Before 2016, the Barnwood site was inaccessible and overgrown; locked up for over twenty years. In order to commemorate the start of the Grange Big Local project in East Finchley, organisers decided they wanted to plant a tree in the local area. As the organisers walked around the overgrown space looking for a site for the tree, they were inspired to improve the access to green spaces for local residents.

A meeting was held between Barnet council officers, local residents and representatives from Grange Big Local, to discuss developing the Barnwood site into a space that could benefit the local community. Basic site plans were drawn up and the seeds were sown for the beginning of the Barnwood Project!

The Explorer’s Picnic Event brought together diverse local groups to explore the hidden treasures of the Barnwood site. The Field Studies Council delivered ecological workshops to all the local residents who attended. This event marked the start of the transformation of the Barnwood site, but most importantly this event promoted cohesion between the diverse communities within East Finchley and many new friendships were formed.

In October 2018, the Barnwood Project received funding. The funding was essential to pay for gates, fencing, constructing pathways, as well as some essential tree works! Up until this point, Barnwood was still extremely overgrown, but now this dormant space started to come to life!

December 2018 marked a new phase in the Barnwood story! The Harrington Project supervised a bulb planting event on site. The Bulb Planting brought together diverse groups from across the local community, to ensure that Barnwood can act as a local hub for residents of all ages, faiths, cultures and backgrounds to promote greater social cohesion between diverse groups.

https://bugwomanlondon.com/2021/07/06/a-july-visit-to-barnwood/

http://faithsforum.com/4959-2/

https://bugwomanlondon.com/2020/07/06/not-austria-day-ten-a-return-to-barnwood/

http://www.the-archer.co.uk/archive/2019/2019Oct06.pdf

https://localtrust.org.uk/news-and-stories/voices-of-big-local/in-bloom-sowing-the-seeds-of-community/

https://bugwomanlondon.com/2018/11/10/barnwood-east-finchley/