The London Festival of Architecture comes to Barnet in June!

The London Festival of Architecture (LFA) is a month-long celebration of architecture and city-making that takes place every June across London. This year, for the first time, Barnet is an official destination in the LFA’s exciting and varied programme of events around the theme ‘In Common’. Several are coming up in the north of our Borough.

• 1-21 June Small Talk – Miniature Chair Exhibition

10:00-21:00 Barnet Museum, Unit 19 The Spires

• 5, 14, 17 & 24 June Barnet commons – old and new

Barnet Society-led walks in and around Chipping Barnet 14:00-16:30 (further details below)

• 5 June The Big Build

Activities for under-5s 10:00-11:00, Chipping Barnet Library

• 9 June Design your dream library

Building activities for 7-11s, 15:00-16:00 New Barnet Library (New Barnet Leisure Centre)

• 25 June Barnet Vale Festival talks

12:00-16:00 Drop-in community event at the pavilion in Tudor Park (pictured below)

More details about these – and the many other LFA events – can be found on the LFA website.

The Barnet Society is offering two circular walks around some of the almshouse gardens and newer shared spaces in and around the town centre.

We’ll visit (depending on the route) the remarkable Arts & Crafts Thomas Watson Cottage Homes, Ravenscroft Cottages and the modern New Ground co-housing for older women. We’ll ramble across remains of the ancient Barnet Common as well as more recent parks such as Highlands Gardens and Ravenscroft Park. And we’ll pass allotments, climb Whitings Hill and follow the secluded Dollis Brook. All these are inspiring examples of common space across the centuries.

All walks begin and end in the vehicle forecourt of High Barnet tube station. All include parts of the town centre, then head into the countryside – one to the south-west, the other to the north-east. Dates are as follows:

• Monday 14:00-16:30 5 June – Walk 1 (Town centre and South-West)
• Wednesday 14:00-16:30 14 June – Walk 2 (Town centre and North-East)
• Saturday 14:00-16:30 17 June – Walk 1 (Town centre and South-West)
• Saturday 14:00-16:30 24 June – Walk 2 (Town centre and North-East)

Tickets cost £5 (or £2.50 for unwaged). The maximum group size for each walk is 20, so book your place now!

• Book online at www.barnetevents.co.uk or
• Pay on the day by cash or card

Each is about 2.5 hours/4.5 miles long including rough (sometimes muddy) paths which disabled people would find challenging, and sturdy footwear is essential – as well as rainwear if the forecast is poor.

We’ll go at a gentle pace, and there will be frequent stops and opportunities to rest. If you have to leave before the end of the walk, TfL buses can return you to the town centre and High Barnet Station.

Refreshments are available in the town, but we advise bringing your own – especially water if the weather is warm.

The Society acknowledges with many thanks the help of a grant from Barnet Council.

Any queries? Please contact me, Robin Bishop, at robinbishop350@gmail.com or 020 8449 0088 / 07913 107046