Plant Sale
A huge thank you to everyone who made the recent plant sale such a success. It was a wonderful event, with so many people contributing produce, cakes, and help. We raised an impressive £2,475.00, 50% of which we will donate to the Harington scheme.
Recent site inspection
The spring site inspection has now taken place. While there were a small number of plots requiring work to bring them up to standard, overall the Allotment Officer was very impressed with how good the site looks and very complimentary about the hard work of SHA plot holders! Her visit coincided with a Barn café morning and she was also very impressed with the refreshments served!
Centenary Summer Picnic
This will take place on Saturday 27th June from 6pm-9pm. Unfortunately the planned Jazz Band is no longer able to play but see below for alternative music plans!
We are inviting plot holders to come along with family and friends and bring your own picnic to outside the Barn and the communal plot. We will put up tables and get the chairs out. We are suggesting you plan your picnic (food and drink, cutlery, plates, glasses, napkins etc ) with your chums and bring it along and take away your stuff at the end. We don’t want to have any washing up!
AND…. you might also want to bring a guitar and strum that, or a mouth organ or a flute or an accordion…whatever. And we could play it by ear, have a jam?
So of course, No parking that evening in front of Trading Shed.
Other dates for the diary
- Saturday 30th May: Communal compost working party 10.30 – 12.30. Please contact Liz Denver if you are able to help.
- Sunday 31st May: Discussion group at 12.00, followed by Barn lunch. NOTE: ESTHER’S BEE TALK HAS UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO BE POSTPONED, WE WILL ANNOUNCE A NEW DATE SOON.
- Wed 10th June: 10.30-12.00 Café at the Barn.
Progressing the proposal for a toilet on site
This is something that has been discussed at recent AGMs, and for which there is clear indication of support from plot holders. It will increase options for Barn events, and is an important part of the site being as accessible and inclusive as possible to all.
Following this year’s AGM a sub-group has been set up and they are investigating compostable toilets, and grants that may be available, and applying for required planning permission. In the meantime, it has been decided, as a first step, and to get some sense of use, views and feedback, to rent a portaloo for a period over the summer months. More details soon.
Enjoy the sunshine!
SHA Committee
May 2026
April Newsletter
AGM
A big thank you to everyone who attended the AGM last Sunday. Over 50 people attended. Apologies to those who had standing room outside only – next year we will try and have a PA system to make it easier for everyone to hear. There were lots of good comments and suggestions, and also people volunteering to help in various ways. All suggestions will be discussed at future meetings of the committee. We welcome two new members onto the committee: Shazia Sardar and Stefanie Zona. Draft minutes of the AGM will be posted on the website shortly.
Forthcoming annual Plant Sale: Sunday 10th May 12-2
A reminder that we welcome all contributions for our stalls which are:
- Veg and Herbs
- Bedding plants/annuals
- Ornamentals/Perennials
- Cakes and preserves
NB We have decided NOT to run a bric a brac or tools stall
Please bring your contributions, labelled and priced* between 10.30 and 11.45. We are setting up the gazebos at 9.30. So no parking at Trading Shed until the evening. The Trading Shed will close early at 11.45.
A number of you have already emailed Annie to say you will help on the day, which is great. If anyone else would like to help please contact Annie We can do with all the help (and cakes!) as possible. Finally tell your friends and neighbours about it. It’s a great event.
*If you're worried about pricing then talk to the stall holders and see what other stock is priced at but please bring a pen and labels ready to price it yourself.
Communal Compost Area
Is now open! Amazing work by Liz Denver and Nevil Yildiz and all those who have helped get it to this stage.
PLEASE PUT YOUR COMPOSTABLE WASTE IN BIN 1.
NO TREE TRUNKS OR LARGE BRANCHES AND NO RUBBISH.
We will shortly be circulating more information and a list of do’s and don'ts for using the area responsibly.
Dates for your diary
Sun 10th May Plant sale 12 - 2
Wed 13th May Café at Barn 10.30 – 12.00
Sun 31st May Barn lunch and bee talk by Esther
Sat 27th June Mid-summer picnic 6 – 9pm more details soon.
Sun 9th August Brass band
Sat 12th Sept Centenary Plant Show
Reminders
- There have been reports of intruders on site. Please be vigilant and keep an eye out, and report anything unusual to info@ And make sure that gates are always securely locked.
- Following the thefts and break in to sheds some months ago we are still processing an insurance claim. Our insurers will only cover claims where stolen items were in locked sheds, please bear this in mind, and as far as possible do not leave valuable items on site.
Willow available
Jo Alexander (93B) writes: I am wondering if anyone would like some willow from what is growing on my allotment. Useful for stakes, willow weaving etc. It is getting tall again and am hoping someone may want to cut it back for their own use? If you are interested please email.
Haringey History Fair
This is taking place at Bruce Castle on Saturday 16th May. Jill Russell is giving a talk based on her research for the SHA history booklet, and Ian Potts is showing a few clips from his forthcoming film about our site. Further details here: https://brucecastle.org/events/haringey-history-fair
Plant Sale
Our annual plant sale will be taking place on Sunday 10th May 12 – 2pm
How can you help?
- We need plot holders to sow seeds now with the plant sale in mind.
- Make a cake or scones to serve with teas or to sell on a separate cake stall.
- The stalls will be Veg and Herbs, Ornamentals, Bedding plants, Cakes and Preserves, Garden bric-a-brac and tools.
- We need volunteers on the day to
- Help set up gazebos and tables 9.30 -10.30
- Set up and run stalls 10.30 am onwards
- Bring plants and cakes 10.30-11.45
It’s always good fun and really worthwhile. Half our funds go to the Harington Scheme. Please email Annie at if you can help, telling her what you can offer. Thank you.
Dates for the diary
Lots happening to put in your diary for the months ahead:
- Wed 8th April – Café at the Barn 10.30 – 12.00
- Sun 12th April – Maintenance working party 10.30 (more details soon)
- Sun 26th April – AGM at 12.00 followed by lunch
- Sun 10th May – Plant sale 12.00 – 2.00
- Sat 27th June – Mid-summer party and jazz band (6 – 9pm)
- Sun 9th August – Brass band
- Sat 12th Sept – Centenary Plant Show
Reminders
- There are still some potatoes, shallots and onions available from the trading shed.
- There will be a Haringey inspection this spring, so do make sure your plot is ‘inspection-ready’, including a visible plot number.
- Please make sure you keep pathways around your plot clear, including any overhanging branches.
- No bonfires are permitted between March – end of October.
- The communal compost area remains closed whilst it is re-organised.
Ponds
Ponds on plots are great for biodiversity of our site. But they can be a danger to young children so please make sure that your children do not stray on to other people’s plots and are supervised at all times.
Forthcoming AGM
Papers for this year’s AGM will be going out shortly. The committee are keen to hear from anyone who is interested in joining the committee, no experience necessary! If you would like to chat to a committee member and find out more please do get in touch at info@shepherdshillallotments.co.uk
Disposing of non-green waste
A few tenants have asked about the possibility of the committee organising an occasional skip. A site wide skip has proved difficult to manage in the past, but individual tenants have successfully arranged for their own mini-skip. Another possibility is for a few interested tenants to jointly organise their own skip. Please notify the committee if one is being arranged.
Centenary cookbook
We are gathering lots of great recipes for our centenary cookbook. Thank you to all who have sent in their recipes. We would now like some recipe testers! If you are interested please write in to info@ for more information.
SHA Committee
March 2026