BCA NEWS

An update on Barnes Pond

Sadly, over the summer months, an outbreak of suspected avian botulism on Barnes Pond resulted in the death of much of our birdlife. Our challenge now is to improve the health of Barnes Pond and to make sure that we reduce the risk of future outbreaks.   

The BCA has put together a working group to create a plan for the future of Barnes Pond.  Made up of representatives from BCA, Richmond Council, Barnes Common and our local councillors the team will look at both immediate and longer-term measures to restore the health of the pond.  

We will share more about the working group's short and long term plans soon. 

The journey towards improving the health of Barnes Pond began at the end of July, when contractors reduced the carp population.

Carp feed at the bottom of the pond, increasing the amount of sediment in the water. This can contribute to lower oxygen levels, which can encourage bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum to release toxins. Carp also uproot underwater plants that help oxygenate the water. 

Removing the carp will help improve the pond’s overall ecological balance and create better conditions for reintroducing aquatic plants in the future. The removal process was carefully managed. The fish were temporarily stunned using an electric current, removed from the pond, health-checked and, if disease-free, rehomed to other suitable waters. 

We’re grateful to Richmond Council for organising and funding this important first step. 

Barnes bus changes

From 15 August, TfL introduced changes to several Barnes bus routes, bringing an end to most of the emergency measures that were put in place when Hammersmith Bridge closed to motor traffic in 2019. Read the full list of changes to bus routes in Barnes on our website.

The BCA has raised concerns with TfL through our Travel Barnes group about the 209 terminating and turning around at Barnes Pond. TfL has agreed to meet with us in October to review how the new service is operating.

We’ll report back to the community following that meeting.

An update from our Greenkeeper

Alongside the ongoing work to improve the pond, there has been plenty happening across the green this summer. The greenkeeper has been working with volunteers along the brook, thinning back the undergrowth, clearing brambles and bindweed, carrying out additional planting and repairing areas of bank erosion. Other work has included replacing sections of willow fencing around the pond, trimming the grassy pond margins, cutting back the wildflower patch near the brook, staking young trees and saplings, and keeping on top of litter across the green. A huge amount of time has also been spent watering the green after an incredibly hot and dry summer.

The Barnes Book Exchange is celebrating its first birthday!

Created by the BCA’s One Barnes Ponder team and brought to life by the Men’s Shed team, the project gave a former sentry box from Hammersmith Bridge a new lease of life as a much loved community book exchange, now located by the FiSH building near the pond. To say thank you for keeping it so wonderfully stocked throughout its first year, we’ll be hiding a few small gifts among the books, thanks to a few local authors, so keep an eye out and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates. We hope you continue to enjoy discovering, sharing and passing on books for years to come.

Christmas lights in Barnes

We’re very excited for Christmas in Barnes this year, with the launch of our first Scandinavian Christmas Market and a new Santa’s Grotto on Barnes Green, alongside our annual Christmas lights across our shopping parades. As always, we want to make Barnes feel festive, with lights bringing some Christmas sparkle to White Hart Lane, Barnes High Street, Church Road and Castelnau Parade.

Putting up, powering and taking down the lights comes at a significant cost, so we’re inviting residents and local businesses to support the appeal through a general donation or by sponsoring a street tree for £250. While we receive some support from the council, lighting every parade is only possible thanks to local fundraising and BCA funds.

Those who choose to sponsor a tree, will also have the option to add a custom message on a large bauble that will hang from one of the street trees.

Thank you for your support!

The Barnes Mens Shed at Lowther Primary School

There’s a lovely and well used nature and vegetable growing teaching area in the grounds of Lowther Primary School. There is also a large shed, which had developed a leaking roof and some rot along the back wall. The teaching benches and tables were also showing signs of age and needed some TLC.

Over a number of working sessions the Men’s Shed team, with the support of the schools PTA and members of the teaching staff set to work to replace, repair and fix.

The works consisted of  replacing the shed  tongue and groove, re-felting the roof, clearing debris and fixing the benches.

Interested in volunteering with the Men’s Shed, or just want to find out more? Join the dedicated Men’s Shed mailing list: www.barnes-ca.org/barnes-mens-shed.

Join us for a Community Morning by the Pond

Join the Barnes Community Association team for a Community Morning on Saturday 3 October, 10am-12pm, at the final Collectables Market of the year, next to the pond and near the OSO. Come and meet the BCA team, find out more about what we do, and share your ideas about the things that matter to you and the Barnes community. We’ll also be chatting about membership, volunteering and ways to get involved with BCA. We’d love to see you there!

Connect More - Mobile phone courses

Connect More 2.0 is a series of practical smartphone workshops for people who are ready to build their digital skills - and offers separate courses for iPhone and Android users.

Our next course will be Android users and starts on Monday 28 September, running for five weeks from 1:30pm-3pm at Castelnau Community Centre. With new content, the course will cover everything from phone basics and accessibility to staying safe online, using everyday apps, managing photos and keeping connected with friends and family.

For details and booking, visit: www.barnes-ca.org/connect-more-2dot0, or email connectmore@barnes-ca.org with any questions.

WHAT’S ON AT ROSE HOUSE

Swedish language classes at Rose House

Creative Swedish language classes for children aged 4-7 are held every Monday, 4-5pm at Rose House.

If you’re interested in registering your child or finding out more, please contact Emma Svensson on 07786116433 or svenssons_skola@hotmail.com

OTHER NEWS

Lighting at Barnes and Barnes Bridge stations

Do you regularly use Barnes Station or Barnes Bridge Station after dark? If so, Richmond Council is inviting you to join a night walk to share your experiences and tell them about your priorities for lighting.

The workshop takes place on Tuesday 29 September, 7pm-9pm at the OSO Arts Centre, and will include:

• An introduction to lighting design: Lighting designers Publica and Dark Source will demonstrate how different qualities of light affect the way we see and experience places after dark.

• A walk through local public spaces: Participants will walk after dark and discuss their experiences, ideas and priorities for lighting around Barnes and Barnes Bridge stations.

This is an opportunity for residents, businesses and community organisations to help shape the Council’s future Lighting Strategy.

Register here

Barnes charity bike sale

The popular Barnes charity bike sale returns to St Mary's Church on Saturday 12 September, 9:30am-12pm.

Flood resilience work on Barnes Common

Work on the Queen’s Ride Swale project on Barnes Common is due to begin in October 2026, following some limited site preparation and vegetation clearance in September. The new swale, a shallow, planted channel, will collect and slow rainwater from Queen’s Ride Road, helping to reduce pressure on the drainage system and the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall. The project has been carefully designed to protect mature oak trees, while creating a new woodland glade and enhancing habitats for wildlife. Residents close to the site will receive further information about the construction programme and what to expect during the works.

Barnes yard sale

On Saturday 12 September, Loppa is bringing a one day neighbourhood yard sale to Barnes, with homes across Barnes opening their doors to sell second hand clothes, furniture, homeware, art, books and other hidden gems. It’s a great chance to explore Barnes, meet neighbours and give pre loved items a second life.

Want to take part? Visit Loppa to register your home as a selling space or view the map of participating houses.

Barnes BookFest

Barnes BookFest returns for its sixth year from 25-27 September, bringing another outstanding programme of events with authors, historians, journalists and thinkers to local venues across Barnes.

Tickets are on sale now online or in person at The Barnes Bookshop.

Barnes Music Festival wins an award!

We’re delighted to celebrate the Barnes Music Festival, which has been named Best Classical Music Festival 2026 in the Greater London Enterprise Awards, recognising its artistic excellence, community engagement and contribution to London’s cultural life.

Preparations for the 2027 Festival, themed ‘New Beginnings’, are already well underway, with another exciting programme of music. BCA is proud to sponsor the Barnes Music Festival and to support the wonderful contribution it makes to the cultural life of our community.

Richmond named one of England’s happiest places

Richmond upon Thames has been named the fifth happiest place to live in England, with an impressive 86.3% of residents saying they are proud to live in their local area. The National Conversation index looks at community life, including neighbourly connections, loneliness, belonging, local pride and participation in civic life, a result that reflects the strong sense of community across the borough.

The borough has also been recognised for its commitment to the environment, with Richmond Council named Green Council of the Year at the 2026 Political Purpose Awards, celebrating its work to tackle climate change and restore nature.