Welcome

This week we've got local places where you can restock your food without wasting plastic packaging.

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And some historic Finchley photos.

🌿 Finchley's Green Future

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In a world where sustainability isn't just nice but necessary, our local area is leading by example, thanks to a trio of zero-waste stores transforming the way we shop and live.

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Here are 3 local businesses where you can get refills of goods, without all the packaging and waste.

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1: Impact Store, N3.

​This zero-waste haven provides bulk foods free from plastic packaging, along with a slew of sustainable products designed to reduce our environmental footprint.

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It has food, beauty, and household items. Everything is sourced ethically and, whenever possible, locally.

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Impact Store’s mission is clear: to disrupt the convenience culture that fuels waste, making sustainable living accessible to all.

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2: Fair-Well, mobile service.

​Fair-Well's innovative mobile refill service extends its reach to much of Finchley and surrounding areas, bringing zero-waste shopping directly to your doorstep.

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An electric van named Charlie pulls up, filled with organic, natural products - from grains and pulses to oils and teas. All you need to do is set out your containers, and you’re stocked up, without plastic.

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Fair Well’s model is about convenience without compromise, enabling residents to dramatically cut down on plastic use while enjoying top-quality products.

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3: Planet Organic, N10.

​Planet Organic is a pioneer in the organic food movement, with a strong commitment to zero waste.

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Since 2018, they've been the first zero-edible food waste business in the area, redistributing unused food through community-focused initiatives.

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Their Unpackaged range offers refillable options for everything from kitchen staples to beauty products, all plastic-free.

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By engaging with the community and listening to local needs, Planet Organic is a crucial part of Finchley's sustainable ecosystem.

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These stores are the groundwork for a sustainable future in Finchley. 🌿

Events

KIDS

Saturday 23rd November

Sensational Saturday Science | Sat, Nov. 23 | 10:30 am to 12:30 pm | Tarling Road Community Centre, N2 8LG | Free | These fantastic science sessions are funded by Grange Big Local through the Community Grants project. Family-fun while learning about science and eating free pizza - what more could you ask for this November! Priority booking for East Finchley residents as well as Grange Hill residents. | Email contact@littlevolcanoes.co.uk to book

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OLDER PEOPLE

Tuesday 19th November

​Mens' Health | Tue, Nov. 19 | 9:30 am to 12:30 pm | Watling Community Centre, 145 Orange Hill Road, HA8 0TR | Free | Join for an inspiring morning packed with practical tips on prevention and wellbeing tailored for men over 55. From staying active to mental health, Age UK is giving people the tools to stay well in older age.

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ARTS

Tuesday 12th November

​Arts & Crafts Winter Showcase 2024 | Tue, Nov. 12 | artdepot, N12 0GA | Free to enter | From jewellery and accessories to textiles, ceramics and visual art, the Arts & Crafts Showcase displays the artistry and diversity of skills in the community.

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Sunday 17th November

​Make a Paper Lampshade in Muswell Hill | Sun, Nov. 17 | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | Papershades Studio, 29 Muswell Hill, London N10 3PR | £60 | Come and make a fabulous, and totally unique paper lampshade. Using paper collage you'll create a design on one piece of card and then Ros (creator of Papershades) will print it on the spot onto five panels of paper, which you then assemble. Cheery chats around the table and plentiful tea and coffee. Ros always bakes a cake!

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COMMUNITY

Thursday 14th November

​Eco Volunteering Fair - Mitzvah Day UK | Thu, Nov. 14 | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | Middlesex University, The Burroughs, NW4 4BT | Free | Visit a variety of stands offering volunteering opportunities across Barnet. Whether it’s gardening, helping out at London Zoo, beekeeping or just being a good neighbour and keeping fit, come along and find out more. A free event which ties in with the principles of Mitzvah Day 2024, significantly themed this year as Stronger Together.

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MUSIC

Friday 15th November

​Collindale Barnet Folk Club presents Jacquelyn |Fri, Nov. 15 | 8:00 pm | The Bull Theatre, Barnet, EN5 5SJ | £6.00 | Jacquelyn Hynes, a highly regarded flautist and composer, is rooted in Irish traditional music who has played alongside and supported many of Ireland’s leading artists including Martin Hayes, Michael McGoldrick, Mary Coughlan and Lunasa. Her debut CD “Silver and Wood” received 4 star reviews from the Telegraph and RnR magazine.

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Saturday 16th November

​Karaoke Party Night | Sat, Nov. 16 | 7:00 pm | Millfield Theatre, Silver Street, N18 1PJ | £8 | Join Millfield Theatre for another night filled with fun, good vibes and Karaoke! Sing to all your favourite songs with Millfield’s very own in-house DJ playing all the tunes plus tasty Caribbean food available.

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Saturday 23rd November

​Finchley Symphony Orchestra - Rachmaninov’s Youth Symphony | Sat, Nov. 23 | 7:30 pm | Trinity Church, Nether Street, North Finchley, N12 7NN | £18 | Rachmaninov’s wonderful ‘Youth’ Symphony, as well as Dvorak’s beautiful and uplifting Symphony no. 7 and the incredible violin concerto by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. The soloist is Jordan Brooks.

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THEATRE

Thursday 21st November

​Holding The Man | Thu, Nov. 21 | 19:30 | Upstairs at the Gatehouse, 1 North Rd, Highgate Village, N6 4BD | £15.00 | Tommy Murphy’s classic adaptation of Timothy Conigrave’s award-winning memoir is a hilarious, warm and heartbreaking masterpiece. Among the normalised chaos at a 1970s Melbourne High School, young Tim falls hopelessly in love with John, the captain of the football team, starting an unconventional love story that rockets through changing times. Nov 21 – 24.

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NATURE

Thursday 14th November

​New Barnet Amateur Gardeners & Floral Art Society | Thu, Nov. 14 | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Lyonsdown Hall, Lyonsdown Road, New Barnet EN5 1JB | £5 | A Christmas wreath making demonstration by Ursula Stone of the Flower Bank using natural and recycled materials. A regular monthly meeting of the Society.

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Saturday 23rd November

​Autumn Tree ID Walk | Sat, Nov. 23 | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Kenwood House, Hampstead Ln, NW3 7JR | £5 | Join for a guided walk to discover more about Hampstead Heath’s trees and learn how to identify them. The walk will start near Kenwood House (book on for the exact meeting point) and will last for about an hour and a half. Please note, the walk will take place across some slightly uneven and muddy terrain.

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SUSTAINABILITY

Monday 11th November

​Zero Waste Webinar | Mon, Nov. 11 | 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm | Online | Free | Learn how to reduce your domestic waste and consumption, in order to save money and fight climate change. Whether it's food waste, apparel or electronic waste, we offer practical, money-saving tips and ideas you can start implementing right away.

Events - Book Ahead

Tuesday 3rd December

​Festive Wreath Making Workshop | Tue, Dec. 3 | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | The Windsor Castle N2 8DL | £85 per person (early bird) | Festive wreath making workshop led by Katie Isitt, founder of the renowned floral design studio Kidge Flowers. Learn how to make a fresh festive wreath using sustainable floristry techniques, and beautiful seasonal foliage and materials. Workshop includes all materials, a drink, and of course your creation, plus a 15% food discount voucher to use at The Windsor Castle on your next visit. Early bird offer available until 17th November.

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Sunday 8th December

​Haydn: The Seasons – An Oratorio For All | Sun, Dec. 8 | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | Alyth Synagogue, Alyth Gardens, London NW11 7EN | £20 (under-18s free) | Alyth Choral Society performs Haydn's wonderfully colourful oratorio The Seasons, with professional soloists and orchestra, directed by Alison Smart Fisher. A wonderful evening taking you through each of the seasons with music to surprise and delight. Sung in English, with a libretto in the concert programme.

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Saturday 14th December

​Winter Lights | Sat, Dec. 14 | 5:30 pm to 7.30 | Stephens House & Gardens, N3 3QE | £6.00 | Come and take Christmassy walk around the lit up gardens. 14 & 15 Dec, 5.30 – 7.30.

Local Lowdown

Planting

• Community Spark. Firefighter Hannah Gould used a £2,000 Camden Giving grant to transform West Hampstead Fire Station's forecourt with plants and shrubs. The project, in collaboration with Unity Works, created a welcoming community space where residents engage with firefighters, fostering connection and environmental improvement.

Traveling

• Delayed Ascent. Kentish Town Tube station, closed since June 2022 for escalator replacement, reopens in December. Structural repairs, unforeseen before work began, delayed progress. Upgrades include modern escalators, platform renovations, and ticket hall improvements, ensuring energy efficiency and durability for 40 years.

Visiting

• Street Revival. Historic North London area St John Street ​will be transformed by Islington Council into a greener, pedestrian-friendly space. Key features include trees, seating, traffic reduction, widened pavements, a cycle lane, and historical elements. The project aims to enhance biodiversity, community interaction, and accessibility, with input from locals.
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Parking

• Charge Change. Barnet Council is consulting on a Draft Parking Charges Policy to streamline parking fees, promote accessibility, reduce pollution, and support its Net-Zero 2030 target. Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to share feedback via an online questionnaire or alternative formats by February 2025.

Cycling

• Profit Pedals. E-bike firm Lime, profitable for a second consecutive year, is prepared for an IPO once market conditions improve, according to CEO Wayne Ting. Despite rivals struggling, Lime’s expansion has raised concerns over abandoned bikes. Ting emphasises ethical practices, distancing Lime from Uber's controversial strategies.

Finchley History: Photographs

Barnet's Borough Historical Photograph Collection is an online treasure trove that offers a unique glimpse into the past.

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It has over 500 images capturing life in and around the borough (you can buy the prints)

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Curious what Finchley looked like over a century ago? Here are some of our faves:

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One standout is Ballards Lane in 1900, a scene that looks north just before the junction of Princes Avenue. W Martyn Grocer - now at number 76 - still stands proudly.

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Or travel further back with Beating the Bounds in Finchley, 1850. One of the oldest pictures in the collection. This peculiar tradition was designed to teach boys the parish boundaries - sometimes by sharp means.

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And for railway buffs, there's East Finchley Railway Bridge, 1900, featuring the second White Lion pub on the left, and the original bridge that would later be replaced in 1939.

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If you've ever wondered about the streets you walk daily, this collection is worth exploring.

Editors' Note - From Tessa

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The Davis Family is enjoying looking after our second Foster dog, Jasper.

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He had the excitement of meeting his new prospective adoptive family today and they all got on beautifully.

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He's been a fab addition to the family, and we will be sad to see him go.

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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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You can now get a guaranteed (paid) listing for local events or local lowdown/news items.

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​And email us with any projects or ideas you'd like us to write about.

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Tessa Davis Sasha Frieze