Celebrations have been held at Cherry Tree Wood after it was officially recognised as one of the country’s best parks.

The popular East Finchley park has received the coveted Green Flag Award - the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

A crew of Barnet refuse workers had a narrow escape recently, as shocking film footage has emerged of a huge explosion as a bin is loaded into a refuse truck.

The explosion was cause by combustible items such gas canisters or bottles, batteries or aerosols being wrongly placed into a residential bin, which when crushed by the lorry’s impactor caused the bin, and other debris to be fired out into the street.

Barnet Council hosted Burnt Oak’s Car-Free Day on Saturday 21 September where the streets came alive with activities focused on sustainability and improving air quality.

The event, part of the Council’s ongoing Burnt Oak town centre improvements project, highlighted the importance of reimagining public spaces and promoting sustainable travel.

Barnet Council has teamed up with national cosmetics brand Barry M in a new campaign tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG),

The campaign is aimed at Gen Z, as women and girls aged 16-24 are more likely to be victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, rape and stalking crimes than any other age group. 

Barnet residents have higher levels of overall satisfaction with their council than both the national and the London averages, according to the latest Adults Residents’ Perception Survey.

The survey results, taken from winter 2023/24, found 65% of residents were satisfied with Barnet Council – in line with the last survey, which was taken in 2021/22. This beats both the London average (56%) and the national average (53%), both of which have declined since 2021/22.

Barnet has become the first council in the country to launch a new system designed to make it easier for residents to appeal planning decisions.

The council is trialling an improved online Householder Appeals System that is simpler, accessible and more user-friendly.

Barnet Council has marked the second annual End Digital Poverty Day by pledging to continue breaking down barriers to digital access, literacy and skills.

The council has signed the Charter for Digital Inclusion, a commitment to making its services more accessible to everyone in the community - particularly those with low digital skills, disabilities, or other barriers.

Barnet Council is taking early action with the aim of bringing a forecast overspend for 2024/25 back within the council’s overall budget before the end of the financial year.

Like other local authorities, Barnet is facing severe financial pressures while the council’s budget has reduced in real terms by over 50% since 2010.