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

February Newsletter

The new trading shed
We are delighted to see our smart new trading shed up and nearly ready to open.  A big thank you to Ian and Annie for all their hard work in making this happen.  The shed will be open for business weekly from Sunday 9th March.  On Sunday 9th March we will have a grand opening! With ribbon cutting, and teas, coffees and cakes served in the Barn.  All welcome!
 
Maintenance working party
The next working party will also be on Sunday 9th March, meet at 10.30 in the car park.  Lots of maintenance jobs to do – please come and lend a hand if you can.
 
Communal composting area – can you help?
This area is being well used, but it needs a small group of people to help turn it into a productive composting site.  The compost heap needs regular watering, turning, wood chip added etc.  If you have ideas or expertise about effective communal composting and could volunteer to help please write into info@ and we will put you in touch with Neville who will coordinate the group.  
 
Potatoes
There are still some varieties of potato available – come along when the trading shed opens on 9th March if you want to buy the following varieties: Nadine, Desiree, Maris Pier, all £1.50/kg.
 
A welcome to new plot holders
A number of plots have been let recently, and we’d like to extend a warm welcome to all new plot holders.  There are lots of ways to get involved in allotment life, and lots of ways of getting advice and ideas from other plot holders.  Talk to your neighbours, come along to the monthly discussions and lunches in the Barn (the March one will be a SHA Question Time, so a great opportunity to bring along any questions you have), or call into the trading shed.  And we always welcome volunteers – to help with Barn events (making cakes, helping serve and wash up etc.), to join a team looking after the communal plot by the Barn, lend a helping hand at the regular maintenance working parties, and help with the communal composting area.  If you would like to find out more please write into info@
 
Bridge at the Barn
These sessions continue – come along whether an experienced bridge player or a beginner wanting to learn.  Next sessions are 10-12 Tuesday 4th March and 2-4pm Friday 21st March.
 
Advance Notice: The Annual Shepherds Hill Plant Sale – Sunday 11th May
This year it will be held in and around the trading shed yard on the afternoon of Sunday 11th May.  It’s an important money raiser for us and for the Harrington Scheme which we support. But it’s also a good opportunity to buy plants ( veg, bedding, ornamentals ) to fill your gaps and lots of fun. As well as the plant stalls there will be cakes, savouries and teas. Of course we can only sell what is donated to us by you so please think about sowing and potting on a few extras to put on the stalls and/or bake a cake.
Nearer the time we will be asking for volunteers to help set up, and work on, the stalls.
In the meantime keep the date and tell friends about it.
 
Advance Notice: 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).
 
Dates for your diary
Tuesday March 4th 10 - 12 Bridge in the Barn
Sunday March 9th 11-12 Trading Shed grand opening + Tea, Coffee and cakes in the Barn
Sunday March 9th 10.30 – 1.00 Maintenance working party
Friday March 21st 2 – 4pm Bridge in the Barn
Sunday March 23rd 12 - 2 Discussion group: SHA Question Time, followed by lunch (homemade soup, bread, cakes, etc.)
Wed April 9th 10.30-12 Café at the Barn
Sunday April 27th 12 – 2pm Discussion group and lunch at the Barn
Sunday May 11th 1 – 4pm Annual plant sale
10th – 15th April Peter Till one man show at Hornsey library
 
 
14:57, 02 Apr 2025 by Website Admin