st albans NOW May 19

st albans May 2019

NOW

Local businesses, what’s on and lots more inside

promoting local businesses, organisations and events since 2006

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Welcome to May As always we’ve filled the magazine with lots of local events for all the family, remember don’t just look on the What’s on pages, you’ll find there are many other different events included throughout the magazine. Make sure you have a good look through so you don’t miss anything. There’s everything from Bluebell Walks at Luton Hoo to The Gin-Tology Experience at Bletchley Park and a Wild Medicines Walk to an Upcycling and Repair Fair at the Sustainability Festival.

If you run your own business, we’d love to include you, we offer a helpful, friendly service, so just give us a call. The magazines are monthly, if you don’t receive one, pick up a copy in town or read them on our social media pages. Don’t forget to mention st albans NOW when calling our advertisers.

Jane & Wendy Advertising Rates 1/4 page 1/3 page 1/2 page Full page

NOW at The Alban Arena

3 months £43 per edition £52 per edition £64 per edition £110 per edition

other options are available

Please get in touch jane@theNOWmagazines.com 07983 588291

Deadline 10th May for June edition www.theNOWmagazines.com

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music & comedy

NOW at The Cathedral

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trees, tours & talks

Herons, Walks & More

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out & about

St Albans Let’s Walk

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walking through history

Wildlife & More hedgehogs & plants

Cycling, Golf & More

@theNOWmagazines

12 months £33 per edition £40 per edition £49 per edition £84 per edition

Out of Town RAF, Shuttleworth & Bletchley Park

get fit & active

Sustainability Festival all about the environment

NOW at The Local Theatres drama, dance & music

NOW for some Music jazz, rock & classical

Lemurs, Tigers & Lego! family fun

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What’s on in May & June

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Index of Businesses

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Art Classes to the Women’s Institute

To Advertise: 07983 588291 jane@theNOWmagazines.com

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Out of Town

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Shuttleworth

RAF London

Birdsong Walk 1st May 2pm - 3.30pm Stroll through the Swiss Garden and lakeside Woodland Walk, listening out for birdsong and hopefully seeing some popular birds along the way. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear and bring binoculars if possible. Free with garden admission. £8.50, concs £7.50, child £2 Talk: Herbs: Cultivation & Use through the Ages 3rd May 10.30am - 12.30pm Looking at samples, identifying herbs, recipes to try at home and a quiz with a herby prize.

Age 16+ £10 ‘Bring a Picnic’ Bank Holiday Garden Tours 6th & 27th May 11am Enjoy a guided tour of the garden, find out a bit more about its history and recent restoration, and take a rare opportunity to picnic in the garden.

Free with garden admission. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. £8.50, concs £7.50, child £2 MayFly 11th & 12th May For lovers of model flying, ModelAir MayFly uniquely offers radio controlled, free flight, and Control Line flying. Watch the action, or bring your own and take part. Dogs on leads welcome.

May Evening Airshow 18th May 12 noon Part of Museums at Night Weekend. See the Edwardian aircraft, unlike any found elsewhere in the UK, they really must be seen flying! Take a free Swiss Garden tour, a free vintage bus ride and get up close to a selection of the aircraft on the airfield. Why not stay over at Shuttleworth’s camping facilities, and enjoy a weekend of entertainment with discounted entry to The Collection and Swiss Garden on non-event days.

Shuttleworth, Old Warden Aerodrome, Beds SG18 9EP shuttleworth.org

Late: Gin and Swing 9th May A night of all things 40s and vintage. Enjoy a live swing band, dance demonstrations and lessons on a selection of Gin cocktails.

Open Air Cinema 24th & 25th May Taking place on the airfield surrounded by the aircraft hangers. Bring a blanket and get comfy in front of a big screen for a night of move magic.

There will be a bar and selection of food on sale.

Movies to be announced soon.

Doors 7.30pm, films 9pm RAF Museum London, Hendon NW9 5LL rafmuseum.org.uk

Bletchley Park The Gin-Tology Experience 17th & 18th May 6pm £33.50 Part of Museums at Night Weekend. Discover the history of this quintessentially British drink, starting with an after-hours tour of Bletchley Park, followed by a musical introduction to the history of gin and a chance to create your own G&T from a range of 40 gins. Plus a comedy musical performance exploring the history of gin, and live music with vintage songs from the 1920’s - 1950’s. Over 18s Family Activities - D-Day: Deception Plans 28th - 30th May 11am - 3.30pm It’s the early hours of 6th June 1944. Numerous deception plans have been put into place to fool the enemy and protect Allied troops. In the role as a codebreaker, can you intercept and decipher German communications in order to decide if the plans have been successful and whether it is safe to proceed with D Day? The Allied deception strategy for D-Day was one of the most successful ever conceived. Find out what it was really like for the interceptors, the codebreakers and the intelligence officers through this immersive activity.

Ages 7-16 years, accompanied by an adult Bletchley Park, Bucks MK3 6EB bletchleypark.org.uk

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NOW at the Alban Arena Our House 30th April - 4th May 7.45pm / Sat 2.30pm £17.50 Madness musical by the St Albans Musical Theatre Company.

Rich Hall’s Hoedown 7th May 8pm £17 Hall’s precision dismantling of the tenuous relationship between two countries is as freewheeling and deadly accurate as ever.

Remembering The Movies 8th May 7.30pm £42.50, £37.50, £28.50, £25 Fall in love again with classic movie songs and dance routines, as Strictly Come Dancing’s favourite couple celebrate the history of the movies.

Charlie Landsborough 9th May 7.30pm £24 Known as the UK’s premier country music singer, Charlie’s gigs are a night of beautiful ballads, folk, blues, country, rock ‘n’ roll, pop, gospel and anthems.

An Audience with Paul Gascoigne 10th May 7.30pm £28, £30, £35 Some comedy, an auction for signed memorabilia and Paul Gascoigne’s life story!

The Great British Swing Dance Show: Shake That Thing!

11th May 7.30pm £22.50 The most musical, exciting and entertaining song-and-dance show in the UK. That’ll Be The Day 12th May 7.30pm £26.50, £24.50 Featuring live music performances, this entertaining Rock & Roll spectacular blends classic hits from the 50s, 60s & 70s, with bags of hilarious comedy!

Russell Kane: The Fast & The Curious 14th May 8pm £20 Comedian, presenter, actor, author and scriptwriter Kane is best known for BBC Three’s Stupid Man, Smart Phone and the host of three series of BBC Three‘s Live At The Electric.

Al Murray: Landlord of Hope and Glory 15th & 16th May 7.30pm £27.50

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Marvel at the majesty of our green and pleasant land.

A land globally renowned for our culture, history and places, like the world-famous Salisbury Cathedral.

The Dreamboys 17th May 7.30pm £21.50 - £27.50 An action packed show from start to finish.

Reginald D Hunter: Facing the Beast 18th May 8pm £23 Reginald’s searingly honest material has garnered him a popular fan base that spans the generations Leo Sayer: Just a Boy at 70 19th May 7.30pm £34, £32.50 Leo and his band bring you energy, exuberance and a hit packed show.

Glenn Hughes with special guest Laurence Jones 20th May 7.30pm £30 The former bassist and singer of Deep Purple, promises a dynamic, homage to his time in Deep Purple, one of music history’s most influential rock and roll groups.

St Albans Funk 25th May matinee £19.50, evening £29.50 Soul Music Disco 1.30pm / Main Show: 2pm Hello Sailor Soul Disco: 7.20pm / Main Show: 8pm Soul & Funk After Party: 10pm A new show showcasing observations on life and world events told through new original moving and powerful Soul & Funk Songs with some musical surprises.

An Audience with Liverpool Legends 28th May 7.30pm £30, concs £29 The ultimate evening of Liverpool legends with John Aldridge, Ronnie Whelan and Steve McMahon, hosted

by Jed Stone.

Jools Holland 29th May 7.30pm £40, £31 Jools with The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.

Henning Wehn: Get On With It 30th May 8pm £19.50 This show is a much needed call to arms. Listen, everyone: stop pondering and hand-wringing. Instead get on your bike and put your face to the grindstone!

01727 844488 The Alban Arena AL1 3LD alban-arena.co.uk

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Make Friends, Have Fun and Learn New Skills Children and teenagers can make friends, have fun and develop new skills every week at a Stagecoach session but did know that Stagecoach By the end they you Harpenden also runs a will be more summer Holiday Workshop.

confident, more socially aware and fitter!

The workshops are designed for 7-16 year olds (9.30am 4.30pm daily), with Liz in Harpenden also offering workshops for youngsters aged 4-6 years old (10am - 1pm). No previous dancing, singing or acting experience is needed and there are no auditions, all that’s needed is the willingness to give it a go!

high quality, fun performing arts lessons to children and teenagers. Our professional teachers work with each student to improve their confidence in all three disciplines.

As soon as they arrive your child will start making friends, having fun and learning some great new skills! By the end of the workshop they will be more confident, more socially aware and fitter! A highlight of the week is the showcase when the participants can exhibit their new-found singing, acting and dancing skills to family and friends.

For term time performing arts classes at your nearest Stagecoach school see advert below. Liz at Harpenden is also offering Stagecoach Holiday Workshops, so contact her to find out more and Stagecoach has years of experience in delivering to book a place today!

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Kimpton May Festival

Fun for The Kids TotFest 2019!

26th May 12 noon - 5pm Ages 6 months - 5 years A unique, fun and interactive programme of events, from giant painting canvasses and miniature fairground rides, to live performances from the The Flying Seagull Project and Glastonbabies. Plus a creation zone, a baby rave, bubble workshops, science classes, crazy golf, drama workshops, story zone, tots race track, bounce land and messy play. A chance for families with young children to try out new things and have fun.

Hitchin Priory SG5 2DL pinkbearevents.com

Stockwood Discovery Centre Be Not Afeard 29th - 31st May 11.15am & 2.15pm £5 Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not. How do we help our children grow the skills to be confidently curious about their world at a time when anxiety affects so many. We explore this challenge with a sensory musical version of The Tempest. Ages 7 and under, fully inclusive for those with special needs Young Herbert’s Horrors 29th May 11.30am & 2.30pm £7 Ages 4 - 9 years Young Herbert is a little horror. Living on a boat should be the ideal life for a wannabe pirate, but the boat’s grounded until Herbert can learn to tidy his cabin, eat his greens and be more polite. A big storm brews up when he is sent home from school and Mum calls on Great Uncle Albatross - navy captain and scourge of all pirates - to warn him of the dangers of rebellion.

Sourpuss 30th May 11.30am & 2.30pm £7 Age 3+ When shut out of the house Sourpuss feels lost and confused, but the beautiful garden soon intrigues him.

Watch his journey of discovery and enjoy learning the secrets of the great outdoors. From buzzing bees to a chirpy robin, stinky rubbish and vibrant flowers, this heartwarming puppet show is a feast for little eyes.

Stockwood Discovery Centre LU1 4LX lutonculture.com

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3rd - 6th May This is the largest May Festival in Herts with a host of new events and a theme of ‘Cartoons’ designed to appeal to all ages.

The Festival will play host to a diverse range of entertainment such as an art show, fun run, festival procession and music night featuring a Madness and an Oasis tribute band.

The focal point of the weekend is the procession which ends in the main arena where the May Queen and her attendants hold court.

Commenting on the festival, chairman John Hills said: “We are excited at the prospect of the May Festival in the village and I’m delighted that the theme should be something that will appeal to all ages.”

Along with hosting a fantastic time for locals and those who come to visit Kimpton, the event also helps to raise much needed funds for groups that operate in and around the village. This year it’s hoped that in excess of £15k will be raised for good causes.

Looking ahead John said: “We have always shown what a great festival this is and this year will be no exception. We have a movie night for the Friday and along with our dog show, auction and maypole dancing - the whole weekend will be a treat for all the family.”

For more information and to buy tickets for events such as the Friday Wine Tasting or the Kimpton Music Night visit kimptonmayfestival.co.uk

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NOW at the Cathedral

Exhibition: Alban Roadshow 2nd - 6th May See art work inspired by the Cathedral and its history created by students from Oaklands College’s Design Department.

Cathedral Choir Fundraising Concert 6th May 1pm Raising funds for their forthcoming tour to Loreto, Italy. Free, retiring collection.

Guided Tree Tour 11th May 2.30pm & 12th May 2pm Part of the Sustainability Festival. Accompany an expert guide on a tour of the grounds and discover the amazing history of some of the city’s oldest trees. Find out the special uses of some trees and those which have a royal connection. £3, child free Herts Musical Memories 12th May 2pm All are invited to watch, listen or join in with this vibrant singing session for those living with dementia, their carers and their families. The session incorporates gentle seated exercises to music, voice and breathing exercises and an eclectic mix of songs. Stop and support this local charity that run weekly sessions throughout Hertfordshire, it promises to be a fun, therapeutic afternoon, guaranteed to raise a smile.

Lunchtime Organ Recital 15th May 12.30pm Francesca Massey, Durham Cathedral. Free

St Albans International Organ Festival Recital 18th May 5.30pm Philip Scriven, UK. Free Talk: Destructive Creation in Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ 22nd May 7.30pm Exploring the rich parallels between Shelley’s original 1818 text and the Christian scriptures, teasing out the novel’s warnings about the desolation that results from the sin of pride.

Tower Tours 25th May 10am, 11.30am, 1pm & 2.30pm Climb the 211 steps up to the top of the oldest Cathedral tower in Britain and experience fantastic views of St Albans. £9.50 The Heavens are Telling the Glory of God: C.S. Lewis, Narnia, and the Planets 29th May 7.30pm Scholars have laboured to show that the Chronicles of Narnia have an underlying symbolic coherence, but none of these theories have reached general acceptance. Tutor, Dr Michael Ward believes that the answer lies in medieval cosmology. £10 An Exciting Environment 30th May 10am - 12.30pm Part of the Sustainability Festival. An environmental activity morning, where you can learn how recycling and nature have helped to shape the Cathedral over the last 1700 years.

There will also be environmentally themed arts and crafts activities. stalbanscathedral.org

Museums At Night Weekend 15th - 19th May Twice a year all UK museums, galleries and heritage sites open their doors after hours to showcase their treasures in unexpected ways, in an event organised by publisher Culture24. It’s a social experience, where visitors can get involved, delve deeper into fascinating subjects and perhaps enjoy a cocktail or two with friends.

You will find a number of local events included within the magazine. museumsatnight.org.uk

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Mortgages to Suit Everybody Creative Solutions Especially For Company Directors and Shareholders Those Struggling with Dividend Income or no Historic Accounts Self Employed Individuals/Partners Equity Release Mortgages First Time Buyers and Government Help to Buy Schemes Buy to Let Schemes for Individuals and Companies Capital Raising/Second Charge Loans Holiday Home Finance Ashdale Mortgage Services 01727 701781 www.adviceonmortgages.org www.theNOWmagazines.com

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NOW at Knebworth Hertfordshire Garden Show 4th - 6th May 9.30am - 5pm Over 100 exhibitors selling garden furniture, water features, hot tubs, tools and sculptures. There will be a craft pavilion, brass band, children’s rides and floral displays in the marquee with medal winners from Chelsea.

Afternoon Tea 5th May 2pm - 4.30pm Treat yourself to afternoon tea in Knebworth Barns.

Please book, £28, child £12.50 DogFest 11th & 12th May 9.30am - 5pm Join Professor Noel Fitzpatrick and Clare Balding to celebrate all things canine, from Dog Diving, Flyball, Hay Bale Racing and the Big Dog Dig to the Great Dog Walk and the Fun Dog Show.

Ghost Tour & Bat Walk 16th & 17th May 7pm - 10pm Part of Museums at Night Weekend. With a house tour featuring ghost stories and a talk from the Herts and Middlesex Bat Group. Please book £23 Decorative Salvage & Vintage Fair 25th & 26th May 10am - 5pm If you are an architect, designer or just looking for unique pieces for your home and garden, this feast of treasure is for you. £10 Dino Adventure 27th May 11am - 5pm Aspiring palaeontologists and brave explorers can conquer the dinosaur trail, travelling back in time to face the 72 life-sized dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures. Complete the trail quiz and claim your reward, trail sheets £1. The Wildlife Rangers will offer a hands on experience with snakes, lizards and tortoises.

Enjoy a day in the Park for games and picnics, and the Adventure Playground with Fort Knebworth, £10.

House admission extra: adults £4, concs £3.50.

Please book Knebworth House SG1 2AX knebworthhouse.com

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Come and Join Kingsbury WI Make Some New Friends We meet every 3rd Tuesday 9.45am - 12 noon Dagnall Street Baptist Church Hall Excellent Speakers Walking Group Book Group and Scrabble For more information please call Pat Legerton on 01727 822157

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telescopes trained on Heron Island where there should up to 9 nests with chicks, plus 2-3 Little Egret nests. Everyone is welcome to take a look and catch the action around the heronry as adults top up the nests with sticks, defend their nest space and, as the weeks progress bring food for the chicks whose fluffy heads can sometimes be seen poking above the nests.

Herons, Walks & More

Gorhambury Estate

Architectural History and Refurbishment 1st May 10.30am - 12 noon An overview of the architectural and social history of the house and an update on the progress of the current refurbishment. £15 The Gardens History and Tour 8th May 10.30am - 12 noon Ashridge Listen to a brief history of the gardens before taking Exhibition: Nature Detectives a guided tour of its seasonal highlights. £15 until Feb 2020 Focusing on wildlife surveying and citizen science. Living at Gorhambury 15th May 10.30am - 12 noon Learn about the plants and animals that can be Enjoy tea and cake in the family dining room and found on the estate, before having a go at hear about the challenges and delights of living at surveying yourself. Free Gorhambury and how life here has changed over Gentle Stroll - Bluebells the years. £15 1st May 10.30am - 12.30pm Join volunteers for a stroll through the woods to see Refurbishment Project One Year On and Site Tour 22nd May 10.30am - 12 noon the bluebells. Meet at Ling Ride car park, off An update on the progress of the current Beacon Road. HP4 1NF £3 refurbishment project, followed by a tour of the Bluebell Walks * house. £15 2nd May 6pm - 7.30pm The Gorhambury Tour on Film 4th May 10.30am - 12.30pm 29th May 10.30am - 12 noon Join the rangers to see the bluebells at this A video tour showing the 18th century rooms of the spectacular time of year, £8, child £5 house as they were laid out until recently, followed Dawn Chorus * by a Q & A session. £8 4th May 5am - 7am Gorhambury Estate, St Albans AL3 6AH Experience early morning bird song with the gorhamburyestate.co.uk rangers on hand to help identify calls, breakfast included, £15, child £10 Luton Hoo Walled Garden Dockey Wood Bluebells Open Wednesdays 4th & 6th May 10am - 4pm 2nd May - 30th Sept 10.30am - 4pm Learn more about this special forestry plantation Enjoy tours of the garden, and Victorian Farm and the bluebells that grow there. £3, child £1 Buildings (extra £3). Buy seasonal fruit and vegetables, apple juice and Luton Hoo honey and Half Term Trail and Crafts honeycomb from the garden shop, and visit The 27th - 31st May 10am - 4pm Wood Yard cafe. £5, under 4’s free Complete the trail, learn more about woodland Guided Bluebell Walk folklore and make a tree craft. £3 * please book 01442 851227 8th May 10.30am & 2pm Ashridge Estate, Berkhamsted HP4 1LT A three mile walk interspersed with historic nationaltrust.org.uk information, through the carpets of bluebells around this ancient woodland not otherwise open to the Verulamium Park public. £5, please book 01582 721443 or Weekends until 12th May 11am - 3pm office@lutonhooestate.co.uk Volunteers from RSPB St Albans will have Luton Hoo Estate LU1 4LF lutonhooestate.co.uk

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Historic People and Places Brought to Life!

Fully qualified guides have been showing people around our City and District for 50 years. Join us on one of our walks and hear about the fascinating yesteryears from the Romans to Victorians. Walk well known and lesser known places. You will be surprised by the many tales about people who have built, lived and worked here for 1000 years.

Walks for May & June Meet at the St Albans Museum + Gallery, St Peter's Street AL3 5DJ unless otherwise stated. Buy tickets from the guide on the day.

Walks last about one and a half hours Adult £5, child £2 (5-15 years) Visit our website for full details of our walks and other information Historic St Albans - A City Revealed 5th, 6th, 12th, 19th, 26th, 27th May & 2nd, 9th, 16th, 30th June @ 11am A Roman City Revealed 4th, 25th May & 8th, 29th June @ 2.30pm Meet outside Verulamium Museum Fishpool Street - Rags and Riches 11th, 18th May & 1st, 15th June @ 2.30pm Meet outside Verulamium Museum Historic Pubs of St Albans 27th May @ 2.30pm Aristocrats, Paupers & Philanthropists 6th May @ 2.30pm A Monastery Revealed 12th May & 16th, 30th June @ 2.30pm Coaching Inns 19th May @ 2.30pm Victorian St Albans 26th May @ 2.30pm Discover Harpenden 5th May @ 2.30pm Meet at the War Memorial There’s More to Tudors Than Henry VIII 5th May & 9th June @ 2.30pm Crime & Punishment 2nd June @ 2.30pm Discover Wheathampstead 1st June @ 2.30pm Meet in the East Lane Car Park, rear of The Bull

www.stalbanstourguides.co.uk

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Wildlife & More

Markyate Plant Sale 18th May 10am This family-friendly, horticultural-heaven is held in a private family garden, and has been supporting the Hospice of St Francis for 23 years raising nearly £100,000. Among the myriad of flowers and shrubs, there will be home made cakes and refreshments, live music, fun for the children, and a host of raffle prizes to be won.

64 High Street, Markyate AL3 8HZ

Earthworks

Hedgehog Awareness Week 5th - 11th May Organised by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), this week aims to highlight the problems hedgehogs face and how you can help them. They are asking you to make a space for hedgehogs in your garden, in the form of a log pile or wild area (this will provide a buffet of creepy crawlies). Visit the website for a free downloadable plan to build a hedgehog home. Other simple things we can do to help: - Leave gaps in boundary fences and walls - Move piles of rubbish before burning them - Check carefully before mowing or strimming - Ensure netting is kept at a safe height - Check compost heaps before digging in - Stop or reduce use pesticides or poisons - Cover drains or deep holes - Ensure there is an easy way out of ponds BHPS Chief Executive, Fay Vass, said “We would love to see what you have done for Hedgehogs during the week. Send us pictures of the event you organise or of the hedgehog space you create, using #hedgehogweek. It’s a great excuse to get the kids away from their screens and out in to the garden, get them to create a sign declaring your garden a Hedgehog Friendly Space or maybe a name plaque for the hedgehog home!”

BHPS is hoping to raise £1k, you can donate at justgiving.com/campaign/HAW19 britishhedgehogs.org.uk

Herts and Middx Wildlife Trust

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Discover Hedgehogs in Harpenden 29th May & 19th June 2pm - 3pm Learn about the fascinating lives of hedgehogs with an expert from Hornbeam Wood Hedgehog Sanctuary. Learn basic hedgehog facts, where they live, what they eat, problems facing them and why they’re in decline, and get advice on how to help them in your garden. £8, child £6.

Children must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Please book hertswildlifetrust.org.uk

Plant Sale and Open Garden 18th May 12 noon - 4pm Part of the Sustainability Festival. With lots of plants and handmade crafts on sale, plus tea and cake, Visitors will be encouraged to take part in an activity using principles of sustainability.

It’s free and family and dog friendly Earthworks, Hixberry Lane, St Albans AL4 0TZ

Small Blue Butterfly Project Public Launch: 26th May 10.30am Greenwood Park Community Centre, Tippendell Lane, St Albans AL2 3HW Butterfly Conservation have been awarded funding to create a new home for butterflies in Greenwood Park. A new area of chalk meadow will be planted to encourage the Small Blue, Small Copper, Brown Argus and Common Blue.

The Herts & Middx branch of Butterfly Conservation is working with local organisations to save the Small Blue, the UK’s smallest butterfly which is rare in Hertfordshire, with the strongest remaining colony found in Chiswell Green. Find out more at the short presentation followed by a walk round the site.

For more information call 07768 154324

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Sprint £50 / Standard £60 / Sprint Relay (per team) £75 / Standard Relay (per team) £85 Aqua-Bike Sprint £45 / Aqua-Bike Standard £55 activetrainingworld.co.uk

Kundalini Yoga

Cycling, Golf & More

26th May 10am - 11.30am Laura and Findlay Hinde have over 20 years’ experience teaching yoga. They set up The Yoga Hall in St Albans and run classes in Hatha Yoga, Pranayama Meditation, Raja Yoga and Kirtan Chanting. Kundalini yoga is a transformative practice which moves us energetically to greater awareness. Bringing balance to the mind, body and soul, it’s a path for everyone who wants the skills to successfully cope with the challenges of modern daily life. £16, please book 07974 653661 Gorhambury House St Albans AL3 6AH

Cycling in Herts

Abbey View Golf Society

With lots of cycle routes to explore, visit these websites to find out more.

If you’d like to cycle with others on a social basis or prefer women only rides letsride.co.uk For routes to do on your own or with friends hertfordshire.gov.uk South Herts Wednesday Evening Rides 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th May 7.30pm Starting from St Albans War Memorial AL1 3HG Rides are between 15 & 20 miles long at a brisk pace, with destination arrival time of 9pm.

It’s essential that you have front and rear lights, puncture outfit, tyre levers, pump and spare tube.

Bring a guest entry form if not a member of the CUK/CTC. Call for more information 07746 821781 cyclinguk.org Five Miles to Fabulous Ladies Bike Ride 11th May Part of the Sustainability Festival Meet at 9.30am by the cycle stands at Morrisons, Hatfield Road, St Albans. Wear suitable clothing, bring a roadworthy bike and money for coffee.

Experience the joy of sustainable transport. southhertsctc.org.uk

Pedal of Honour Charity Bike Ride 11th May Starting at the Alford Arms in Frithsden, then onto the Russell Arms in Buttlers Cross, then The Old Queens Head at Penn, crossing the Thames for a grand finale and BBQ at the Royal Oak in Marlow.

Register to get involved pedalofhonour.com

Hertfordshire Triathlon Spring 26th May 7.30am Back for its fifth year, this event organised by Active Training World, will feature sprint and standard distances. The standard distance triathlon includes the Herts Club Championships, and is open to everyone.

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A friendly golfing society open to men and women of all abilities, they meet on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the 9 hole Abbey View Course in Verulamium Park. If you’re looking for some fun golf, good exercise and a great bunch of people then why not try the Abbey View Golf Society.

Westminster Lodge, St Albans AL1 2DL abbeyviewgolfsociety.co.uk

Inflatable 5k 22nd June 9am The UK’s best Inflatable obstacle course has got even bigger, bouncier and more incredible. It now has up to 15 mega-sized obstacles, making this the biggest Inflatable 5k obstacle event ever created.

Herts County Showground, St Albans AL3 7PT ukrunningevents.co.uk

Planning a Party?

Celebrate in style with a party at The County Club, St Albans A private members club that has been in the heart of the city for over 125 years The Club is perfect for parties and we’ve hosted many 30th, 40th and 50th birthdays.

We have a great bar, function room and outdoor terrace and can also cater for buffets The Club is just 100 yards from the City Station and has onsite parking If you would like to view the Club or check availability, please call or email us, and we’ll do all we can to make your party special 29 Ridgmont Road St Albans AL1 3AG 01727 759445 manager@thecountyclub.org

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Museums & Mills St Albans Museum + Gallery St Peters Street AL1 3DH Museum Treasure Hunt £4.99 Receive cryptic clues to your phone via text and embark on a treasure hunt around the museum.

Discover little known facts and features and learn more about the fascinating objects on display.

Exhibition: Toy Story: The Us in Museum until 9th May There are many ways to look at a museum object and this exhibition explores the design ideas and heritage context behind some of the toys and games in the Museums’ collection.

Students from the University of Herts have worked together with museum staff and volunteers to discover how they might be designed today in our complex and difficult world.

have not been seen together since they were first created. Presented in partnership with UHArts. #TapChat: What Type of Water User Are You? 18th - 23rd May Part of Sustainable St Albans Discover how much water you use at home, share your water using habits, play water saving games and take a photo at the #TapChat seaside board, Affinity Water’s interactive installation. Free, drop in Exhibition: The Pickling Project 23rd May - 1st Sept Following a period of intense and urgent conservation, a collection of fascinating animal and plant specimens preserved in fluid will be on display. This exhibition explores a previously unknown and neglected part of the Museums’ natural history collection and shines a light on the processes taken to look at it. Discover weird and wonderful creatures and learn more about how this important collection was saved from the brink. Free stalbansmuseums.org.uk

National Mills Weekend

11th & 12th May This is the annual festival of our milling heritage, providing a fantastic opportunity to visit mills, many of which are not usually open to the public. Until the advent of the steam engine, wind and watermills provided the only source of power for many different processes – from making flour, paper, cloth to hammering metal and extracting oils.

Explore mills that produced, or still produce these products, some restored to working order, some derelict, some still working commercially.

Exhibition: Wigram’s Wanderings spab.org.uk/mills/national-mills-weekend until 19th May Free Redbournbury Watermill & Bakery Mayor of St Albans in the 1920s, Edgar Wigram 11th May was an architect and painter. This exhibition Bakery Mill Shop & Museum: 9am - 5.30pm explores his love of travel around Europe, North 12th May Africa and the Middle East. Wigram’s wanderings Stall at St Albans Farmers Market: 9am by bicycle in the early 1900s took him from Venice Mill Shop & Museum open: 12 noon - 5.30pm to the Rhine and from the Alhambra to Aleppo. With The Watermill will be open to visitors with milling Wigram as a good humoured guide explore a world demonstrations and the Crossley Oil Engine before mass tourism took hold. running.

Barbara Hepworth: Artist in Society 1948 - 53 Redbournbury Lane, St Albans AL3 6RS until 8th Sept redbournburymill.co.uk Following a decade of preoccupation with landscape, Hepworth moved naturally between abstraction and the figure in the years 1948 - 53, capturing the human form across drawing and sculpture. Finding inspiration in the movements of people in Venice’s St Mark’s Square to dancers in her Trewyn Studio and medical teams performing operations, this exhibition introduces sculptures, drawings and archival material, reuniting works that

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Over 100 public events across St Albans, Harpenden and the villages all about sustainable living and the environment. Most events are free.

Sustainable Clothes Swish - Clothes Swap 11th May Premier Inn, Adelaide Street, St Albans AL3 5BH Drop off up to 8 good quality items 12.30pm 1.30pm, get a token for each item, then at 2.30pm spend the tokens. Adult clothes only.

Co-operative Food-Growing Open Day with FoodSmiles 11th May 1.30pm - 4.30pm Hammonds End Farm, Harpenden AL5 2AY Tour and cakes, look around this friendly community project, you may even want to join! foodsmilesstalbans.org.uk Climate Emergency Open Mic Night 13th May 7.30pm Harpenden Arms AL5 2TR We have a climate emergency, what can we do?

Share your thoughts at this Open Mic Night. Dave Hampton, Carbon Coach, will kick off the session.

Free but please book at meetup.com/Our-PlanetOur-Future-continues-at-the-harpenden-arms Wild Medicines Walk 14th May 7.30pm Meet: Plough and Harrow, Harpenden AL5 1PR Wild medicines are everywhere; Lucy Blunden, medical herbalist, shows you the wealth of health at your feet. £7 Upcycling & Repair Fair 18th May 10.30am - 3pm St Luke’s Church, St Albans AL1 5QJ Bring broken electricals, electronics, clothes, jewellery, and they will help repair them.

Craft stalls, pre-loved clothing and furniture.

Community Sports Day 18th May 9.30am - 5.30pm Nuffield Health, Highfield Park Drive AL4 0AH Free family day of fitness, food and fun.

Market Takover 19th May 11am - 5pm St Albans Market, St Peters Street Stalls, music, food and activities all aimed at helping you reduce your carbon footprint.

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Charity Pub Quiz 20th May 8pm The White Lion, Sopwell Lane, St Albans AL1 1RLN Get together a team and enjoy an evening of fun while raising funds for Earthworks. £2 Table Top Games and Vegan Buffet 25th May 7.30pm URC Church, Homewood Rd, St Albans AL1 4BH Have fun playing nostalgic, traditional games from way back including; dominoes, chess, battleships, Guess Who and Jenga! Vegan buffet included. BYOB. £8, please book 01727 753661 Symondshyde Ancient Woodland Walk 26th May 10am-1pm Meet: Nomansland Car Park, St Albans AL4 9FH A stroll around the beautiful Sandridge countryside, visiting Nomansland Common and Symondshyde Ancient Woodland.

Film: Metamorphosis: a Poem for the Planet 26th May 6.30pm The Odyssey Cinema, St Albans AL1 1PQ The film uses stunning images to capture the true scale of the global environment crisis, including opportunities for transformation with a bold new vision for humantiy. £6.50 / £5 Waste Watchers Crafty Cafe 28th May 10am - 11.30am High Street Methodist Church Hall, Harpenden Have fun making crafts from recycled materials.

Ages 5 - 11, must be accompanied by an adult River Dipping in the River Lea 29th May 2pm - 3.30pm Batford Springs Bring the kids, put on your wellies and come down to the River Lea and see why it’s so special.

Free, but please book at harpenden.gov.uk Sustainable Picnic with Bamboo Mama 1st June 12 noon - 2pm Verulamium Park Come along for a community picnic with the kids, can you make it without producing any rubbish? sustainablestalbans.org #SustFest19

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We Love Plants! display. We’ve even set up six of our favourite trends for you to view, complete with furniture, conveniently located on the A405, patios and accessories. near J21a of the M25. The Our specialist buyers of business started with our nurseries, over 60 years ago, and homewares, house plants and garden care travel far and wide to our garden centre has been on bring you new, high quality site for over 40 years. products at value for money. If We love plants! It’s our heritage you’re looking for gifts, you’re and it’s where we excel. Most of sure to find the perfect item in our our plants are sourced from the range of candles, clothing, food UK and actually a large number and cards, and we’ll even gift come directly from our on-site wrap it for you.

Nurseries. That means we have a We’re also really proud of our higher control over the quality of our plants, and we’re reducing our restaurant, where we offer high quality, home cooked food in a overall carbon footprint. lovely environment. Plus don’t Our plants team are always on forget to visit our onsite Aquatics hand to pass their extensive centre, where we stock a wide knowledge onto our customers. range of water features, Our new 2019 garden furniture, aquariums and all you need for Weber and Landmann BBQs, your pond - including the fish! chimineas, garden power and burston.co.uk solar power ranges are now on

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NOW at the Local Theatres The Barn Theatre AL8 6ST Kindertransport 26th April - 4th May Starting in 1938 thousands of Jewish children were sent away from Nazi controlled Germany to seek safety in other countries. They were unaccompanied, travelling on trains and ferries, and took a huge chance that they would be cared for by kind-hearted strangers. Most never saw their parents again. The play tells the story of mother and daughter, Evelyn and Faith, as Faith prepares to leave home. The dynamic of the mother and daughter relationship is beautifully observed.

Boudica 31st May - 8th June Roman Britain, AD 61. Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, is exiled for trying to claim her rightful title. Furious, she raises an army to fight the Romans but with the odds against them, failure means annihilation. At what point do the heroes become the oppressors? barntheatre.co.uk

Luton Central Library Kite 9th May 7pm - 8pm A poignant love-song to the wind, freedom and the joy of play. Stuck in her Grandma's obsessively tidy flat, a recently orphaned girl discovers a kite which comes to life and takes her on a wild adventure.

Age 7+ The Man Without a Past 10th May 7.30pm An eclectic community living in abandoned shipping containers is thrown upside down when a man with no memory arrives. They begin to help him to find his feet, but the surprise rediscovery of his past puts his new life in jeopardy. Part-melancholic love story, part-deadpan comedy. Age 12+ Morgan & West’s Utterly Spiffing Spectacular Magic Show for Kids 11th May 230pm A mountain of mysterious magic, a hatful of hyperreality, and of course a truck full of tricks and tea.

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foolery, Morgan & West present a show for all the family, where magic and silliness abound! Age 5+ Duckie 12th May 2pm Reimagining of The Ugly Duckling, with a message of respect and self-acceptance at its core. Familyfriendly glamour take centre stage as cabaret star Le Gateau Chocolat breaks out of his shell as Duckie. A tale of identity and belonging. Age 3+

Wheathampstead Dramatic Society Memorial Hall, Wheathampstead AL4 8AY The Herd 23rd - 25th May 8pm A funny, but heartfelt play about a family dealing with Andy who is severely disabled and whose 21st birthday is coming up. His mother is organising the party; communicating with Andy’s carer endlessly; coping with her aged parents, dealing with her daughter and her boyfriend and then, on top of everything her ex-husband turns up. Given he walked out when Andy was young, she is not pleased to see him. A bit like Abigail of the famous party, Andy himself never appears in the play! This is the first play by the award winning actor, Rory Kinnear. wheathampsteaddramaticsocirty.co.uk

Abbey Theatre AL1 2DL Things I Know to be True 3rd - 11th May Touching, funny and bold, this tells the story of a family through the eyes of four grown-up siblings and the danger of unarticulated emotions.

An Evening with Mr WS Gilbert and Mr Arthur Sullivan 17th May St Albans Chamber Opera presents a cornucopia of music and lyrics from these great 'Savoyards'.

Modern Dance for Beginners 21st - 25th May A comical yet poignant reflection on commitment, fidelity, love, marriage and sex.

Lily and the Bear 30th May Lily and Bear play pirates, discover the joys of sharing and invite families to sing along and take part. abbeytheatre.org.uk

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The Train A Pilgrim Odyssey

by Allan Ramsay

Allan Ramsay, an electrical engineer living with his wife Christina in St Albans, has published two books on electrical subjects, and this is his first novel.

A train headed for Hell with all humanity on board, most oblivious to their fate. An ancient document called ‘The Message’ offers the only alternative. It tells of a great King who will one day bring world peace. Most passengers dismiss it. Believers must journey to the End Section, which will be detached at Calvary Junction and re-routed to King's City to meet the returning King. Believers Simon Seeker and Paul Comforter journey to the End Section, experiencing many trials en route. They then discover that the End Section is comprised of two carriages, each containing passengers with widely differing ideas of what ‘The Message’ is. Must they make a terrible choice? It's the glories of King's City or the horrors of Hell for all eternity. The stakes could not be higher.

Available from Waterstones and Amazon for £8.99

Art & Music UHArts Form and Flux 30th April - 11th May Free Art and Design Gallery AL10 9AB Artist Simeon Nelson presents a showcase of drawing, documentation, maquettes and sculptural fragments, underpinned by his abiding engagement with process philosophy, which sees things as events in a world of constant flux.

Sonic Herts 7th - 17th May College Lane Campus, Hatfield AL10 9AB The University of Hertfordshire’s annual music festival run by students and staff, open to all. please book online De Havilland Philharmonic Orchestra – Spring Classics Concert 12th May 7.30pm Weston Auditorium, Hatfield AL10 9EU Rossini’s Barber of Seville Overture and Haydn’s Cello Concerto, partnered with Brahms’ mighty Symphony no.1. please book £18, concs £15 / £8 uharts.co.uk

Nude Tin Can Gallery Exhibition: St Albans Exposed 11th - 30th May St Albans AL1 4JS Part of the Sustainability Festival.

This very local exhibition encompasses aspects of sustainability including: Health and Happiness, Equity and Local Economy, Culture and Community and Sustainable Materials. The Gallery aims to provide a creative journey by connecting local artists to local residents and visitors via original artwork. The theme is ‘St Albans’ and visitors can expect classic and traditional alongside abstracts and the conceptual as well as sculptures that have been created using reclaimed and recycled materials. nudetincan.com romykelleherart.com

Childwickbury Art School An introduction to Drypoint printing with Ali Yanya, who is a regular exhibitor at the Childwickbury Arts Fair and is much in demand as a teacher and lecturer. aliyanya.com Print-room on the Childwickbury Estate, St Albans.

Courses in May, August and October christianekubrick.com 01727 859495

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‘love’ inspired by the Old Testament Book, ‘Song of Solomon’ performed by The Music Makers Choir of Harpenden. Featuring works by Eric Whitacre, Howard Skempton, Anthony Brummel, Thomas Tallis,, Paul Mealor and Jon Ireland. £15, concs £12 / £6 on the door or from ticketsource.co.uk/musicmakers

Dagnall Street Baptist Church

NOW for some Music The Radlett Centre WD7 8HL Jazz at the Movies 8th May 7.30pm A unique jazz group interpreting movie themes and soundtrack songs from classic films including The Pink Panther, Gilda, Kiss Me Deadly, From Russia With Love, The Servant, One Touch Of Venus, The Fabulous Baker Boys, and many more. Rich with anecdote, song and swing, JATM have become a regular sell-out at Ronnie Scott’s and many other jazz clubs throughout the UK. £18 Rock for Heroes 10th May 8pm Bringing the perfect combination of Rock and Pop artists across the eras, fundraising in support of Help for Heroes. Performed by a full live rock band and superb singers, with music from artists such as Dire Straits, Status Quo, Queen, David Bowie, Spandau Ballet, Bryan Adams, Elton John, AC/DC and more.

You won’t see a bad wig here; this isn’t a tribute act it’s simply paying tribute to the legends in music. £22 radlettcentre.co.uk

St Albans Organ Theatre AL1 5PE Chris Stanbury in Concert 11th May 7.30pm One of the UK's most versatile young keyboard musicians, from playing jazz and classical piano to a mighty theatre or classical pipe organ. Chris holds various prestigious musical qualifications from the London College of Music including Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees.

Musical Sunday Afternoon 12th May 2.15pm Demonstrations of the mechanical instruments. stalbansorgantheatre.org.uk

St John’s Church Harpenden AL5 1DJ Song of Songs 11th May 7.30pm An evening of glorious choral music on the theme of

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St Albans AL3 5EE Spring Concert 11th May 7.30pm With St Albans City Band and London Metropolitan Brass Community Band. Music will include pieces themed to the season as well as some favourite film and show music. eventbrite.co.uk Come and join your Local Band The Band are a friendly group of players and are currently looking for Cornets, Flugel Horn, Euphonium, Baritone, Eb / Bb Bass and Percussion players although all players are welcome. They have their own Bandroom and rehearse on Wednesday nights, 8pm - 10pm under the baton of professional Musical Director John Campbell. Please get in touch if you are interested in joining. stalbansband.co.uk

St Saviour's Church Sandpit Lane, St Albans AL1 4DF English Classics 11th May 7.30pm St Albans Symphony Orchestra Vaughan Williams: The Wasps Overture and Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Elgar: Symphony No.1 Adult £16, £11, student £5, child £1 saso.org.uk Amadeus Chamber Orchestra 18th May 7.30pm With Joel Sandelson - conductor, Jennifer Wigram leader and soloist Michael Wigram - cello.

Mozart: Symphony no 35 in D (Haffner) K385 Haydn: Cello concerto no. 2 in D Beethoven: Symphony no 1 £15, child £3 online or at the door amadeuschamberorchestra.org.uk

Aldwickbury School Harpenden, AL5 1AD Harpenden Concert Band: Stories Through Music 19th May 4pm A varied programme including narrated performances of Tubby the Tuba and Peter and the Wolf; Concert Band classics Molly on the Shore by Percy Grainger and Holst's Second Suite in F; concluding with Paul Lavender's epic Jurassic Park Soundtrack Highlights.

Free, donations given to local charities @HarpendenConcertBand

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Do Something for Charity Let’s Talk about Dementia 1st May 7.30pm Join The Hospice of St Francis to talk about dementia. Speakers include Dr Tammy Angel, Clinical Director of Elderly Care at West Herts Hospitals Trust and The Hospice’s Medical Director, Dr Sharon Chadwick, who will address issues such as planning ahead so you get the care you want, and how palliative care teams can help to support you. Open to all, £10.

Civic Centre, Berkhamsted HP4 3HD stfrancis.org.uk

Wheathampstead 10k and 2k Family Fun Run 12th May The 10k starts at 11am and the 2k Family Fun Run starts at 10am from Marford Playing Fields This annual event raises funds for Beech Hyde primary and nursery schools. The 10K is a challenging off-road course with outstanding scenery, it’s time chipped and trophies will be awarded to the first 3 placed male and female runners and medals given to all finishers.

There are 800 places available in the 10k and 600 in the 2k fun run. On the day late entries for the 2K is open 8.45am 9.40am. There are no entries on the day for the 10K. The morning ends with a BBQ and children’s entertainment, to make a great morning out with the family.

Twitter @Wheaty10K facebook.com/wheaty10k

St Albans Charity Cycle Ride 19th May Celebrating its 25th anniversary, this event has raised over £1m for a variety of charities. It’s a fun event, suitable for everyone from families to cycling fanatics, with 10, 20, 30, and 40 -mile fully-marshalled routes taking you through beautiful Hertfordshire countryside, mainly on quiet country lanes. Starting and ending at Oaklands College. The ride, organised by the Rotary Clubs of St Albans are supporting some great charities this year including Alzheimer’s Research UK, SECONDARY!st, and The Counselling Foundation, you can support any registered charity you just need to provide the charity name and number.

Adult £22, youth £5, senior £10 Late entry fees (after 10th May) Adult £27, youth/senior £15 Enter on the Day Adult £30, youth/senior £20 saccr.co.uk

Into The Groove 16th May 8pm Boogie the night away to your favourite 80s hits while raising money for homelessness and women's refuge. Send your playlist requests to get into the groove all night long. Money raised from ticket sales will go to Crisis and Refuge.

The Barn @ The Horn, St Albans AL1 3TE intothegroovestalbans@gmail.com @intothegrooves2

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Lemurs, Tigers & Lego!

A Booming Bank Holiday 4th - 6th May 10am - 5pm Come and sample the life from the last 3 centuries.

From the 18th century there will be demonstrations from living history groups firing cannons and muskets. From the 19th century, there’s a Victorian Classroom - let’s see if you can survive it! From the 20th century there’s a street party in full swing reenacting the end of WW2 with a singalong. Plus tours of the Rocket Vault with real Cold War rocket scientists who worked here when it was a Top Secret research establishment. In the present 21st century, meet Professor Nitrate to enjoy extracts from shows and hands-on science experiments.

Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey EN9 1JY royalgunpowdermills.com

Wardown House Museum & Gallery Out of the Box 5th May 11am - 12pm & 2pm - 3pm Discover never seen before items from the collections on the first Sunday of every month when an item 'out of the box' will be revealed. It’s a great opportunity to see some fantastic objects that can't always be put on display.

House Tour for Kids 28th & 29th May 11am Join in with a new horrid-history style tour of Wardown House, discover the fun stories behind the House and explore the rooms in a new light.

Ages 8 -11 years Wardown House, Museum and Gallery Luton LU2 7HA lutonculture.com

The Tiger Who Came To Tea

Woburn Safari Park Gekko 5th May Drive around the Road Safari then head down to the Mammoth Play Ark to see Gekko from TV series PJ Masks, at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

Lemur Charity Weekend 25th - 27th May Join in the fun and games, to help raise money for the Association for the Study and Conservation of Lemurs. Lemurs are threatened in their natural habitats, in Madagascar, this charity works to help protect them from possible extinction.

Skye from Paw Patrol 26th May Skye will be at the Mammoth Play Ark at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm – don’t forget to bring your cameras!

Normal admission costs apply for all events Woburn Safari Park MK17 9QN woburnsafari.co.uk

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29th & 30th May Celebrating 50 years of Britain's best-loved picture book. The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don't expect to see at the door is a big, stripy tiger! Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos. Age 3+ Watford Colosseum WD17 3JN watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Great Brick Safari until 2nd June Set off on an exciting journey of discovery, uncovering unbelievable LEGO brick beasts and mammoth LEGO brick mammals. From a jumbo elephant that weighs a tonne of bricks to a giant gorilla that’s built for life in the jungle. Along the way you’ll find some interactive activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable LU6 2LF zsl.org

Brambleton Model Railway Open Day 11th May 2pm - 5.30pm Open days are a great way to show the public what the club is all about. It provides a chance to run the railway as it was originally intended, while giving visitors a chance to see a great variety of rolling stock (O gauge circuit) and live steam narrow gauge (16 mm). off Highfield Oval, Harpenden, AL5 4BX brambleton.org.uk

Marvellous Mammals 31st May 9.30am - 11.30am Get up close and personal with some of the small mammals found in Harpenden and learn about the tracks and signs left by these little critters.

Harpenden Common AL5 1PG harpenden.gov.uk

Ensonglopedia of Animals 26th May 2.30pm Twenty-six animal songs, one for each letter of the alphabet. Get to grips with fascinating facts about extraordinary echinoderms, distressed damselflies, crazy corals, batty birds and amazing arachnids.

Expect the unexpected. And expect it to rhyme. This is the brand-new show from John Hinton, multiaward-winning creator of the 'Scientrilogy' of musical comedies about Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein and Marie Curie. Ages 5 - 105. £12, concs £10 Trestle Arts Base, St Albans AL4 0JQ trestle.org.uk

Luna Cinema Luna Cinema is returning to Harpenden Common 17th May: The Greatest Showman: 18th May: Bohemian Rhapsody 19th May: Mamma Mia Here We Go Again all films showing at 7.30pm Harpenden Common AL5 1DT thelunacinema.com/harpenden-common

Hatfield House Livings Crafts 9th - 12th May 10am - 5pm Hundreds of designers promoting the best of British crafts. With lectures, demonstrations and practical workshops, glassblowing, weaving, jewellery, fashions, ceramics and entertainment.

Chamber Music Festival 13th May 7.30pm - 10pm An evening of music with sounds from the musical archives of Hatfield House, with music by Fauré, Saint-Saëns, Byrd, Tallis, Dowland and Ravel.

Artists include the Navarra Quartet, Guy Johnston (cello), John Mark Ainsley (tenor), William Whitehead (organ), William Vann (piano) and members of the Hertfordshire Chorus.

Slam Dunk 26th May 12 noon - 11pm With 8 stages and over 40 bands, perfect for lovers of pop-punk and rock music alike, with headline act - All Time Low. Hatfield House AL9 5HX hatfield-house.co.uk

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What’s on in May 42

1st Let’s Talk About Dementia page 38 2nd & 4th Bluebell Walks page 16 3rd Paul Young ‘35 Years of No Parlez’ PT2 Watford Colosseum Toyah Harpenden Public Halls, 7.30pm, £22.50 3rd - 6th Kimpton May Festival page 10 4th Dawn Chorus page 16 Happy Teens Wellbeing Weekender page 9 Craft Fair St Albans Organ Theatre, 11am, free 4th - 6th A Booming Bank Holiday page 40 Hertfordshire Garden Show page 14 5th 50 Things Club Chiltern's Gateway Centre, LU6 2GY, 2pm - 4pm nationaltrust.org.uk Victorian Lessons British Schools Museum, Hitchin SG4 9TS britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk 7th Talk: Maternity & Motherhood British Schools Museum, SG4 9TS £5, please book britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk Rich Hall’s Hoedown page 6 8th Mapdance The Sandpit Theatre AL4 9NX dance-theatre, humour & intricate choreography, 7.30pm, £7 sandpittheatre.co.uk Remembering The Movies page 6 Gorhambury Gardens History & Tour page 16 9th - 12th Living Crafts page 41 10th Rock for Heroes page 32 11th Brambleton Model Railway Open Day page 41 Open Allotment & Tea Party Sandridge Road Allotments AL3 5HS, 2pm - 4pm Song of Songs page 32 11th & 12th DogFest page 14 National Mills Weekend page 22 11th May - 1st June Sustainability Festival 2019 page 24 12th Wheathampstead 10k page 38 Bubblerush Gadebridge Park, Hemel Hempstead, 5k fun run stfrancis.org.uk Herts Musical Memories page 12 17th & 18th The Gin-Tology Experience page 4

17th - 19th Luna Cinema Harpenden Common, 7.30pm thelunacinema.com 18th May Evening Airshow page 4 Markyate Plant Sale page 18 May Fair Garden Fields School, 12 noon - 3pm Reginald D Hunter: Facing the Beast page 6 19th St Albans Charity Cycle Ride page 38 Leo Sayer: Just a Boy at 70 page 6 Bugs & Beetles & What They Feed On £4, please book highfieldparktrust.co.uk Outside the Box Court Theatre, Pendley, Tring HP23 5QY challenging the conventions surrounding death, 6pm courttheatre.co.uk 23rd - 25th The Herd page 28 24th The Simon & Garfunkel Story Harpenden Public Halls, 7.30pm, £19.50 25th Eleanor Conway: Walk of Shame 2 Harpenden Public Halls, 7.30pm, £12 25th & 26th Herts County Show hertsshow.com 26th TotFest 2019! page 10 Small Blue Butterfly Project Launch page 18 Shalamar Watford Colosseum, 8pm Hertfordshire Triathalon Spring page 20 Ensonglopedia of Animals page 41 27th - 31st Half Term Trail & Crafts page 16 28th An Audience with Liverpool Legends page 6 Talk: The Rothamsted Bees & Me by Peter Tomkins, Harpenden Public Halls, 8pm 28th - 30th ArtShed! Holiday Art Camps page 5 29th Discover Hedgehogs in Harpenden page 18 Jools Holland see page 6 29th & 30th The Tiger Who Came To Tea page 40 29th & 31st Children’s Activities at Burston page 26 30th Henning Wehn: Get On With It page 6 The Quireboys Unplugged Harpenden Public Halls, 8pm, £16 31st May - 8th June Boudica page 28

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What’s on in June 44

2nd Canine Capers Ashridge Estate HP4 1LT ProDogs team demonstrate agility with their cocker spaniel & have a go with your own pooch 3rd - 8th

By Way of Murder Abbey Theatre AL1 2DL 4th Talk: Traditional Treasures British Schools Museum SG4 9TS britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk 8th Patron's Concert St Albans Organ Theatre, 7pm 8th & 9th Art on the Common Harpenden Common Sat: 10am - 5pm / Sun: 11am - 5pm 9th Luxury Wedding Show see back cover St Albans Half Marathon page 2 Tour de Vale Charity Bike Ride page 21 Musical Sunday Afternoon St Albans Organ Theatre, 2pm 13th One Night Of Queen Watford Colosseum, performed by Gary Mullen & The Works 15th Bocadillos Musicales! St Saviour's Church, St Albans AL1 4DF, 01582 832312, music through the ages from Spain & Latin America, Carillon Chamber Choir, 7.30pm, £15, child £5 Lea Singers - Summer Soirée Academy St Albans, Shenley Lane AL2 1AF Latin, a cappella & swing music for choir, 7.30pm, £20, concs £15, with fizz & canapés leasingers.co.uk Legally Blonde: The Musical The Sandpit Theatre AL4 9NX with Spotlight Youth Theatre, 2.30pm & 6.30pm, £12, £9.50 15th & 16th Special Children's Day ZSL Whipsnade Zoo zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo 16th Fun Ride Ashridge Estate, ride your horse through some of Ashridge’s most beautiful landscapes, please book, 01442 851227 9am - 12 noon, £20, child £10 19th Discover Hedgehogs in Harpenden page 18 20th - 22nd & 27th - 29th The Tempest Inn on the Park AL3 4SN breakawaytheatre.com 21st Charity Runway Race Luton Airport LU2 9LY run 4.342k on the runway in support of Macmillan Cancer Support, 3.30am - 5am £20 plus booking fee eventbrite.co.uk 21st - 29th The Red Shoes The Barn Theatre AL8 6ST

menacing cabaret where anything is possible & nothing is probable 21st - 30th St Albans Roman Festival: Discover the Story! a community, city-wide event, with Roman-film showings, themed menus, historical walks & talks, plays, performances & more stalbanscathedral.org 21st June - 13th July Roman Theatre Festival ovo.org.uk 22nd The Alban Pilgrimage Alban Fest Abbey Orchard, St Albans 12 noon - 6pm, free Inflatable 5k page 20 St Albans Choral Society: Vivaldi Gloria St Saviour’s Church with Haydn’s Little Organ Mass & works by Mozart, 7.30pm choralsociety.com Sunset Safari Whipsnade Zoo 6pm zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo Making History Abbey Theatre AL1 2DL highenergy show packed with something for everyone 23rd Alban Street Festival City Centre, live music & street entertainers, 12 noon - 6pm British Light Music Concert Weston Auditorium AL10 9EU, De Havilland Philharmonic Orchestra, 7.30pm, £18, concs £15, child £8 Garden Party Ashridge House HP4 1NS, children’s entertainment, music, 1pm - 5pm 24th Young People’s Puppet Theatre St Albans Cathedral, 7.30pm: The Crossing Place 8.30pm: A Grim Day Out, £5 25th Talk: The Restoration of St Albans Abbey Harpenden Public Halls, 7.30pm 26th - 28th Hard Copy Abbey Theatre AL1 2DL French play in translation about bullying 29th Smartphone Safari Verulamium Park, learn how to take photographs of the flowers, trees & landscape, over 18’s only, 4pm - 6pm, £15 30th Larks in the Parks 12 noon - 5pm Batford Springs AL5 5AA Fleetville Recreation Ground AL1 4LQ Victoria Playing Field AL3 5JH Caledon Community Centre AL2 1PU The Marlborough Club AL1 2EF 30th Film: Van Gogh & Japan The Sandpit Theatre AL4 9NX, 3pm

Dying Matters Awareness Week 13th - 19th May Are we ready for death?

Many people haven’t thought about wills, funeral planning, organ donation, or the emotional aspect of being ready for death. We can only know the answer if we start to have the conversation. And those conversations don’t stop in our private lives. Are we ready to volunteer at a local hospice, to support a bereavement charity, or to do what we can to help others?

There is a theme for each day which will hopefully generate specific conversation with family and friends, and give us a chance to ask questions or share things that aren't often covered in depth.

Monday: Funeral costs Tuesday: Memorialisation Wednesday: Grieving for a pet Thursday: Support for those who are estranged from/have no family Friday: Diversity and inclusion at the end of life Visit the website to find out more or join in the conversation on social media dyingmatters.org @dyingmatters

www.theNOWmagazines.com

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Index of Businesses Adult Art Classes

Start Art!

Education 30 Kumon

Author Allan Ramsay: The Train - A Pilgrim Odyssey 30 Bicycle Repairs Cycletech UK Building / Refurbishment Abbey Building Services & Maintenance Claridge & Hall Bros Ltd Complete Refurbishment & Roofing Open Plan Solutions Carpentry / Joinery Chris Smyth Charity Parkinson’s UK Traid Charity Events St Albans Half Marathon Children’s Art Camps ArtShed!

Chiropodist Kathy Witchard Cleaning Daily Poppins Domestique

Electricians Alban Electrical Services Anderton Electrics

Fencing 21 Verulam Fencing Football Camps St Albans City Youth FC 25 Garage Doors 37 Garolla

39 Hearing Services 38 Hearing Healthcare Practice 2 Locksmith Lock Around the Clock

29

Roofing Dananglia Roofing Ltd GJ Smith Roofing

43 43

Shutters The Harpenden Shutter Company

33

Slimming Vision Weight Consultancy

14

Soft Furnishings Sue Smyth

33

Tree Surgeons Fircroft Tree Surgery Ltd

29

19

TV Repairs JB TV Services

34

35

Venue Hire The County Club

21

11

3

5 Loft Ladders Home Counties Loft Ladders 23 15 Mortgage Services Ashdale Mortgage Services 13 45 45 Music Tuition Merlin MIller 47 Painters & Decorators CB Decorators M & M Decorators

9 Pilates 8 Intelligent Pilates

37

Plumber DJ&M Plumbing Services Ltd

35

35 Gardening Green Edge Gardens

Plasterers A Merson Plastering

34 34

27 Garden Centre 36 Burston Garden Centre Front Cover & 26

Conservatory Roof Solutions Nu-Look 7 Dance & Drama Penny Waterman School of Dance Stagecoach

9

39 39

43 & 47

Wedding Show Luxury Wedding Show Back Cover Will Planning Westminster Wills Ltd

13

Windows & Doors Cloud 9 Kings Windows

31 33

Women’s Institue Kingsbury WI

14

15

Domestic Appliance Repairs Leigh Hibon 37

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We have made every effort to ensure that any material published in st albans NOW is correct and can accept no liability for any errors or delays in publication or distribution, st albans NOW accepts no responsibility for its advertisers .

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