Welcome

This week you can find out the secret local eco havens you never knew existed, and how Finchley avoided cholera.

🍃 7 Signs Finchley is an Eco Haven

Dollis Brook - decked out in Finchley Now green, dontcha know

Finchley and the surrounding area is rich in environmental value - from ancient woodlands to community-run nature havens.

Together with efforts to re-green urban areas, Finchley demonstrates a vibrant, evolving commitment to nature and sustainability.

1: Long Lane Pasture is a volunteer-run nature reserve in Finchley, acting as a peaceful urban sanctuary for birds, insects, and wildflowers. It’s managed independently by a Trust under a lease from Barnet

2: Stephens House & Gardens covers ten acres and is designated as a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation. Its birdlife includes woodpeckers, greenfinches, robins, and frogs breed in the ornamental pond

3: Cherry Tree Wood is a 5.3-hectare park in East Finchley, recognised as a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation. It contains woodland, grassland, ancient flora like wood anemone, and hosts species such as Eurasian nuthatch and great spotted woodpecker

4: Victoria Park in Finchley covers 7 hectares, includes playgrounds, tennis courts, lawns, a bowling and croquet club, and achieved the prestigious Green Flag Award, a benchmark for high-quality green spaces

5: Barnet borough (including Finchley) has one third of its area classified as green space, featuring ancient woodlands, traditional hay meadows, and watercourses which serve as important wildlife habitats

6: Dollis Brook in Finchley is legally recognised as a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation. It provides scenic trails for walking, jogging, cycling, and bird‑watching

7: New "Tiny Forests" planted in Finchley: Three community Tiny Forest plots - each planting around 600 trees (totalling 1,800) - have been established. They’re expected to attract over 500 animal and plant species within three years and serve as living laboratories where volunteers including students collect growth data

Finchley’s green spaces, both old and new, highlight a community deeply rooted in sustainability and growth. 🍃

Events

ARTS

Sunday 14th September

Art Exhibition - Finchley Landmarks | Sun, Sep. 14 | 11:45 am to 8:00 pm | St Mary's Hall, 30 Hendon Lane, N3 1TR | Free | Discover and purchase artworks by Mari I'Anson, creator of Finchley Sketchbook, featuring beloved Finchley landmarks. How many can you recognise?

Architect's Talk - Behind the Scenes | Sun, Sep. 14 | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | St Mary's Hall, 30 Hendon Lane, N3 1TR | Free | Hear from the lead architect behind a transformative £1.3 million initiative, partly funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Discover how this ambitious project will preserve St Mary-at-Finchley for future generations and enhance its role as a hub for community life.

COMMUNITY

Thursday 11th September

HGS U3A Open Day | Thu, Sep. 11 | 10:30 am to 12:30 pm | Free Church North Square, NW11 7AG | £37 | No longer in full time employment? Discover the world of learning and friendship at HGS u3a with over 70 activities including book groups, bridge, current affairs, cycling and so much more.

Thursday 18th September

Thursday 25th September

An Update From The Finchley Society On Pentland And Lodge Lane Developments | Thu, Sep. 25 | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | Avenue House, Stephen's House and Gardens, 17 East End Road, N3 3QE | Free for members of the Finchley Society; £2.00 for non members. | Members of the Finchley Society Planning Committee will update you on two important proposed developments in Finchley. Alison will speak about the Pentland project and Tim will talk about the Lodge Lane development. Their talks will be followed, after coffee, by a 15 minute Q & A session.

MUSIC

Sunday 21st September

Concert: Soho Jazz Knights | Sun, Sep. 21 | 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm | St.Mary-at-Finchley Parish Church | Free | Join us for a superb evening of Jazz - old and new, Swing and Blues from Richard Davey (keys) and friends in the beautiful surroundings of St.Mary-at-Finchley. Entry is free with donations for our Give Me Shelter Church and Churchyard project.

SHOPPING

Sunday 14th September

OLDER PEOPLE

Monday 8th September

Thursday 11th September

Over 60s Social Club | Thu, Sep. 11 | 11:45 am to 1:30 pm | Onestonegrove, Hayling Way, Edgeware, HA8 8BN | Free | Are you 60 or over and looking for a friendly and welcoming place to socialise? Or do you know someone who might like to join? Meet new people and make friends. Socialise and chat with like-minded individuals. Play games and challenge your mind. Do light exercise to stay active and healthy. Get tech support to help you navigate the digital world. Please call us on 0208 357 0923 or email.

Events - Book Ahead

Friday 10th October

Hub Connections, World Mental Health Day Event | Fri, Oct. 10 | The Meritage Centre, Church End, NW4BY 4JT | Free | In honour of World Mental HealthDay, well being barnets next #HubConnections event will focus on making mental health a priority in the workplace.

Sunday 26th October

Local Lowdown

Skewering

Brent Cross is about to level up lunch. German Doner Kebab’s new spot opens this autumn, promising posh doner kebabs, legendary sauces, and new rice bowls with hash browns. Vegan? Sorted. Step aside sad sandwiches - kebab cravings just went gourmet.

Painting

Calling all art lovers. Burgh House is on the lookout for Donald Towner’s paintings hidden in Hampstead homes. The museum is planning a big exhibition next year and wants locals to come forward with works. Towner captured Hampstead’s charm across six decades, from leafy gardens to wintry Heath scenes.

Protesting

Café showdown. Campaigners returned to Hampstead Heath to protest City of London plans to tender leases for five much-loved cafés. Big names like Jeremy Vine and Benedict Cumberbatch support the cause.

Policing

Countering tradition. The Met's trimming down. 18 police front counters will close across London to save £7m, despite a mayoral pledge to keep one in every borough. Colindale and Wembley aren't going anywhere, so locals can still report crimes in person, old-school style.

Striking

Strike week strikes back. Just when you’d gotten used to smooth sailing, RMT workers are walking out across both the Tube and DLR starting today. Expect a week of transport chaos. Time to dust off the walking shoes.

How Finchley Avoided Cholera

Water Tower at Stephen's House & Gardens, seen from East End Road

In the mid-19th century, Finchley’s rapid growth exposed dire problems with water and sanitation.

The vestry dismissed concerns in 1866, even as polluted wells spread disease. That same year, the East Barnet Gas and Water Company was founded, later installing mains in Whetstone to improve health and rental payments.

Yet, many homes still relied on contaminated wells well into the 1880s.

In 1880, local philanthropist Henry “Inky” Stephens, of Stephens’ Ink and Stephens House & Gardens, took matters into his own hands by installing a private water tower - still standing today - to supply his estate.

By 1901, rising water rates provoked complaints, but the company argued deep boring was costly. Meanwhile, sewerage remained chaotic, with repeated cholera outbreaks (mentioned by Fiona Bruce on the Antiques Roadshow), failed schemes, and rejected plans. Only gradual reforms and the creation of the Finchley Local Board in 1878 brought some improvement to the area’s health infrastructure.

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Editors' Note - From Tessa

We've just come back from a relaxing week in Cyprus. Beach, sea, sun, relaxation.

Highly recommend.

Also, let us know about local events or local news. We curate our content to keep it a 5-minute read, so can't include everything we're sent.

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Tessa Davis

Sasha Frieze

Finchley Now

🗞️ The best kebab coming to Brent Cross...