News from The Barnet Society

Barnet High Street pharmacist Naresh Maini is retiring after over 40 years of what customers say has been an outstanding record of dependable and friendly service and advice. He started work at Wilkinson the chemist – at 190 High Street – in 1982 when his family purchased the business, and he soon established a loyal clientele.

An all-day conference to discuss the challenges facing the 22 foodbanks across the London Borough of Barnet issued a warning of "serious concern" about levels of malnutrition among local people seeking support. Chipping Barnet Foodbank is one of six in the borough being surveyed in a study being conducted by University College London.

Two leading members of Tottenham Hotspur women's team spent the afternoon meeting children and families at the Noah's Ark Children's Hospice in Byng Road, Barnet, as part of the club's long-standing support for its official charity partner.

An action group formed by residents is to be a core participant at a public inquiry to oppose plans for a travellers' caravan site on farmland off Mays Lane, Barnet. An appeal has been launched to raise money for legal representation.

Barnet Guild of Artists have bounced back with a bumper annual show after rebuilding membership and support following the difficult years of the Covid pandemic. There are 156 entries including paintings, lino prints and some ceramics on display at the Wesley Hall in Stapylton Road until Saturday 2 November.

A children's story written by a Barnet author before her death has been published by her husband Tony Barnes who organised a book launch in her memory at Barnet Museum. Wulf and the Power of Thorn is the second of three books by Jo Barnes who was a founder member of a local writers’ group.

High Street window displays promoting Halloween will soon be replaced with Christmas themes -- and this year there is a £300 prize for the best festive window display.

After requests from residents Barnet Council is carrying out a speed survey in Salisbury Road -- part of the route of the 384 bus service -- to see if it justifies the introduction of a 20mph speed limit.

A go ahead has finally been given by the office of the Mayor of London to the redevelopment of farmland on either side of a lane leading to the privately-owned Whalebones house in Wood Street, Barnet.

Imaginatively dressed scarecrows sitting and standing among the pews added colour and a sense of fun to a weekend of events at St Mark's Church, Barnet Vale, to celebrate harvest festival.

After a decade of discussion and debate about building houses and flats on 14 acres of fields and woods at Whalebones, in Wood Street, Barnet, a final decision is about to be made by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, along with his planning advisers.

A fund-raising appeal has been launched to see if there is sufficient support for a campaign to restore to working order a waterfall and pond in the centre of Highlands Gardens, a small but much-loved public park tucked away in New Barnet at the corner of Leicester Road and Abbotts Road.

Bar staff at the appropriately named Builders Arms in New Barnet are having to endure what they say is a living nightmare -- the pub is now surrounded by a building site which is preventing access for daytime customers.

With the loss of a central clearing point to support Barnet's foodbanks, organisers say there is added urgency behind the need for a day-long event in November to consider how to strengthen the distribution of supplies to needy families.

Residents concerned about plans for further development threatening the Dollis Valley Green Belt have formed an action group ahead of a public inquiry to be held in the New Year over a controversial proposal for a residential caravan site.

Residents at a Barnet care home were able to share in the wide recognition of World Alzheimer's Day with a chance to enjoy a special performance by the north London community group "Singing for the Brain".

School pupils are just some of the regular passengers who rely on the reinstated 84B bus service between Potters Bar and High Barnet -- a route which needs additional funding if its future operation is to be guaranteed.

Almost half the teaching staff at Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School, Barnet, have been there for at least ten years -- a record of long service that was described as "a remarkable achievement" by the headteacher Violet Walker.

A new special school for autistic children in Moxon Street, Barnet, is full of surprises. A calm, safe playground on the roof top and a pink and purple sensory room are just two of the many innovative features.

Volunteer fruit pickers are hoping for a bumper harvest of surplus produce to support foodbanks across the London Borough of Barnet. Barnet Community Harvesters, established four years ago by Daniella Levene (above, left), are finding that this autumn’s crop of apples and pears is far better than a year ago.