JULY NEWSLETTER

Reminders
A reminder that in addition to our monthly Sunday lunches we also have the Wednesday ‘Café at the Barn’ on the second Wednesday of the month from 10.30 – 12.00.  This is a great opportunity to pop in for tea/coffee and delicious home-made cake and a relaxed chat.  There’s one this week on Wednesday 9th July so do come along if you're on site and can make it.
 
Please make sure your plot is clearly numbered and the number is visible from the path.  This is a requirement of your tenancy agreement.  
 
Another requirement is that you keep paths around your plot clear.  Particularly at this time of year make sure the paths are free of brambles and any other obstructions.
 
And please DO NOT leave plastic pots outside the trading shed or Barn.  
 
2026 – SHA Centenary Year!
Our site will be 100 years old next year and we would like to plan 10 special events to mark the 10 decades of the site.  Ideas put forward so far include: 
  • Allotment cookbook
  • Tea dance 
  • Plant show
  • Scarecrow competition 
  • Site open day 
  • Film about the site including some oral histories
  • SHA Calendar 
 Let us know if you have other ideas to add to this preliminary list, and if you would like to get involved with any of the above.  Any help is very welcome.  Also if you have any snippets about the history of the site we would love to hear them.
 
Thanks from the Harington scheme
We've received a letter of thanks from Harington for our donation from money raised at our annual plant sale in June - see below.
 
Dates for the diary
  • Wednesday July 9th 10.30-12: Café at the Barn
  • Sunday July 20th 1.00 – 2pm : Lunch at the Barn, accompanied by the London Metropolitan Brass Band! **** special event***
    Friday July 25th 2 – 4pm: Bridge at the Barn, all welcome
    Wednesday 13th August 10.30- 12: Café at the Barn
  • Sunday 24th August 12.00: Barn discussion group followed by lunch at 1.00.
     
 
15:36, 07 Jul 2025 by Website Admin

MAY NEWSLETTER

Thank you to all who helped make our annual plant sale such a success – to the many people who donated plants and other items for sale, made cakes, helped on the day, and who came along and made it such a lovely sociable event.  We raised a record £2,700, half of which we donate to the Harington Scheme.   
 
Also our thanks to all who attended the AGM last month.  It was a sell-out with standing room (outside) only!  Draft minutes of the meeting will be up on the website shortly.  There were lots of good suggestions and comments, all of which will be explored by the committee going forward.
 
Bruno pointed out that next year is the centenary year for the site.  We would love to hear from anyone who has any interesting snippets of social history or old photos or suggestions of where we might research more about the early days and development of the site. We are planning several events to mark the centenary – watch this space!
 
Dates for your diary
 

This Sunday, May 25th   Discussion group at 12.00 followed by Bank Holiday lunch 1 -2pm
 
Friday 6th June 2pm
 		 Bridge at the Barn
Wed 11th June 10.30 – 12 Café at the Barn
 
Sunday June 22nd Discussion group at 12.00 followed by lunch at the Barn.
Advance notice: July 20th   Brass Band will play at 1.30pm Members of the London metropolitan brass band ( of which one is a plot holder) are going to play at the Sunday lunch date outside the trading shed.
 

 
 
Reminder: Don’t forget Gary Sycamore’s mini plant sales, taking place on his plot 108 on Sundays during May and June from 2 – 3pm.  A wide variety of veg and flower plants for sale.

11:42, 24 May 2025 by Website Admin

April Newsletter

AGM
You will have received an email notice of this year’s AGM being held on Sunday 27th April.  Please come along and hear about all the improvements (and challenges) on the site in the past year and our plans for the year ahead.  It’s a great opportunity to feed in your ideas for site improvements and to hear from others too.  And if you are interested in joining the committee and would like to find out more first we are keen to hear from you, please write in to info@ and a committee member will be in touch.
 
Next maintenance working party
Thank you to all who have helped out at recent working parties, there are always plenty of maintenance jobs needing doing on the site and it makes a big difference to the improvements we can make on site.  The next working party will be on Sunday 13th April (meet at the trading shed at 10.30), and the focus will be on path repairs and/or clearing another section of the communal composting area.
 
Plot 15 Helpers
Plot 15 is the communal garden area in front  of the Barn which is a lovely place to sit at any time and enjoy lunch or tea when the cafe is open. It is looked after by a rota of volunteers who have helped to keep it in order and watered when necessary. 
Annie who has organised the rota up until now is handing over to Fiona Godfrey who has been very involved in the planting and up keep of the area throughout the year, whilst the volunteers  weed, water, plant  for a couple of hours during one month of the year. We have a great team but there are gaps on the rota so we are looking for more volunteers particularly during the summer months.
Please contact Fiona if you can spare a couple of hours.
 
Reminder: Peter Till Art Show at Hornsey Library
Peter, a plot holder and artist, who created many artworks for the Guardian, NY Times, Spectator, New Scientist, etc., is selling some of his artworks at a one man show at the Original Gallery at Hornsey Library from 10th – 15th April, generously raising funds for Shepherds Hill Allotments.  This will be a fantastic show, make sure to go along, and tell family, friends and neighbours about it (see poster below).
 
Reducing plastic use
A reminder where at all possible to seek out alternatives to using plastic and to reuse and recycle where possible. The information in the attached link is helpful.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-inspiration/get-gardening/how-to-go-plastic-free-in-your-garden
It seems that none of our local garden centres (e.g. Sunshine, Alexandra Palace nor Finchley Nurseries) currently offer a plant pot return and recycle service, but worth everyone asking when visiting to put pressure on them to provide this service.
 
Trading shed – new opening hours
We are extending the opening hours of the trading shed.  During spring and summer it will be open weekly on a Sunday 11.00 – 12.30 (an extra half hour).  In Nov, Dec, Jan it will open fortnightly for one hour 11-12.00.
 
Consultation on Montenotte Rd pedestrian zone
Haringey are proposing to designate part of Montenotte Rd as a School Street, restricting vehicle access at the beginning and end of the school day during term time.  The proposal is currently out for consultation, you can find out more and comment here:  Have your say about School Streets | Haringey Council
 
Dates for the diary 
 
Wed April 9th 10.30- 12.00 Café at the Barn
Thur April 10th – 15th Peter Till art show at Hornsey library (see poster below)
Sun April 13th 10.30 Maintenance working party
Fri April 18th 2pm Bridge and hot cross buns at the Barn!
Sun April 27th 12 noon SHAA  AGM, followed by lunch
Sun May 11th 1.00- 3.30pm SHA Annual Plant Sale (see separate email)
 
 
Enjoy the sunshine!

SHA Committee, April 2nd.
13:45, 03 Apr 2025 by Website Admin