The great Barnet summer

In his latest column, Dan Tomlinson MP says it’s time for a day out

A politician with some young people looking at nature — Dan Tomlinson MP and students from The Totteridge Academy touring the GROW Farm – (Credit – Office of Dan Tomlinson MP)

Summer is here, the schools are out, and families across Barnet deserve a summer where a day out doesn’t mean a difficult conversation about money.

That’s why I’m glad to see the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme land this year — running from 25 June to 1 September, it cuts VAT on children’s meals in restaurants, kids’ cinema and theatre tickets, and entry to attractions like soft play and adventure centres.

There’s a further boost too: throughout August, children aged five to 15 in England travel free on local buses.

It’s brilliant to see local restaurants, soft plays and attractions across Barnet choosing to pass savings straight on to families. You can find eligible days out at summersavings.gov.uk.

There’s plenty in the calendar too. Running right through June, July and August is the Music by Jack’s Lake Summer Music Festival on Hadley Common.

You can pick your own flowers at GROW farm on select days in July, August, and September, or get all thespian in August when Comedy of Errors brings open-air Shakespeare to Hadley Green.

Don’t miss the Barnet Food Festival at the RAF Museum on 12th–13th September, either.

A special word too for our school fetes and summer fairs, run entirely by volunteers — please support them where you can, as several local events have struggled this year with costs, such as East Barnet Festival.

Summer is the perfect time to get to know your bit of Barnet, with plenty of things to see – like North London Hospice’s open gardens, or the views from St John the Baptist’s tower, which is open to the public on Saturdays in July.

Wishing all across Chipping Barnet a great summer.

Dan Tomlinson is Labour MP for Chipping Barnet

Local news needs your support

We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

ACT NOW!

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.