History

During the Second world War some patriotic middle-aged men from Pinner South decided to ‘do their bit’ in response to the Government’s  ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign.  They decided to grow their own food and so in 1940  Streamside Horticultural Association was formed.   It was immensely popular and the membership quickly grew to over one thousand.  In fact membership had to be restricted so that only  residents in the local electoral wards of Pinner South, Headstone North and part of old West Harrow could join.

 

During the war years the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Supply restricted the commodities that Streamside could supply to its members.  Only essential  needs, primarily for the growth of food crops, such as vegetables and fruit, were available.    This state of affairs continued long after the war but in spite of the difficulties, the Streamside Annual Report of 1949 shows that the most useful and productive essentials for keeping gardens working and food growing were amazingly achieved.

 

In spite of the development of mega garden centres and supermarkets,  Streamside is still surviving at the same place;  still helping local gardeners and allotment holders with advice and still supplying all kinds of garden commodities.  In fact the current list of commodities remains remarkably similar to the supply list which helped us to indeed ‘Dig for Victory’.  Of course modern insecticides, varieties of composts and a wider variety of tools and other garden essentials which makes gardening so rewarding, have become available and are currently sold at Streamside.  Certainly some items now considered ‘dangerous’ in 1940 have disappeared but the current Streamside stock list is extremely comprehensive and competitively priced.