Friends of Market Place Playground

25/03/2026

Sarah Sackman MP has launched a campaign to get funding from central government for a Best Start Hub in East Finchley to support our local families.

If you would like to support this campaign, please click on the following link: https://sarahsackman.com/campaigns/best-start-hub-in-east-finchley/ Closing date Friday 27th March 2026.

Sign our open letter to Barnet Council asking for East Finchley to be considered as a location for the Best Start Family Hub.

12/02/2026

Dogs are not allowed in Market Place Playground - this is because of a long-standing bylaw.

Sadly we still receive reports that dog walkers are using Market Place Playground. If you prefer not to speak to the dog owners themselves, please report to [email protected] and copy [email protected] - please also supply photographic evidence if possible and if it is safe for you to do so.

We also urge you to raise this with local councillors

We are Labour's councillors for East Finchley ward. Here's how you can contact us:

07/02/2026

Water Bottle Filling Station - Installation date announced

You might not appreciate it on a day like today but, with the UK's hottest and driest summer forecast, our new water bottle filling station at Market Place Playground will be much needed.

Installation will take place week commencing 23 February and it will be located at the southern entrance - near the Market Place Playground history sign. We hope it makes the playground even more welcoming and helps contribute to reduced plastic. The Archer Academy Grange Big Local Martin Primary School Community Group (East Finchley)

31/01/2026

Friends of Market Place Playground is looking for new committee members, including a new chair or co-chairs, to ensure Market Place Playground remains a community space to be proud of for the coming years.

If you are interested in play, arts, nature, improving the local community and making new friends – and have 4-8 hours a month to spare - we would love to hear from you. We particularly encourage parents of under fives and those with an interest in social media to get in touch.

For more details please send an email introducing yourself to [email protected]
Deadline: 23 February 2026
For more information about what we do – visit www.friendsofmarketplace.org.uk

26/01/2026

Friends of Market Place Playground is five years old this month. We formed in January 2021 to save Market Place Playground from development and campaign for a new green space full of nature, play and community. Together we have achieved that…and more.

FOMPP is now looking for new committee members, including a new chair or co-chairs, to ensure Market Place Playground remains a community space to be proud of for the coming years. If you are interested in play, arts, nature, improving the local community and making new friends – and have 4-8 hours a month to spare - we would love to hear from you. We particularly encourage parents of under fives and those with an interest in social media to get in touch.

For more details please send an email introducing yourself to [email protected]

Deadline: 23 February 2026

For more information about what we do – visit www.friendsofmarketplace.org.uk

13/12/2025

Thanks to the 16 members of the local community - from age 1 upwards - who planted 800 bulbs this morning at Market Place Playground. Hopefully we will see the beautiful results of your efforts in spring.

11/12/2025

A reminder that the Friends will be planting bulbs and flowering plants at the playground on Saturday morning. Come along and join us - bring your gardening gear if you have it but no worries if not.

Thanks very much to Sunshine Garden Centre in Bounds Green, Barnet Council and their contractors for the bulb and plant donations.

07/12/2025

Come and join us next week for bulb and flower planting - in preparation for spring. Children welcome and encouraged. If you have gardening gloves or a trowel, bring them but we have equipment as well.

02/12/2025

BULB PLANTING DAY - SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER, 10AM

It may be cold outside but we're thinking of spring flowers. Thanks to the generous donation of Sunshine Garden Centre we have a lot of lovely bulbs to plant in Market Place Playground.

Come along on Saturday 13 December at 10am - bring your garden gloves if you can. Children welcome.

Barnet Council have also donated a variety of bulbs as well so there will be plenty to plant before winter sets in. Come and join us.

https://www.sunshinegardencentre.co.uk/

09/11/2025

Thanks to everyone who has filled in our Market Place Playground equipment survey so far.

If you haven't filled it, please take a moment (less than a minute) to do so. While we can make no promises and final equipment choices need to also take account of space, budget and other considerations, we do want to ensure you have a chance to have a say.

Please fill it in here: https://forms.gle/iVdbP5NQMw2dijoA7

02/11/2025

*Your feedback needed*

Thanks to the generosity of you, our supporters, Market Place Playground has a small amount of contingency budget left over to spend on additional features.

We would like to get your feedback on our ideas for extra equipment and facilities. Our survey is very short and takes less than a minute to complete. Please fill it in here: https://forms.gle/iVdbP5NQMw2dijoA7

Any final decisions depend on full costings, space and design but we would like to take into account your views as well.