Welcome

This week we're Art Trail heavy - Barnet's brand new art trail celebrating many of the locals we've written about, and Stephen's House & Gardens public sculpture trail.

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And a great opportunity to donate to support children of Barnet asylum seekers starting school.

👩‍🎨 Finchley Celebrates Its Own: New Art Trail

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Barnet Council has unveiled a new public art trail.

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Named 'Barnet Legends,' this project takes us on a journey through 21 unique installations dedicated to pioneering individuals whose work has left a lasting mark.

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It is curated by Create London and features the designs of artist and architect Edward Crooks. Each installation brings to life the achievements of these icons.

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Here are 5 legends closely connected to Finchley:

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1: Oliver Postgate (1925–2008)

Known for creating beloved children's shows such as Bagpuss, The Clangers, and Ivor the Engine, Postgate's work continues to enchant generations. His art piece can be found at North Finchley Library - he was a proud Finchley resident.

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2: Henry Beck (1902–1974)

While living in Finchley, Beck revolutionised public transportation with his iconic design of the London Tube map. His innovative approach to design, using only horizontal, vertical, and 45-degree lines, originated while he was a regular at Finchley Central Station. Beck's influence is commemorated inside Finchley Church End Library.

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3: Amy Winehouse (1983–2011)

The critically acclaimed singer and songwriter, who penned her first album ‘Frank’ while living in East Finchley, is celebrated at the Finchley Youth Theatre, highlighting her deep connections to the area.

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4: George Michael (1963–2016)

​Born in East Finchley, Michael rose to global fame as a music icon and dedicated philanthropist. His contributions to music and the LGBTQ+ community are commemorated at the Finchley Youth Theatre.

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5: Muriel Matters (1877–1969)

Matters was an audacious activist for women's rights. She is famed for her daring act of boarding an airship from West Hendon to drop 'Votes for Women' leaflets over London. Her courage and commitment to suffrage is represented at Brent Cross West Station, close to where her remarkable flight began.

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Walk the paths of local legends.👩‍🎨

Events

SPORT

Sunday 6 October

​Conker championships On Hampstead Heath | Sun, Oct. 06 | 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm | Parliament Hill Bandstand, NW5 1QR | Free to attend | Join in the fun at the return of the world famous, world record-breaking Hampstead Heath Conker Championships at the Parliament Hill Bandstand. The Championships will include the all-important conker competition (age categories for under 8s, 8-12s, 13-17s and adults), culminating in the final face-offs in front of the crowds in the squared conker circle!

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OLDER PEOPLE

Monday 9 September

​Kitchen Confidence | Mon, Sep. 09 | 11:00 am to 1:30 pm | Ann Owens Centre, Oak Lane, East Finchley N2 8LT | £32 | The participants cook in groups and then everyone sits together to eat. Learn to cook meals that are good for an older persons blood pressure. Learn to cook Easy to eat mexican food and other unique dishes for over 55s | email stacey.kanolik@ageukbarnet.org.uk or phone her on 0208 129 7621

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MUSIC

Tuesday 10th September

​Biker Down! - Barnet | Tue, Sep. 10 | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | Finchley Fire Station, N3 2RP | Free | A Biker Down! session is delivered by London Fire Brigade officers. The 3 hour session will equip you with practical life-saving skills covering: how to manage the scene if you come across a collision, motorcycle-specific emergency aid, how and when to remove a helmet and carry out life-saving actions.

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ARTS

Tuesday 17th September

​Finchley Art Society 75th Anniversary Party | Tue, Sep. 17 | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | St Mary's Hall, Hendon Lane, Finchley Central N3 1TS | Free Admission | Come and celebrate 75 years of painting in Finchley. Food, wine and art by local artists.

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COMMUNITY

Tuesday 10th September

​Biker Down! - Barnet | Tue, Sep. 10 | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | Finchley Fire Station, N3 2RP | Free | A Biker Down! session is delivered by London Fire Brigade officers. The 3 hour session will equip you with practical life-saving skills covering: how to manage the scene if you come across a collision, motorcycle-specific emergency aid, how and when to remove a helmet and carry out life-saving actions.

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Saturday 14th September

​Whetstone Stray Allotments Annual Show | Sat, Sep. 14 | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | Holden Road London N12 7DX | Free | Raffle, kids’ activities, prizes, community, fun. Competition entry delivery and set up starts 8am, activities from 11am. More info info@whetstoneallotments.co.uk

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Wednesday 18th September

​A walk through Finchley Church End Town Centre; past, present, and future | Wed, Sep. 18 | 11:00 am to 12:30 pm | Meet outside St Mary-at-Finchley, N31TR | Free | A Finchley Society supported walk through the 'town', sharing memories of the past and pointing out some interesting sights.

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SKILLS

Tuesday 10th September

​Sowing Stitches - Alterations And Repairs Workshop | Tue, Sep. 10 | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | 6 The Concourse, NW9 5XB | Free | get creative at the Sowing Stitches alterations and repairs workshop. Sowing Stitches in Colindale, is the place to learn or hone your sewing skills for pleasure or for money. You can learn free hand and pattern cutting fashion designs and tailoring skills to create your bespoke fashion and make money making dresses for others.

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THEATRE

Tuesday 17th September

​Buffy Revamped | Tue, Sep. 17 | 7:30 pm to 8:40 pm | Tally Ho Corner, N12 0GA | from £25 | This fast-paced gem brings you the entire 144 episodes of the hit 90s TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as told through the eyes of the one person who knows it inside out… Spike. Funny, satirical and bursting with 90s pop-culture references, it’s the perfect parody for Buffy aficionados and those who never enrolled at Sunnydale High alike.

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Friday 20th September

​Dead Horse Live | Fri, Sep. 20 | to | Theatre, Jacksons Lane, 269A Archway Road, N6 5AA | from £10 | A live reading of a new horror film, DEAD HORSE, staring Charlotte Luxford, Hemma Gulhane, and Elijah Baker, ahead of filming in Autumn '24. "Have you ever been in a relationship that just won’t end? Dead Horse is a new film exploring that idea to its logical and bloody end. Imagine Blue Valentine by way of Switchblade Romance and you are halfway to understanding our plot"

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NATURE

Wednesday 11th September

​Drawing with Nature | Wed, Sep. 11 | 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm | Whetstone Stray Allotments Holden Road N12 7DX | Free | Weekly guided sessions for adults with Les Moore on September Wednesday afternoons. Drop in for as many sessions as you want; help you connect with nature, focus, and de-stress, as well as improving your drawing skills. Suitable for all, even if you have not drawn for a long time, or if you are more experienced.

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Wednesday 18th September

​Forest Bathing | Wed, Sep. 18 | 10:30 pm to 12:30 pm | Kenwood House NW3 7JR | Free | Join a free 2-hour gentle walk on Hampstead Heath to discover and explore the practice of forest bathing, and reconnect with nature through mindfulness exercises. Children are welcome and should be accompanied by a responsible adult.

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SUSTAINABILITY

Saturday 14th September

​Barnet Council's Repair Café | Sat, Sep. 14 | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | The Skills Centre Edgware 158 Station Road HA8 7AW | free | Bring your broken items to the Repair Café at The Skills Centre, Edgware, and let skilled volunteers help you fix them for FREE!

Events - Book Ahead

Saturday 12th October

​Leon The Magician: Table Tennis is Magic! | Sat, Oct. 12 | 7:30 pm | The Bull Theatre, EN 5 5SJ | £15 | Enjoy a night of magic, illusion, table tennis exhibitions, stunts, humour, mind trickery, audience participation and live sound as Leon is back where it all started at his local Bull Theatre in Barnet.

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Sunday 13 October

​You've Got A Friend | Sun, Oct. 13 | 8:00 pm | Waterlow Park Highgate Hill N6 5HG | £12 | You’ve Got A Friend’ is a celebration of the music of two iconic songwriters and performers, Carole King and James Taylor. Join Rebecca Turner, Michael Goulding, Tony Hammond and Howard Tibble as they take you on a journey of their music and greatest hits, complemented by backstage stories and anecdotes.

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Sunday 1 December

​Believe In The Magic: A Polar Christmas Adventure For All The Family | from Sun, Dec. 01 | The Bull Theatre, Barnet, EN5 5SJ | £10.00 | A pantomime. A Musical. A Play. 50 minutes of brilliant festive fun which is guaranteed to put you and your family in the spirit as we meet your favourite Christmas characters on a theatrical journey to the home of Santa Claus. All public shows include the opportunity to see Father Christmas in his Workshop Grotto at the Theatre for free. |

Local Lowdown

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Retail

• Modernist Munch. Pret A Manger has arrived in Golders Green in style. Former Virgin Money / Northern Rock site and an iconic modernist Erno Goldfinger building. Designed in 1935 as a hairdressing salon, then a women’s clothes shop, it’s moved through finance to food retail, although decades of builders have not quite preserved the curves.

Coffee

• Birthday Bonanza. Happy 15th birthday to East Finchley’s Dan & Decarlo! Celebrating with offers throughout September. Free treat bags for purchases over £5 on Thursday and 15% off breakfast, toasties, or salad bowls on Friday. Additional offers available via their loyalty app, Magic Stamp. Thanks for the community's support!

Beetles

• Capricorn Comeback. A rare Great Capricorn Beetle, extinct in Britain for centuries, was found in Gospel Oak by Chris Heath, who suspects it arrived from Portugal in timber crates. After showing it to local children, he released it on Hampstead Heath, though its survival chances are slim.

Education

• Talent Factory. Barnet and Southgate College has opened STUDIO, a cutting-edge multimedia production facility at its Barnet Campus, funded with £1.4 million from the DfE. Offering courses in TV, film, sound, games, and more, STUDIO aims to prepare students for creative industry careers or higher education.

Development

• Community Consultation. Regal invites residents to a third public consultation on the future of Great North Leisure Park. Three September events – 14 / 17 / 19 - will showcase revised proposals, focusing on modern architecture, public spaces, and green connections. Plans will be available online from 20 September for further feedback.

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Support Local Fundraising in Barnet

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A new informal group – CommUnity Fundraiser,is united in respect, cooperation and opposing far-right hostility. Connecting with local asylum seekers, faith and community organisations on fundraisers, visits, community quilting and events.

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Made up of local residents, they are raising funds to provide school uniforms, shoes, and treats for the many asylum-seeking children in Barnet. This is to ensure they start the school year with dignity and confidence after a tough summer.

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Funds will be distributed via vouchers by local asylum seeker support organisations, Persian Advice Bureau and New Citizens Gateway, directly going to families in most need.

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This community effort shows that a diverse Barnet stands united in welcoming our new neighbours with open arms. Your donation provides practical support and sends a strong message of solidarity and kindness.

This is your chance to make a difference and show our refugee neighbours what Barnet is made of!

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​Donate here.

Editors' Note - From Sasha

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Happened across The Sky is Moving Sideways at Stephen’s House & Gardens yesterday. A public sculpture trail funded by Arts Council England. Caught glimpses of a couple of works. Art on my doorstep.

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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