Welcome to The Barnet Society

The Barnet Society is a non-political organisation that campaigns for the preservation and improvement of the environment of Chipping Barnet and surrounding areas and for protection of the Green Belt.

Founded in 1945 by Trevor Jukes and Gwyneth Cowing, the Society was established to give a voice to local people who believed that the Green Belt needed defending. We continue with that cause today but also campaign on many other local issues. Please refer to our News page for details of current campaigns and other items.

The Barnet Society works to ensure that we get the best for our town and its environs and that any change enhances and improves the area for all who live, work and study here.

High Barnet is a great place to live – open spaces, friendly village atmosphere, prestigious schools and historic public houses. The Barnet Society, the voice for High Barnet and surrounds, is committed to keeping Barnet a welcoming and thriving locality whilst encouraging positive developments.

Our website is a reliable source of news and information about life in our locality and the Society’s work in campaigning for a better Barnet, from Arkley and Hadley to New Barnet and Oakleigh Park.

The Barnet Society is proud to publish a detailed newsletter brimming with local news, community updates, and historical tidbits. Become a member of the Barnet Society now and enjoy early access to our insightful and engaging newsletters for active community participation.

Find Out More About the Barnet Society…

Our Work

Barnet Society

The Barnet Society is actively involved in shaping and monitoring development within Barnet. The society engages in pre-application discussions for major developments, providing updates via newsletters and formal responses to planning applications.

In Chipping Barnet Town Centre, we collaborate with local groups to enhance the area’s appearance and vitality. We also participate in various consultations, responding to proposals from local and regional bodies like the London Borough of Barnet and the Mayor of London, with a particular focus on Green Belt issues, reflecting our historical commitment to protecting green spaces since their founding in 1945.

Our involvement extends to submitting detailed reports in newsletters and at committee meetings, discussing environmental and planning matters. Additionally, the society conducts talks and presentations to educate the community about local issues.

Read More

Our Membership Newsletter

The Barnet Society

The Barnet Society stands as the voice for High Barnet and its environs, passionately committed to maintaining our community as a welcoming and flourishing place while championing positive developments.

Our website is your premier source for local news and a deep dive into the Society’s efforts to enhance Barnet. It’s an invaluable place for discussing and debating current, sometimes contentious, local issues where our input can be pivotal.

But the real highlight of membership is early access to our quarterly Newsletters. Issued four times a year, these newsletters are cherished for their extensive coverage and in-depth analysis of our work to protect the Green Belt, improve our town centres, and elevate design standards in new housing and commercial projects.

By becoming a member, you’ll not only support these initiatives but also receive these insightful newsletters directly, ensuring you’re always in the loop and part of the conversation shaping our community’s future.

Join the Barnet Society today to have access to informed and engaging community involvement through our newsletters.

Join Now!

Latest News from The Barnet Society

15 Oct 2025 | Written by Nick Jones
Replacing a foodbank with a community grocery offering food at low prices is North Finchley’s contribution to easing hardship and helping the needy  
A community grocery store where needy residents and families can purchase a shopping basket of items for a minimum payment has opened in North Finchley as part of a growing initiative to provide affordable food.


13 Oct 2025 | Written by Nick Jones
Building on a retail opportunity: starting with a stall at Barnet Market to opening a delicatessen in The Spires shopping centre
Delihouse might be the smallest shop in The Spires – and only opened in the summer – but proprietor Jonathan Beecham is already expanding a delicatessen business which started with a Saturday stall at Barnet Market.


8 Oct 2025 | Written by Nick Jones
Full English breakfasts are on the march up the Great North Road as Hole in the Wall Cafe plans to transfer to Dory’s Cafe in High Barnet
Kevin Callaghan, proprietor of the Hole in the Wall Cafe – said to be Barnet’s oldest cafe – is temporarily transferring his business to the premises of the former Dory’s Cafe, another local institution, which ceased trading in the summer.  The Hole in the Wall, established in 1935 and hidden behind hoardings on the Great North


7 Oct 2025 | Written by Nick Jones
Sad farewells with house building to start soon on farmland at Whalebones, off Wood Street, the last countryside between Arkley and High Barnet
Demolition and clearance of the Whalebones smallholding and fields off Wood Street, High Barnet, has moved a step closer with developers having completed the purchase of the site for the construction of an estate of 115 new homes.


6 Oct 2025 | Written by Nick Jones
Community events at High Barnet Islamic Centre to include a monthly soup kitchen with a warm welcome and refreshments   
After a busy first year organising social events, volunteers at the High Barnet Islamic Centre are planning their next initiative to reach out to the local community – a monthly soup kitchen for homeless people and needy families.


5 Oct 2025 | Written by Nick Jones
Planning inspector is being asked to reconsider Barnet Council’s rejection of plans for Barnet Football Club’s return to Underhill
Barnet Football Club has launched an appeal against the refusal of Barnet Council to approve an application to build a new stadium at Underhill.


If you have some local news, some interesting Barnet history or want to bring something else to our attention then please email us.