Our vegetable growing and photography groups have adapted to the current situation by continuing to meet online. Other outdoor activities will be resumed when it is safe to do so.
Grow Your Own Vegetables
Leader: Eric Hess
Join Eric online 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.
- Online via Zoom
- When: 5.00–6.00 pm Thursday
- Frequency: 2nd Thursday of each month
Photography in London
Leaders: Michael Jacobs & Roger Cookson
During the pandemic, we can’t go out as a group to shoot on location; but we’re still very active online. Each week, members show a selection of photos on an agreed theme, with alternate weeks dedicated to a technical discussion.
It’s intended to be a fun-oriented group rather than a technocratic, competitive society.
- Shootings suspended until further notice, but members meet online using Zoom to share photos, usually on an agreed theme.
- When: Wednesday 10.30 am – 12 noon
- Frequency: Weekly
- Number of places: 15
Groups Currently Paused
Most of our outdoor activities are currently suspended because of government restrictions on households mixing.
Days Out
Leader: Barbara Bliss
Organised visits to places of interest, travelling by coach or other transport. Trip duration varies depending on venue.
Lawn Bowls
Leader: Patricia Taylor, assisted by Phyllis Ellis
Seven-week course: coaching and introduction to lawn bowls. Learn the rules of the game and how to play lawn bowls. You will be able to enjoy informal games with other members, and gain confidence in delivering all types of shots. You learn how to score, deliver the small jack on the rink to start play, and which shots to choose to play.
- Start dates: Depends on government measures on social distancing
- When: Mondays 2 pm – 4 pm
- Location: Temple Fortune Club, 122 Bridge Lane, NW11 9JS
- Frequency: Weekly
- Charges: £3.00 per session (includes tea and biscuits) to club payable through coach
- Number of places: 15
- Notes: All equipment provided. Just wear comfortable clothing and flat soled shoes
- Booking: Necessary
Theatre
See Music & Theatre
Walking Groups
In normal times, we have three walking groups:
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- Historical London Walks
- Short Sunday Walks
- Thames Path in London & Other Walks
The Historic London Walks tend to make frequent stops to look at landmarks en route, whereas the Thames Path in London group focuses more on walking. Short Sunday Walks are closer to home and less demanding.
All walking groups are currently paused; but we hope to revive them as soon as government advice permits.
Historical London Walks
Leader: Simon Sackman and Philip Tobin
Get to know London better!These are walks in inner and outer London that explore new places and look more closely at more familiar ones to find out about their history, buildings and the people who lived there. Areas walked in 2018/2019 included Enfield, Hackney, Marylebone, Roman London and the Inns of Court.
Walks start from a station within the Freedom Pass area and end at the same or different station. Walks are led by members of the group; new members willing to lead occasional walks are particularly welcome! Notes on the historical background together with a description of the proposed route are circulated in advance. The length of walks varies but participants can expect to walk with some standing for 2 hours. There will be a short coffee/comfort stop along the way. Walks normally finish around 1 pm, but a few may offer the option of a lunch and early afternoon extension.
Short Sunday Walks
Leader: Daphne Berkovi
For members who want to walk more locally than further afield, once a month on a Sunday morning, ending at a café for refreshments.
Thames Path in London & Other Walks
Leader: David Powers
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 4–4½ miles, sometimes longer. We usually break in the middle for coffee. 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.
Joining instructions for each walk on the second and fourth Friday of each month are usually sent out a few days in advance. Most of us meet in the ticket hall of Golders Green station shortly after 9 am (the actual time depends on where the walk starts); but others join at the starting point at 10.15 am if Golders Green isn’t convenient. The walk usually finishes at 12.30 pm or 1.00 pm close to a pub or reasonably priced café/restaurant. Most members stay for lunch, but there’s no obligation to do so.
Most walks are about an hour by public transport away from the HGS area. Walks continue throughout the year rain or shine (unless it would be dangerous to do so).