Pollinators, Plants and Play in Albert Place Community Space

This summer Barnet Council, in collaboration with Finchley Pollinator Project and Young Artist Society (YAS) delivered four creative workshops in the community space at Albert Place, just off Ballards Lane, around the corner from Tesco. If you haven’t noticed it before, hopefully you will now!

This space was originally created in 2021 to allow the Council to pilot community led events and market pop-ups and to offer a place for people to dwell in the heart of the town centre. Throughout 2022 a series of activities were hosted here, including summer and winter fairs, an art market and more. In 2023 activities moved away from Albert Place, expanding out onto the high street and across Barnet, with the Finchley Feast Food Trail and the Creating Connections trail walks between Finchley Central and other Barnet town centres.

Back to summer 2024! The workshops, developed under the ‘Creative Nature Series’ were themed around biodiversity and sustainability, the role of pollinators in our eco system, food growing and local wildlife. Through painting, drawing, craft and guided planting sessions, children were encouraged to talk about the environment and share their thoughts on what it means to protect important pollinators like bees and butterflies. They were shown how to plant flowers and herbs in the planters with Deena from Finchley Pollinator Project (FPP). With our artists Sophie and Digby from YAS, and expert crafter Alison, who is also a member of FPP, they imagined what they would have in their allotment or garden if they were to design it themselves; this resulted in a beautiful board of imagery that captures the essence of the workshops and what it means for everyone to be able to connect with nature.

The workshops were not only intended to offer creative activities in the public realm, but also to make Albert Place a more appealing location in the town centre for people to sit and for children to play. The shapes and figures produced in the workshops have been translated into a colourful, interactive pavement mural. The mural curves around the seating inviting everyone in. The planters have been refreshed with a variety of pollinator friendly plants and flowers and a new bee hotel and there’s even edible herbs and salad seeds which we hope to see flourishing next season!

What Next?

We need your help! As a space meant for the community, we want the community to feel involved in how it’s used and to help care for it. In the hot weather, the herbs and plants need to be watered regularly. If you’re sitting in the space and notice they look dry and have some water to hand, please give them some. If you see litter, please put it in the bin and encourage others to do the same. The more the area is cared for, the more it can be shared and used by all. The Council also intends to reach out to local independent businesses, creatives and community groups to remind them that Albert Place is a great location to host social meetings, event pop-ups and markets. We want your ideas and suggestions to help make Albert Place a vibrant, welcoming space for all. Keep an eye on the Finchley Central Town Centre Instagram page and if you would like to speak to us, please email finchleycentraltowncentre@gmail.com