Rain gardens are being installed across Barnet to help reduce the risk of localised flooding and reduce the impact excess water has on roads and pavements.

The sustainable water drainage systems feature specially selected plants, shrubs, and other greenery. They are designed to absorb rainwater to help stop sewer systems becoming overwhelmed – one of the main causes of localised flooding.

The sparkling finals of Dance Barnet, a pan-disability Strictly-inspired dance competition took place on Thursday 16 May at the Pentland Theatre in the Arts Depot, north Finchley.

The event saw ten disabled people perform as they competed in a special initiative designed to provide accessible dance to everyone and to encourage more disabled people in the community to be active.

Barnet Council is inviting residents to vote for their favourite sustainability project, designed by local experts, with the winners taking home part of a total prize pot of £10,000 to help fund their idea.

The finalists of the ‘BarNET ZERO Challenge’, a collaborative initiative with Middlesex University, were invited to present practical ideas for reducing carbon footprints.

A free online service has been launched by Barnet Council to make the planning process simpler for residents looking to make changes to their homes.

The new tool, Find Out If You Need Planning Permission, makes it quicker and easier to check when and how to apply for permission for building works such as home extensions.

Barnet Council launched a new campaign aimed at helping residents eat more healthily on a budget, with a bean-based cooking demonstration hosted by Allotmentz restaurant with NLCC (North London Community Consortium) in Friern Barnet on Sunday 5 May.

Over 50 residents attended the event where Allotmentz chef, Anita Watson, and her team prepared and served up three different recipes while chatting to attendees about healthy eating and affordable meals.

A new sensory garden, which has been created in partnership with Barnet’s sight impaired community, has been officially opened in Finchley’s Victoria Park near to the café and the bowls club building.

The London Festival of Architecture (LFA) is returning to Barnet for the 20th Anniversary of the Festival with an exciting programme of activity and activations taking place across the borough, throughout the month of June.

This is the second year that Barnet has formed a key Destination within the Festival’s programme and this year will see over 60 events take place across the borough that respond to this year’s theme of ‘Reimagine’.

Barnet Council has announced the appointment of Russell Curtis as chair of the borough’s first-ever Quality Review Panel.

The Quality Review Panel will test the fundamental design principles of planning proposals, playing a major role in the council’s commitment to exemplary, high-quality developments.