Posted on 25 Sep 2023
Please be advised that the Trust office will be closed on Wednesday 27 September for staff training.
Messages can be left via 0208 455 1066 or mail@hgstrust.org and we will get back to you as soon as we can on Thursday.
Posted on 18 Sep 2023
Trevor Price stands down as elected trustee after one three year term.
We have received one nomination for this vacancy from Sarah Stafford - please see her candidate statement below. As there are no other candidates, Sarah will be elected following the AGM on Wednesday 20 September.
Sarah Stafford
Why I’m standing for Trust council
Hampstead Garden Suburb is a beautiful area. It’s a privilege to live here. I want to be part of the debate that shapes how this area keeps its rich heritage and wonderful aesthetics whilst responding to the greatest challenge of our times: climate change.
Through my work with REACH, the environment committee for the HGS Residents’ Association, I have heard first-hand how ill-informed residents are concerning their ability under current Trust policies to make changes that would make their homes more comfortable as well as reducing their carbon emissions. But, to be clear, we need to not only communicate better regarding the current policies, but also debate and create frameworks for a net zero future. We need to recognise and anticipate the shift from gas heating to heat pumps for domestic buildings. We need to keep talking about energy efficiency of the housing stock. We need to offer a framework in which local buildings can become carbon neutral, or very close to that. I know that the Trust is already looking at exciting projects in this area and I would be delighted to help where I can. This would be my focus, working with the other Trust council members and staff, if I were elected.
It is worth repeating that I live in this area because of its beautiful architecture and flora. I want to preserve the charm and character of this area. But I also want us to be ambitious about reaching net zero for the benefit of ourselves and future generations.
What I can offer
I am a lawyer. I will bring clarity of expression, a willingness to reach consensus and attention to detail.
I am an entrepreneur. I will bring a can-do attitude and ambition.
I am a mum of school-aged children. I will bring energy, the perspectives of the next generation and a lot of patience!
I am a home-renovation enthusiast. The very recent eco-renovation of our house in this area means that I am fully aware of the challenges faced by the Trust and homeowners to get our homes ready for net zero.
I would be very grateful for the opportunity to make a positive difference by election to the HGS Trust council.
Posted on 30 Aug 2023
The Trust recently cleared one of the two disused tennis courts below Central Square in preparation for its restoration as a green space. An online survey organised by a group of residents has since sought views on the reinstatement of this area for sports use. The Trust had no part in this survey.
The court had been out of use for a decade and was beyond economic restoration. We do not consider that the location is now suitable for a hard-court sports use, not least because of its now-isolated position and inability to meet current guidelines for accessibility.
There is also no evidence of unmet need at a level that would justify the expense of constructing and maintaining a further sports court. While there is natural pressure on any outdoor sports facility in the peak summer period, the two existing tennis courts are even then not fully utilised. These courts, together with the various other public, club and shared courts in the Suburb, already provide a level well above the general provision across Barnet and other boroughs.
Given all the above, we believe that restoring this land to green use as an orchard meadow makes best use of the space as it now is, complementing the adjoining spinney as a continuous greensward on this side of the path. It also reinstates the original use of this area as an orchard, reflecting Henrietta Barnett’s vision for the Square.
In the longer term we would like to rehabilitate the whole area between Central Square and Willifield Way. It will take some time to establish the parameters for a meaningful discussion, but we will then be a position to seek residents’ informed views.
Posted on 25 Aug 2023
The Trust's 2023 AGM will be held at the Free Church Hall, Northway, on Wednesday 20 September at 8pm.
Formal business will commence at 8.00pm but the doors will be open from 7.30pm, allowing a period for informal conversation over light refreshments before the formal business of the evening.
Details of the meeting and how to attend are set out in the formal notice downloadable here. Please see the linked PDF for the full AGM notice along with the two Special Resolutions which will be voted for at the meeting itself. Copies of this notice have now been sent by post, along with this year's annual report and accounts, to all registered Members of the Trust.
If you are not yet a Member and wish to join before the AGM, please fill in our simple membership form to join today.
Posted on 12 Jun 2023
What is happening?
We will be carrying out some work to the disused tennis court on the right-hand side of the footpath leading away from the Henrietta Barnett monument in June / July. The first phase of the work will take approximately one month to complete. We intend to remove the tennis court surface, and grass the area ready for some trees to be planted later this year or early next year.
Why?
This court has been disused for some time and could be utilised in a way that better suits the needs of the residents. Having taken over the management of Central Square from Barnet Council last year, we see this as an area where we can improve our green estate management. By restoring this historic orchard into something more appropriate for its location, our plan is to connect this part of Central Square with the existing site whilst simultaneously reducing the impact of the built environment.
Updates
We’ll keep you posted on the works as the year goes on. Keep an eye on our Central Square noticeboard or social media for more.
If you have any questions, contact the Trust office on mail@hgstrust.org or 0208 455 1066
Posted on 29 May 2023
It's now even easier to become a Member of the Trust, or to renew.
We have an online form which takes less than a minute to complete. Paper forms are still available if you'd prefer to use those. Visit https://www.hgstrust.org/membership/ to find out more.
Membership of the Trust is open to all Suburb residents over the age of 18. It's separate to paying the management charge or ground rent - in fact, you only have to live on the Suburb to be a Member, you don't have to be a homeowner.
Being a Member means you support the conservation of Hampstead Garden Suburb, and you want to be kept up to date with the work of the Trust. You'll also receive copies of our annual report in the post, as well as invitations to events like our annual winter lecture.
You'll be kept updated on the Trust's AGM, and when there is an election for Trust Council, Members get to cast their votes for the candidates to decide the new resident trustees.
Membership is not automatic. You must apply to be a Member, and renew every three years when it expires.
Just visit https://www.hgstrust.org/membership/ and fill in the online form. We just need your name, address, and the year you became a resident of the Suburb. You can also give us an email address if you'd like to recieve occasional Trust-related communications or renewal reminders.
If you want to check your current Membership status, or find out more, send us an email: mail@hgstrust.org
Posted on 17 Apr 2023
Posted on 10 Oct 2022
The Trust has received the result of the 2022 Trustee election, which is reproduced below in the prescribed form.
The votes for this year's Trust Council election have been counted and verified by our auditors, Menzies. 237 valid ballot papers were received. There were nine rejected papers. Two resident Trustee positions were up for election, with three candidates standing. Gren Manuel received 151 votes. Maralyn Roberts received 132 votes. Richard Townley received 174 votes. Therefore Gren Manuel and Richard Townley have been elected as Trustees.
Click the below image to view the results PDF:
Posted on 30 Aug 2022
The Trust's 2022 AGM will be held at Henrietta Barnett School on Wednesday 21 September at 8pm.
Formal business will commence at 8.00pm but the doors will be open from 7.30pm, allowing a period for informal conversation over light refreshments before the formal business of the evening.
Details of the meeting and how to attend are set out in the formal notice downloadable here.
Copies of this notice have been sent by post, along with this year's annual report and accounts, to all registered Members of the Trust. (This mailout was scheduled for Friday 26 August, however owing to industrial action the mailout was delayed until Tuesday 30 August.)
Click to download AGM notice (PDF)
Membership of the Trust is open to all residents of the Suburb, regardless of property ownership. Membership is entirely separate to payment of the management charge or ground rent, and is not automatic. You must return a signed Membership form to become a Member, and Membership must be renewed every three years by return of a signed form.
To check your Membership status, please email mail@hgstrust.org confirming your name and address, and we will let you know if you are currently a Member, when your current Membership expires, or we will send you a Membership form.
Posted on 08 Jun 2022
A momentous day for the Trust, as Central Square has been handed over to us from the London Borough of Barnet on a 999-year lease.
We were honoured to be joined by the Worshipful the Mayor of Barnet Cllr Alison Moore, and she joined Trust chairman Raymond Taylor and trustee Richard Townley, in addressing the invited gathering of a number of representatives of Suburb organisations and others who have been involved in this process, along with staff and other trustees of the Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust.
A bench has been placed on Central Square with a plaque to commemorate this historic transfer, which is the culmination of many years' collaboration between Barnet and the Trust.
Tribute was paid to the Trust's previous chairman Richard Wiseman who sadly passed away only recently.
The transfer of Central Square marks a continuation of the Trust's stewardship of Hampstead Garden Suburb in our duty to preserve the character and amenity of this special place.
Posted on 23 Mar 2022
The Trust has received an application from Henrietta Barnett School for a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) on the school grounds.
Please follow this link if you wish to see the drawings and send in your comments. Comments must be received by 14/04/2022.
Posted on 26 Aug 2021
The Trust's 2021 Annual General Meeting is to be held on Thursday 30 September 2021 in-person at Fellowship House, and streamed via YouTube.
The safety concerns raised by the Covid-19 pandemic compelled the Trust to hold last year’s AGM on-line via Zoom. While we were pleased that so many Members could join us, we believe that conditions are now right to offer the option of attending the meeting in person. We are therefore pleased to announce that the 2021 Trust AGM will be held at Fellowship House for those wishing to attend in person; and as a live-streamed event on YouTube for anyone preferring to attend remotely. In order to make safest use of the hall, attendance in person will be limited to the first 30 applicants.
Formal business will commence at 8.00pm but the doors will be open from 7.30pm, allowing a period for informal conversation over light refreshments before the formal business of the evening.
Details of the meeting and how to attend are set out in the formal Notice on the reverse of this letter (PDF), copies of which will shortly be sent out to Members by post along with a copy of this year's Annual Report and Accounts. For more information on Trust Membership, click here.
Suburb residents who want to check if they are currently a Trust Member are asked to email the Membership Secretary via mail@hgstrust.org with details of their full name and residential address.
DOORS OPEN at 7.30 pm
If you wish to attend the meeting either in person or remotely via YouTube, please confirm your preference by email to mail@hgstrust.org or by post to the Trust Office, no later than 5pm on Friday 24 September.
Members are warmly invited to join the Trust Council members and staff from 7.30pm for refreshments and conversation before business commences at 8pm.
Posted on 15 Mar 2021
This pamphlet, written in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police, sets out supplementary guidance on security measures which can be implemented on homes in the Suburb.
This guidance covers the following:
Click here to access the new guidance document.
