A History of SHA: booklet launched

A History of SHA: booklet cover

As part of our 2026 centenary celebrations Jill Russell has been researching and writing a short history of Shepherds Hill Allotments. 

She traces the growing of crops on the slopes of Shepherds Hill back to medieval times, and then documents how during the 19th and 20th centuries the allotment site and surrounding land has at various times been farmland, playing fields and even a rifle range!  She describes the campaigns to ensure the allotments and surrounding green spaces were protected from development, and the extent of land in Crouch End given over to allotments in WW1 and WW2.

The booklet includes stories from plot holders who’ve had their allotment for many years, and the changes they’ve observed on the site.

The booklet is beautifully illustrated and designed, and includes fascinating old maps and photos.

The booklet is on sale  (£5.00 including a donation to the Hornsey Food Bank) in the SHA trading shed every Sunday 11.00 – 12.30 (when the Montenotte Road gates are open for local people to call by).  The booklet is also available from House of Books in Crouch End, and from the Hornsey Historical Society on Tottenham Lane.   

If you would like any further information, please email info@shepherdshillallotments.co.uk  

15:24, 08 Feb 2026 by Website Admin

January 2026 Newsletter

January Newsletter
 
Dates for your diary 
  • Sunday 11th January: Trading Shed open 11-12.30 (and another chance to buy your SHA centenary calendar!)
  • Wed 14th January: Café at the Barn 10.30 – 12.00
  • Sun 18th January: Barn discussion on Biochar 12.00 – 1.00 and lunch 1.00 – 2.00pm
  • Sun 8th February: Potato day 11.00 – 2.00
  • Wed 11th February: Café at the Barn 10.30 – 12.00
  • Sun 22nd February: Barn discussion and Seed Swap 12.00 – 1.00 and lunch 1.00 – 2.00pm
  • Sun 26th April: 12.00 SHA AGM
  • Sun 10th May: Annual Plant Sale
New year, new floors!
For 2026 we have smart newly painted floors in the Barn and trading shed.  Our thanks to Ian, Garry and some hard-working Duke of Edinburgh volunteers for organising and painting.
 
Potato, onion and shallot orders
If you haven’t yet ordered your potatoes….. There are no more Golden Gourmet shallots, Maris Piper potatoes or Sturon onions but there are still plenty of Red Duke of York, Desiree potatoes and a few Nicola, Nadine and a very few Charlotte. Last orders by 24th January to Annie.
 
Any leftovers will be sold loose on Potato Day Sunday 8th Feb.  
 
Please  make sure you come and pick up your orders on Potato Day.  If you can’t make the 8th Feb please send Annie an email beforehand, and she will arrange for you to pick up from the trading shed.
 
Donations
Included with this newsletter is a letter from the Harington scheme thanking Gary Sycamore for the donation from the money he raised at his Farmers Market stall.  This year he raised an amazing £7,750.  This was a record amount, up over a thousand pounds from last year.  Thanks also go to those who contributed to Gary’s produce, with dahlias, plums, and more.
 
We have also donated £900.00,  50% monies raised at the Winter Warmer, to the Hornsey Food Bank. Thanks to all for their contributions to this very successful event.

Reminder
All tenants will be receiving their 2026 invoices from Haringey later this month.  Do keep an eye out for your invoice and make sure it is paid promptly.  We will send more reminders in due course once Haringey have confirmed the date(s) they are sent.
 
SHA Committee
January 2026

 
16:32, 20 Jan 2026 by Website Admin

Update on bonfires

Happy new year and wishing everyone a productive year of growing.

The committee met this week and discussed the results of the bonfire poll.  
 
Thank you to everyone who participated and for the many helpful comments.  As reported in a previous email, the results were close, with 102 (54%) tenants against the ban and 86 (46%) in favour of it. 
 
Having looked carefully at the comments and suggestions made, we have tried to arrive at a compromise that we hope will be acceptable to all.
 
There was wide support for restrictive burning on site and the committee agreed to:

  • Restrict bonfires on the site to between November 1st – end of February.
  • Request that tenants consider carefully whether there is an alternative to having a bonfire and to keep bonfires to a minimum. 
  • Avoid having bonfires when Sunday Barn events are taking place.
  • Wherever possible use an incinerator rather than an open bonfire.  Incinerators burn at higher temperatures, reducing harmful emissions. The trading shed will look into stocking incinerators for purchase and having a few available to borrow.  Consider sharing with neighbours too.
  • Remember your tenancy agreement stipulates that if you are asked to extinguish a nuisance bonfire by a neighbour, tenant or otherwise, you must do so immediately.
  • Always make sure you only burn dry natural materials. Further bonfire guidance from Haringey can be read on our website.

Tenants made a number of other helpful suggestions, which the committee discussed and endorsed: 

  • Encourage everyone to compost their green waste on their own plots as much as possible.  To support this we will organise Barn discussions on effective composting, dead-hedging, and the benefits of hot-bins. 
  • Explore the potential benefits of biochar. This will be the focus of a Barn discussion on 18th January.
  • Identify ways of improving the communal composting area, and access to it.  We will develop a strategy for taking this forward, which will depend in large part on tenants volunteering to help make this work.  
  • Look into the feasibility of having one or two ‘communal chipping’ days/year.

Please note:

  • BBQs continue to be permitted on site, but again we ask you to consider the environmental impact of burning, and if possible to use eco-friendly alternatives to charcoal and fire-lighters.  Also have due regard for any nuisance to your neighbours.
  • Firepits are considered in the same way as bonfires and only allowed between November and end of February.
  • The wood burning stove in the Barn provides a good source of heat and uses dried, seasoned wood from the site.  The stove will be regularly serviced and air quality monitored. 
  • The committee will review this policy and guidelines in January 2027.

If you have any questions on the above please send them in to info@shepherdshillallotments.co.uk

17:19, 07 Jan 2026 by Website Admin