London Fire Brigade.

Roads leading across the eastern side of Hadley Green and through Monken Hadley all had to be cordoned off.

The crew that operated the pump taking water from Brewers Pond – which was once part of Hadley Brewery — said that even after two to three hours the level of the pond was about the same.

“It seems the pond must be replenished naturally all the time by the ground water level or a spring,” said one of the crew.

Fire engines and firefighters from around North London tackled blaze which swept through historic house being renovated on Hadley Green.

 

Crews from New Barnet, Southgate, Finchley and other surrounding fire stations were called in to tackle the blaze.

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Climate change might be responsible for earliest ever sightings of swifts swooping and squealing over High Barnet

Record hot weather in late April coincided with the earliest reported sightings of swifts who are considered by far High Barnet’s most popular avian visitors each summer.

Veteran swift watcher Angela Morris saw four flying above Kings Road at 11.55am on Monday 28 April – her first April sighting in the forty years she has been recording their arrival in her diary.

“Usually, the swifts get here sometime in the first week of May. My latest ever sighting was May 14 and the earliest May 1, but it was a real surprise to have a late April sighting.”

Members of Barnet Swifts Group have also been reporting the swifts’ arrival.

Peter Lyons saw four circling above Manor Road late in the day on 28 April and other sightings were recorded over the following days – Robin Bishop saw several flying above Fitzjohn Avenue and Susan Skedd said she was awoken by their squealing above Leicester Road, New Barnet.

Even more encouraging for swift enthusiasts was the news that a pair have been seen visiting a nest box on a house in Granville Road which offers an array of nesting places including boxes and spaces under the eaves.

In view of the continuing interest in encouraging the provision of nesting boxes for swifts, David Martens, who founded the Barnet Swifts Group, says that north and east facing aspects are best to avoid the hot summer sun.

Playing recordings of swift calls, particularly early in the morning or an hour before sunset, can boost the chance of attracting swifts to a nesting box.

David, who is a now a member of the Welwyn Hatfield Swift Group, says swift news from around the locality can be seen by following the Facebook link to the Hertfordshire Swift Group.

Angela Morris said her interest in swifts dates to when her family moved to Kings Road in the 1950s and she started noting their arrival in her diary.

“I was so relieved to see them back again this year. I heard their screaming first and then saw them flying down Kings Road.

“Years ago, there were many more arriving each summer and they used to nest under the eaves of the Edwardian houses on the north side of Kings Road. Unfortunately, many of their nesting places have gone when people insulated their lofts and sealed off the eaves.

“Usually, I see them first at around 7.30pm in the evening, so to have a morning sighting on April 28 suggested to me they probably arrived the day before.

“The parent swifts tend to head off back to Africa at the end of July, but the new young birds take a time surveying the local scene, but they are off too by mid- August.”

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Warm welcome on offer for new members at lawn bowls club at Victoria Recreation Ground in New Barnet

After being unable to play at home last year because crows had dug holes in their green, the East Barnet Valley Bowls Club is holding open days at weekends during the coming months in a bid to boost their membership.

Lawn bowls has been transformed in recent years as a family sport and the club’s green at the Victoria Recreation Ground is considered to be one of the hidden sporting gems of New Barnet.

New and experienced players are welcome. Coaching will be provided. The open days start the weekend of Saturday and Sunday 12-13 April (from 2-4pm) and continue into May and June.

After the club’s green was damaged repeatedly in the summer of 2023 by crows looking for larvae (leather jackets) of crane flies (daddy longlegs), the lawn had to be reseeded last year, and after considerable care and attention is now ready for play to resume.

Geoffrey Partridge (above, right), captain and treasurer, has been applying top dressing to help restore the grass to tip top condition after the disaster that befell the club in the summer of 2023.

“The green was inundated with crows which were digging holes in the grass with their beaks as they hunted for the crane fly grubs.

“For some reason, the crane flies like to lay their eggs in short grass and bowling greens are often a target.

“The damage was so bad we had to take the top off the lawn and then we reseeded it last year and hopefully the crows won’t come back.”

With the lawn restored ready for playing again, the club is anxious to build up its membership and hopefully by next year have enough members to enter teams in contests run by the Finchley and North London Bowling Association.

Club secretary Dave Mulford (above, far left) said East Barnet was a family-friendly club and offered an active sport for all ages.

In addition to the open days being held over coming weekends – see full list of dates below – the club can arrange other times by arrangement and is open for practice sessions throughout the season.

“We were only able to play away matches last year but now our lawn is back in use we are making a real effort to rebuild the membership – we have already delivered over 700 leaflets to surrounding houses.

“We have 13 playing members at present but we would like at least 20 so that we would have enough to field teams again in the local competitions.”

East Barnet’s clubhouse offers a warm welcome. Richard Aspden (above, left) who joined two years ago, is keen to encourage other parents with young children to become members.

“Hopefully we might have a family open day later in the summer. We are a very friendly group, and we do hope to do more on the social side.”

Colin Harris (above, right) who has been a member of the club for 56 years, can testify to the appeal of watching and playing lawn bowls.

“As a five-year-old my mother used to bring me along to watch bowls being played at the club. 

“I was fascinated watching the bowls – or woods as they were known then – rolling across the green grass.

“I joined the club myself when I was 17 – and here I am at 73 enjoying bowls just as did all those years ago.”

Colin, who was in the East Barnet team which won the local Prentice Cup in 2005, is seen with the club’s oldest member, Don Knight (left), who will be 90 in June.

Don was county president of the Hertfordshire Bowls Association in 1999 and in 2013 was awarded the Medal of Merit for services to bowls by Bowls England.

Another photograph on the wall includes former President Eric Partridge (father of current club captain Geoffrey Partridge) who was in the East Barnet team which won the Prentice Cup in the 1974.

The first home match to be played at East Barnet since 2023 will be in May against Metropolitan Bushey.

The East Barnet Valley club was founded members of East Barnet Urban Council in 1927 – a year after Barnet Council laid out its bowling green in the Old Courthouse Recreation Ground.

Unlike some clubs which are in prominent positions – such as Barnet Bowls Club just off Wood Street — East Barnet is tucked away in a corner of the Victoria Recreation Ground at the rear of the New Barnet Leisure Centre.

It is a six-rink green and was laid out in 1927 with Cumberland turf which was thought to be the best playing surface for flat green bowling.

The club hopes their programme of open days will help put them on the map:

Saturday Sunday 12-13 April, 2-4pm

Easter Monday 21 April 2-4pm

Saturday 26 April – 10am-12noon

Saturday 3 May – 10am-12noon

Tuesday 3 June – 5-8pm

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Inspiration award for years of support and assistance at Dollis Valley in sustaining foodbank and holiday lunch club for school children

A decade long association as a volunteer at the Rainbow Centre, the community hub for the Dollis Valley estate, has been rewarded with a Barnet Council “Inspiration All” award for Patricia Gay in recognition of her dedication and support.

Trish – as she is known to one and all – hopes her award will help publicise the campaign to end the continuing uncertainty over finding a permanent home for what is considered to be a vital resource for residents of the estate.

A weekly food bank and lunch club for children in the school holidays are just some of the many activities which could be threatened unless Barnet Council can find new premises.

Under existing redevelopment plans, the Rainbow Centre’s lease expires in May and the building is due to be demolished for the next phase of the housing regeneration scheme for the Dollis Valley estate.

“Unfortunately, we have been fobbed off time and again,” said Trish, who is a director of the Rainbow Centre’s users’ group.

“The council have assured us that they are actively searching for new premises for us but volunteers who give so much of their time to running a foodbank and children’s lunch club should not have to face uncertainty like this.”

She has arranged for Councillor Barry Rawlings, the Labour leader of the council to visit the centre, and she hopes the centre can finally get some clarity over what might happen.

“Ideally, we would like to stay where we are. We cannot understand why the building cannot be properly renovated or even rebuilt.”

Inspiration award from Barnet Council for dedicated volunteer at Rainbow Centre community hub for Dollis Valley estate

To the great disappointment of Trish – and Steve Verrall, director of the charity Barnet Community Projects – the council has withdrawn an earlier proposal to re-house the Rainbow Centre in a former cricket pavilion in Barnet Lane, Underhill.

This was first suggested four years ago.

There we high hopes as late as 2023 that the move would go ahead, but the council has informed the centre that this option would be too costly in view of the work needed to refurbish the pavilion, which has been vacant since construction of the Ark Pioneer Academy School on the site of the former Barnet Football Club stadium.

Trish said the volunteers at the centre – and other users such as a regular martial arts class – find the lack of any clear answer to the future extremely disconcerting.

“Let’s hope my Inspiration All award – which recognises the hard work of women and girls in supporting the community – will alert the rest of the council to our plight.”

Trish – who grew up on the Dollis Valley estate and who became a head girl at Ravenscroft School – started volunteering at the Rainbow Centre after she retired from her work as a secretary in the City of London.

“To begin with I helped at “Make Lunch” – our lunches in the school holidays for children who are on the free school meals register. In those days we were feeding anything from 50 to 60 children a day.”

Assisting with the weekly foodbank was another commitment. Donated food and other supplies are sorted and bagged up each Wednesday and then distributed each Thursday, helping up to 70 families a week.

Another project Trish helped with was a beauty course for young girls teaching them skills such as training to become nail technicians.

 Since becoming a director of the centre five years ago, Trish has helped resolve a range of troubling issues.

“There was a lot of anti-social behaviour around the centre. I contacted the Police and got that sorted. Fly tipping was another problem that had to be dealt with.”

Regular customers at the Sebright Arms in Sebright Road will be familiar with Trish’s regular fund-raising events.

Organising practical assistance is just as important. A Christmas Giving Tree at the Sebright encourages customers to buy and wrap up Christmas presents for the children of needy families on the estate.

Her latest pitch is to raise money for a computer for a Dollis Valley schoolboy who is about to take his A level exams in the hope of getting a place at Cambridge University to study engineering.

Trish was presented with her award by the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Tony Vorou, at a ceremony in March.

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Barnet Council under pressure to do more to support low-income families by following the lead set by Chipping Barnet Foodbank

Pioneering work by Chipping Barnet Foodbank is highlighting Barnet Council’s shortcomings in tackling hardship resulting from food shortages and inadequate advice for needy families.

Continue reading Barnet Council under pressure to do more to support low-income families by following the lead set by Chipping Barnet Foodbank

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Barnet Council planning £22 million in cuts and another significant hike in council tax to tackle spending crisis

Barnet residents should know by late February the full extent of the expenditure cuts which will have to be imposed by the borough council to reduce a looming budget deficit which could still top £50million.

Continue reading Barnet Council planning £22 million in cuts and another significant hike in council tax to tackle spending crisis