Thanks to everyone who came along to the summer picnic. It was a lovely evening, with some great musical entertainment.
Reminders
- If you are using SHA wheelbarrows please make sure you return them and don’t leave on your plot.
- There have been more reports of stolen produce – blackcurrant, apricot, gooseberry bushes stripped bare. This is very upsetting so please do keep an eye out for any suspicious activity and report any thefts to info@
- Tenants are reporting problems with bushes and trees from adjoining plots casting shade on their plot. A reminder that bushes and trees over 3 metres should be pruned.
- If you are buying loose produce from the trading shed, please bring your own bags/containers if possible.
Food Bank Collections
If you have an excess veg and fruit on your plot you could donate it to the food bank. Please don’t pick it too early. The produce will be collected by the foodbank at midday on a Tuesday. The first collection will be on 21st July. Produce collected on Tuesday will be given out by the food bank on a Thursday so please bear this in mind. It would be a waste for fresh produce to go off. Many thanks.
Dates for the diary:
Sunday 9th August 1 – 3pm: Brass band, with lunch in the Barn served from 12.30.
Wednesday 12th August 10.30 – 12.00: Café at the Barn
Saturday 12th September: Centenary produce show. More details to follow.
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