Birdwatching
Leader: Roger Rose
Roger has been an avid birdwatcher for some 50 years and knows most of the up to about 50 of the species that occur locally and can recognise most of their songs. He says we have a wide variety of birds on our doorstep in Big Wood and Hampstead Heath, but he also plans to travel further afield, probably to Northaw Great Wood near Potters Bar and Ashridge Forest in the Chilterns. Members need to bring their own 8x or 10x magnification binoculars.
Contact Roger for details.
- When: Friday morning
- Frequency: Monthly (May to October, except August)
Cycling
Our cycling group is up-and-riding every Tuesday. See Fitness & Wellbeing.
Days Out
Leaders: Barbara Bliss & Denise Randall
Group outings to places of interest both inside and away from London. Travel is often by coach, but sometimes public transport is used.
Contact groupsorg@hgsu3a.uk if you want to be added to the group’s mailing list.
Growing for Pleasure
Leader: Eric Hess
Join Eric for advice on how to get the best out of your vegetable garden or allotment. Eric has a background working in agriculture abroad. After he returned to the UK he established a Horticultural Project for Adults with Learning Difficulties, focusing on growing and selling vegetables.
Learn about growing winter vegetables, preparing for the spring, dealing with pests, and sowing. Although the main focus is on vegetables, Eric will also try to answer other questions you might have related to gardening.
Eric also maintains a blog dedicated to vegetable growing.
- Location: Gordon Road Allotments, London N3 1EL — off Elm Park Road and Nether Street near Finchley Central Station
Outdoor Sketching
See Arts & Crafts.
Photography in London
Leaders: Michael Jacobs & Roger Cookson
Each month we visit a place of interest in London, normally choosing locations easily accessible by public transport followed by sharing our best shots a fortnight later on Zoom. It’s intended to be a fun-oriented group rather than a technocratic, competitive society.
- When: Wednesday 10.30 am – 12 noon
- Frequency: Fortnightly, alternating between outdoor shootings and review sessions.
- Number of places: 15
Walking Groups
We currently have three walking groups: London Discovery Walks & Walking Wednesdays meet once a month; Thames Path in London & Other Walks ventures further afield for longer walks usually twice a month.
London Discovery Walks
Leader: Ian Hyman
Walks, generally on Mondays, to London parks, open spaces, and towpaths, and average 3–5 miles, commencing at 10.15 am with a coffee stop and, where possible, lunch.
Walking Wednesdays
Leader: Arlene Hyman
A gentle walk once a month in and around London.
The walk will be approximately 2–3 miles , starting at 10.00 am, finishing at 12.30 pm, with a coffee break and chance to use toilet facilities.
Thames Path in London & Other Walks
Leaders: David Powers & Louis Victor
Walking is an excellent way to get and keep fit. We try to get into the fresh air away from busy roads, exploring not only the Thames, but London’s canals, waterways, and green spaces. The length of each walk varies, but is generally 5 miles, sometimes longer. We walk at a moderately brisk pace, but not so fast that it’s impossible to talk. In fact, good conversation is one of the many pleasures of this group.
Walks start and end at different places, so participants need to be willing to travel by public transport (or make arrangements for someone else to drop them off and pick them up by car).
We normally stop for coffee after about an hour, and then find a nice pub or restaurant for lunch. Staying for lunch is optional, but most people join in.
- When: usually 2nd and 4th Friday of the month
- Time: Walks normally begin at 10.30 am and end around 12.30–1.00 pm (not including travel time)
- Travel: Instructions are sent to members several days in advance of each walk. Members in the Golders Green area normally travel together from Golders Green station after 9.30 am (time depends on destination). Others join at the start of the walk.
- Maximum number: 15 — if more than 15 apply for a particular walk, names will be selected at random. Priority on the following walk will be given to those not selected.