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👩‍🌾 5 Finchley(ish) Garden Centres

The sun’s out, and so are the secateurs. If your garden’s calling for attention, Finchley and the surrounding area is blooming with places to stock up, get advice, and meet fellow growers.

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From window boxes to backyards, green spaces are getting a seasonal glow-up. Nothing says spring quite like a visit to your local garden centre. Whether you're after herbs, hydrangeas, or just a bit of horticultural advice, we’ve got you covered.

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If you’re looking for hyper-local The ​Flower Station Temple Fortune​ has a good selection of plants and flowers, and a secret ​cafe​ in its backyard. Flower Station blends floristry flair with convenience, offering fresh blooms, stylish arrangements, and friendly service - perfect for gifts, home decor, or a quick flower fix on the go. Insta​

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​​Finchley Nurseries​ in Mill Hill has a family-friendly cafe ​The Summerhouse Cafe​. Tucked away in Mill Hill’s countryside, it’s a charming, family-run garden centre offering plants, gifts, and expert advice in a peaceful setting. It’s a hidden gem for gardeners looking to explore, unwind, and find something special. Insta​

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​​Sunshine Garden Centre​ in Bounds Green is a vibrant, award-winning destination for plants, garden essentials, and expert advice. With a café, gift shop, and seasonal events, it’s a lively hub for green-fingered inspiration all year round. Insta​

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​​A little further afield, Clockhouse Nursery​ in Enfield is a spacious, well-stocked garden centre known for its wide plant selection, helpful staff, and relaxed atmosphere. Whether you're after seasonal colour or year-round greenery, it’s a go-to spot for both seasoned and beginner gardeners alike. Insta​

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Definitely worth leaving Finchley for, St Alban’s Aylett Nurseries, celebrated it’s seventieth anniversary a few weeks ago. It was among the UK’s first garden centres. Originally a cut flower nursery, it evolved in response to customer demand. Founder Roger Aylett married Hazel, his first employee. The business flourished and remains family-run. Today, Aylett Nurseries is known for its innovation, community roots, and passion for plants across three generations. Insta​

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Soil sorted, blooms ready - now get planting, Finchley. 👩‍🌾

Events

COMMUNITY

Wednesday 14th May

​A Walk Through Finchley Church End Town Centre, Past, Present And Future | Wed, May. 14 | 10:30 am to 12:00 am | St Mary-at-Finchley, Hendon Lane, N3 1TR | Free | We will meet outside the entrance to St Mary-at-Finchley and walk North through the Town Centre to just before Victoria Park, stopping at 6 points of interest to explore some heritage and current and future developments. The walk is 0.7 mile and will last approximately 90 minutes with seating around halfway.

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Friday 16th May

​The Nightingale Night Hike | Fri, May. 16 | 6:00 pm to 12:00 am | Enfield Council Silver Street EN1 3XA | £18 | Charity walk in aid of The Nightingale Cancer Support Centre. Join thousands of people on Friday 16th May taking a walk for cancer support. 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. That’s why the Night Hike is held every year; to ask our community to help us, so that we can help others.

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MUSIC

Thursday 15th May

​Anything Goes | Thu, May. 15 | Wyllyotts Theatre & Cinema, Wyllyotts Place, EN6 2HZ | from £17 | Following last years outstanding production of 'Sister Act' ELODS are taking to sea with this musical production of Anything Goes.

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Friday 16th May

​Matt Ford presents The Cole Porter Songbook | Fri, May. 16 | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | artsdepot, N12 0GA | £20 | An evening of music and song from one of the 20th Century’s most celebrated and influential composers. Join BBC Proms regular Matt Ford, alongside his world-class musicians, on an intimate musical journey as they perform a sparkling selection of Cole Porter’s finest works.

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THEATRE

Friday 16th May

​Heiress: Sargent's American Portraits | Fri, May. 16 | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane | £10 Adult, free for English Heritage members and Friends of Kenwood. 15% discount for online ticket purchase | The real lives of America’s ‘Dollar Princesses’ are revealed in a new exhibition. Coincides with the centenary of the artist's death.

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Saturday 17th May

​Duck | Sat, May. 17 | 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm | artsdepot, N12 0GA | £18 | From award-winning playwright maatin, Duck is about adolescence, the pressures of sporting competition and finding your identity in an environment that doesn’t cater for difference.

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Friday 23rd May

​The Elmer Adventure | Fri, May. 23 | 11:00 am to 12:00 am | artsdepot, N12 0GA | £14 | Join three friends on a joyful jungle adventure in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the much-loved Elmer books by David McKee. Everyone loves the stories about Elmer the patchwork elephant – whether he’s pretending to be an ordinary grey elephant or playing a practical joke. But has anyone ever actually seen him?

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SPORT

Tuesday 13th May

Fusion Pilates & Barre | Tue, May. 13 | 10:00 am | Park View Health Club, 183 - 191 Ballards Lane, N3 2PN | First 3 classes £10, then £15 per class | Sculpt your Body, strengthen your core and move with elegance in this energizing fusion of pilates and barre. Email.

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NATURE

Wednesday 14th May

​Tree Planting Event 2 | Wed, May. 14 | 11:00 am | Mutton Brook, N3 3AY | Free | Come Help finish planting the 400 trees to help the tiny forests at Mutton Brook.

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Monday 19th May

Monken Hadley Common Community Planting Event | Mon, May. 19 | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | Parkgate Cresent Entrance, Barnet | Free | Enfield Council are organising a community planting event to establish the new wetland and marginal habitats within Monken Hadley Common as part of the flood alleviation scheme. Bring your own wellies, gloves and spades. Email.

Events - Book Ahead

Saturday 28th June

​East Finchley Open Studios | Sat, Jun. 28 | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | East Finchley | Free | East Finchley Open Artists’ Open House Weekends, two weekends: June 28/29th and July 5/6th (All Saints Church opens midday Sundays).This is your opportunity to connect with artists, learn about their creative processes, and purchase unique, handcrafted pieces directly. We promise a truly welcoming, enjoyable and enriching experience for art lovers of all kinds.

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Sunday 6th July

​Hampstead Summer Festival: Big Fair in Heath Street | Sun, Jul. 06 | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | Heath Street Heath Street, NW3 6UA | Free entry | Time to Party. Fun fair, 100+ craft stalls & international food and drink, circus school for kids, rocking music to get you dancing in the street. From Hampstead Tube to Whitestone Pond.

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Tuesday 29th July

​Spot’s Birthday Party | Tue, Jul. 29 | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | artsdepot, N12 0GA | £14 | Join Spot and his friends for this engaging and interactive show for everyone age 2+ and their grown-ups.With integrated Makaton, catchy songs, dancing and lots of interactive party games, this is going to be the best birthday party ever.

Local Lowdown

Remembering

• Lighting up the night for heroes. Hendon Town Hall glowed in red, white, and blue last week to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, honouring those who served in WWII. Barnet’s community spirit shone, with street parties and stories shared across the borough

Renovating

• Castle comeback. Bruce Castle’s East Wing gallery is gleaming after a major makeover, just in time for VE Day’s 80th anniversary. The 500-year-old Tudor gem now has a new exhibition space and restored historic features. Locals loved guided tours, secret Spurs history, and a grand reopening with the Mayor of Haringey.

Disposing

• Skipping the clutter. Got junk piling up? Community skips are popping up across Barnet from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm on select dates. Clear out your cupboards, but don’t forget proof of address. Bring your Council Tax or a utility bill to show you’re a local. Declutter day awaits.

Fundraising

• Finchley Foodbank’s chair, Brittany Jones, conquered the London Marathon - raising over £9,000 (and counting) for the Foodbank. Brittany’s been volunteering since 2021 and now leads the charge for local families in need. Want to chip in? Her fundraising page is open till the end of May.

Prize-winning

• Finchley pride incoming. Archer Academy in East Finchley is a finalist for Staff Wellbeing School of the Year at the 2025 TES Awards. Staff may need a wellbeing boost while waiting for national recognition results. Winners are announced on 20 June. Fingers crossed for Finchley.

It Happened Here: NW5

A couple of weeks left to see It Happened Here - a participatory performance and mapping project.

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Have you ever wondered what your neighbourhood looks like through someone else’s eyes?

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Brazilian anthropologist Gustav Dias-Vallejo, known for his work with indigenous communities, has brought his storytelling techniques to Kentish Town with It Happened Here, an exhibition at the Torriano Meeting House celebrating its 40th anniversary.

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Inspired by the area’s layered identities, Dias-Vallejo invited locals to share personal memories tied to specific locations - ranging from bike rides and first kisses to moments of protest and loss.

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​These stories, captured through photographs, spoken word, and maps, formed a walking tour through NW5. The project reveals how shared spaces carry hidden histories and highlights the power of community storytelling in shaping our sense of place. Insta.

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​It Happened Here​
​in maps, photographs & voices ​
EXHIBITION to 24 May, viewable during events and by appointment

Editors' Note - From Sasha

Last Sunday was community central in Finchley - starting with the first Play Street (one of a series) just north of Avenue House. Early evening, the 80th anniversary of VE Day celebration at Stephen's House & Gardens, recreating the original iconic picture.

What a day 😎

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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