Issue 80 famherts mayjune 18lr

IN THIS ISSUE

Child Development: Does Gender Matter?

Half Term & Special Events

Party Special Feature

What's On

Issue 80 May/June 2018

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In this issue:

From your Editor…

News & Views: 4

It’s time to party and our regular contributor, Claire Winter, has consulted the experts and gives a run-down of the hottest party trends for 2018. Tony Buzan of ‘mind map’ fame, demonstrates how a mind map can help you to plan an event. I can vouch for the fact that mind maps are perfect for getting your ideas down on paper and ordering the many disparate thoughts spinning around in your mind! Whether your child’s birthday is in January or December this feature is full of great ideas that will make party planning a breeze.

It’s not all partying however, in the Education section author Christopher Cederskog suggests ways that parents can support their child’s learning of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects in an informal and fun way.

To help you enjoy what remains of the spring and the early summer, we’ve got a healthy dollop of exciting local activities and events that will get you and your family out and about after school, at the weekends and during school holidays.

OK – that’s the May/June issue done and dusted so it must be time to crack on with July/August – doesn’t time fly!

Shelley

Party Feature: 6 Education: 9 Child Development: 10 Half Term & Special Events: 11 What’s On: 12 Next Issue: 81 - July/August Copy Deadline: 8th June Image credit: © SvetaOrlova

Find us in: Baldock, Borehamwood, Chorleywood, Harpenden, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, Hitchin, Kings Langley, Knebworth, Letchworth, Radlett, St Albans, Stevenage, Ware, Welwyn GC. Pick it up from cafes, playgroups, nurseries, schools, activity groups, selected shops, surgeries, leisure centres and libraries. Email or call to request copies for your venue.

020 8428 6384 editor@familiesherts.co.uk www.familiesonline.co.uk

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News & Views Oliver! – A Westbrook Hay Musical The Easter term, at Westbrook Hay Prep School in Hemel Hempstead, saw three glorious performances of the Upper School production, ‘Oliver!’ which left the audience begging for more on each occasion. From start to finish, it was a production to cherish and remember, whether treading the boards or as a member of the audience.

Under the Deputy Head’s careful direction, Lional Bart’s wonderful book and score were brought to life. The audience journeyed with the characters through the full range of emotions, from joyous camaraderie, poignant contemplation, and moments of sheer heartbreak.

A cast of over 70 children aged between 10 and 13 years spent eight weeks rehearsing, learning lines and choreography to perform an unforgettable production and the work and time spent really paid off. The school’s magnificent Performing Arts Centre gave the children the experience of a ‘proper’ theatre, including levelled staging, radio-controlled

microphones and professional make-up, costumes and lighting.

Westbrook Hay School is a co-educational independent school for children aged from rising 3 –13 years. The next open morning is on Friday 11th May between 10am-12noon. To find out more and to register your interest go to www.westbrookhay.co.uk or call 01442 256143.

Try the new eBooks app from Hertfordshire Libraries

Local School Children Bury Time Capsule at Care Home Pupils from Millfield First & Nursery School in Buntingford recently helped staff at brandnew care home, Layston Grove, to bury a time capsule in the gardens.

The children collected items of local and personal interest for the time capsule which would give children of the future a glimpse of what local life was like in 2018. These are the items the children decided to include: a copy of the Buntingford Journal; a daily newspaper; their weekly time table; certificates; book tokens, the school newsletter and a selection of photos and pictures.

Pupils from Year 4 visited Layston Grove to fill and bury the capsule. During the ceremony each child placed an item inside the capsule and took turns to fill the hole with earth. A permanent brass plaque now marks the time capsule’s site.

Layston Grove opened at the end of March and provides state-of-the-art facilities for 66 elderly people. www.oakdalecaregroup.com.

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Whether you want to read the latest blockbuster on your commute or curl up with a familiar read the Hertfordshire Libraries eLibrary offers library members a choice from over 8,000 eBooks and 3,000 eAudiobooks.

These are all available through the recently launched, BorrowBox app. Readers can access books 24/7 from authors such as Lee Child, Kate Atkinson, Bill Bryson and Ruth Rendell, among others. With the latest audiobooks and choices for children and teens too, there is something for everyone.

The Library Service will continue to add regularly to the eBook and eAudio collections.

The new libraries app, BorrowBox, is free to download from the App Store and Google Play; and there are no overdue charges.

To find out more about eBooks, eAudiobooks visit: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ebooks-andaudiobooks

Keeping Hertfordshire children safe from abuse Hertfordshire Constabulary’s specialist Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) team, known as the Halo unit, received 91 reports in the last quarter of 2017 in relation to the sexual exploitation of children in the county.

Detective Superintendent, Paul Maghie, Head of Safeguarding for Hertfordshire Constabulary, said: “Very often the young people who are being sexually exploited in return for drugs, alcohol or social status do not see themselves as victims. As a result, they do not to tell people in authority who could help, such as police or teachers, about what is happening to them…. It is important that young people are taught about what exploitation is and that it has no place in any relationship.”

Teresa Heritage, Executive Member for Children’s Services, said: “Child Sexual Exploitation has been predominant in the national news recently, and although not currently a widespread issue in Hertfordshire, our aim is to prevent any young person in our county from becoming a victim of this terrible crime.

For more information about CSE and what to look out for visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/cse.

If you suspect a young person is falling victim to child sexual exploitation please report it; you can call the Police on 101, speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, contact ChildLine on 0800 1111 or get in touch with Children’s Services on 0300 123 2043.

New App for Parents Offers Extra Help A new web app has been launched aimed at giving parents and working people an ‘extra pair of hands’ when they need it.

Kandoo Network is a mobile web app that brings parents and working people who need jobs done together with young people who have the time to help and need some extra money.

From waiting for a delivery or walking the dog to helping to set up a children’s party, a parent’s “to do” list for the family is endless.

Kandoo may offer the solution by connecting parents with an extra pair of hands via reliable teenagers and students who have received recommendations from jobs done for existing subscribers.

A free 60 day trial is available with Promo Code KANDOOTRIAL08 More information visit www.kandoonetwork. co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Dental Check

by Age 1 A recent analysis has found that 80% of children between the ages of 1 and 2 years had not visited an NHS dentist despite guidance saying children should start dental check-ups when they develop their first tooth.

The analysis by the Faculty of Dental Surgery at The Royal College of Surgeons, also found that 60% of children aged 1 to 4 didn’t have a dental check-up in 12 months.

Grannying’ is the Word The trend of grandparents providing vital, day-to-day support to their grandchildren known as ‘grannannying’ is more widespread than you may have thought according to a new YouGov poll for Age UK Two-fifths (40%) of the nation’s grandparents over the age of 50 – 5 million – have provided regular childcare for their grandchildren, according to the survey. The vast majority did so once a week but a fifth provided support 4 to 6 times a week.

Revealing the pivotal role that many grandparents play in reducing the financial burden of childcare, over half of grandparents said their help had enabled their own child/children

to work more to support their family.

But it’s not all one way. Nearly all grandparents (88%) said they enjoyed the time spent with their grandchildren and half felt it kept them physical and mentally active.

For more information about the survey, visit www.ageuk.co.uk

Official Public Health England guidance states that a child should have a check-up as soon as their teeth start to appear at around 6 months of age. NHS dental check-ups for children are free. Early dental visits enable children (as well as parents and carers) to learn about good oral health practice and prevent them from developing a fear of dental visits.

A UK wide Dental Check by One #DCby1 campaign has been launched by the British Society for Paediatric Dentistry to increase the number children who access dental care aged 0 to 2 years. Babies visiting the dentist before their 1st birthday will be awarded a #DCby1 Certificate at participating dentists.

For more information, visit www.bspd.co.uk/ Resources/Dental-Check-by-One

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Party Feature

Be on Trend with Your Child’s Party in 2018!

By Claire Winter

Children’s parties are always a hot topic of conversation in most households across the country.

Who to invite? What theme? Which location? We’ve talked to party specialists and planners to find out the top party ideas for 2018, so you don’t have to.

Unusual Themes Think of a party with a twist. Top party organiser Fable & Moon (www.fableandmoon. com) says “Children’s parties are becoming even more sophisticated in 2018! Unicorns and Mermaids are still going strong but expect a fresh twist on the theme. Also expect to see wedding trends making their way into children’s parties, particularly celestial (moons and stars) and all things holographic. Think, oversized disco balls and lots and lots of sparkle!”

Chocolate Parties Most kids love chocolate; it’s messy, fun and creative. What’s not to love? Hire a chocolatier to come to your house and teach your children to make some fantastic chocs.

Alternatively hire some moulds and melt dark, milk and white chocolate so they can make their own. The chocolate is hot so this option is probably not suitable for very small children. The Chocolate Party People (www. thechocolatepartypeople.co.uk) offers a Build a Bar, Chocolate Pizzeria and Truffle Making package for kids. An extra bonus is they get to take away their chocolates instead of a party bag.

can hire companies to put them up in the garden and if you haven’t got a garden – set up the tents in the house. Older children can have a sleepover whilst the youngsters can go home. Andrew Pearce, co-owner of the belltentexperience.com says “we have seen a huge increase in bookings for children’s parties. Bell tents are fun and versatile. You can set them up indoors, or outside and kids love them. Sleeping in a tent is magical whatever age you are!”

Get Me Out of Here Escape rooms are a great choice for older children. You get locked in a room and have to work out how to get out. It’s a great teambuilding experience and no mess in your house! Many escape rooms have themes - you could even get guests to dress up to match it!

You need to check what the age range is and whether you need adult supervision. Try www.breakout-rooms.co.uk in Watford or www.escapermk.co.uk in Milton Keynes.

Unicorns are Still Cool Kids are still going unicorn crazy. Harriet Jones, founder of online boutique store Rockahula Kids (www.rockahulakids.com) says “2018 has to be the year that the unicorn trend and theme takes centre stage at children's birthday parties. Over the last few months, we have seen an incredible increase in demand for unicorn-themed accessories for party favours, whether it be hair clips, charms, necklaces or hairbands. Coupled with unicorns, we have noticed more interest in our rainbow themed accessories for party bags such as clips, rings, and bracelets which go hand-in-hand with the mythical creature." A kitsch, rainbow unicorn party sounds like just the ticket!

Glamping Belltent and glamping parties are going to be really popular especially during the summer months. Set up tents with themes like cowboys, intergalactic, or botanical. You 6

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Debutots Parties Debutots Adventure Story Parties, for 1–7 year olds. Chose one of our popular party themes or create a personal package for your child from a favourite story, character or theme. Includes interactive storytelling, drama play, games and characters in a fun and relaxed environment with minimum hype and volume.

"The children were captivated by the story and the games and challenges. They all believed Laura really was the character she was playing, and got into character themselves. It was magical and wonderful to see them all so enthralled.” Email laura@debutots.co.uk or call 01707 861437 familiesonline.co.uk

Get your party jumping at Jump In Let Jump In take the strain of organising your child’s next birthday party.

Other than ensuring that the children turn up there’s not much else required so it couldn’t be easier!

The invitations, food and drink are all supplied. Your party child and their guests will have the run of their own dedicated party area and a special host who will make sure your party really keeps jumping.

Jump In Trampoline Parks offer an exciting jump experience for kids and adults. The parks include drop slides, tumble tracks, dodgeball courts, trapeze swings, rope ladders, giant air bag, performance trampolines, balance beams and more.

There are two locations; one at Elstree and the other at Enfield. Jump In Elstree has brand new soft play and renovated café area. Check out the fitness classes, toddler mornings and after school sessions, available weekly at both venues.

Parties start from only £150. Book and find out more at www.gojumpin.com or call 01926 356290. Email hello@gojumpin.com Families readers can grab a free coffee using code FAMHERTS18

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Party Feature Mind Map a Childrens’ Party!

By Tony Buzan an image in the very centre of the paper that represents the party (in this example, it’s a superhero figure). This central image will activate your imagination and trigger associations in your thoughts, so make sure it’s positive and inspiring. You can also have a word at the centre; if so, make it multidimensional and brightly coloured.

Step 2

Who doesn’t enjoy a good party?

Planning the party, however, can be quite another matter – especially a children’s party, for which expectations have rocketed in recent years. Here’s a suggestion for approaching party planning in a completely different way.

I’ve created a Mind Map to show how to plan a children’s birthday party with a superhero theme, but you can, of course, use any theme you like – or, alternatively, leave out the children, if you wish!

What is a Mind Map? A Mind Map is a powerful thinking and planning tool that can help you get to grips with any topic. At its simplest, it is a diagram with branches radiating out from a central image, each branch carrying a single word or a picture that summarises an aspect of the topic. The branches then expand into sub-branches, as you delve further into each aspect. Mind Maps have symbols, images and colours and can be really bold, bright and inspiring.

The branches of a kids’ party Mind Map could explore the same core logistics as an adult party: once you’ve set the date, you need to choose a theme (if you want one) and a venue, setting considerations such as cost, space and transport against each other.

Then draw up your guest list and plan the entertainment, the food and drinks and the decorations, exploring these on the main branches and sub-branches of your Mind Map. If the party is going to include any special features, such as games, swimming or a magician, include these in your Mind Map too. You could also use one of the branches to explore how your party will reflect the theme, perhaps through costumes, decorations and the small gifts that the children get to take home.

You will need: A large sheet of plain white paper A selection of coloured pens or pencils A brain An open mind Imagination

Step 1 Place the sheet of paper in front of you in landscape format (i.e. horizontally). Next, use at least three different colours to draw 8

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Now choose the first aspect to explore. Pick a colour and draw a thick branch coming away from the central image, like the bough of a tree. Let the branch curve organically, as this will be visually engaging and therefore more interesting to the brain, making you more likely to memorise the information on the branch. Shade in the branch. Label the branch with a single word in capital letters. For a kids’ party Mind Map, you might label this first branch VENUE or FOOD or DECORATIONS. Alternatively, instead of writing a word, you might decide just to draw a powerful image.

Step 3 Send out secondary-level shoots from the main branch. Then draw third-level branches that spread out from these secondary-level shoots. Write keywords on all the branches or draw symbols, or a combination of both. Give each symbol its own branch. There’s no need to rush: leave some of the branches empty at first, as this will naturally inspire your brain to fill them in.

Cinnamon Square Rickmansworth Over 11,000 children have already attended their baking parties and workshops, and they are a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable experience for all concerned. As a parent, this will be the most stress-free children’s party you will experience. As you sip your cappuccino and indulge in treats from the bakery, your children will be experiencing the joys of baking. Parties and activities include Birthday Baking Parties, Cupcake Parties, Chocolate Parties and Workshops.

01923 778353 www.cinnamonsquare.com Little Cookies Cooking parties for children of all ages. 3-9 year olds make their own birthday tea and those aged 10+ can host a three course dinner party! Little Cookies offers lots of menu options. They provide all the ingredients, equipment and know how. Most allergies catered for.

01727 839444 / www.little-cookies.co.uk

Step 4 Pick another colour and create your next main branch, working around the central image. (Many beginners find it easiest to work clockwise around the centre, but do whatever suits you best.) As before, draw secondary and third-level branches from this new branch and label them. Keep adding main branches until you have about five or six of them to work with.

Step 5 Now you have your main branches, move freely around your Mind Map, leaping from branch to branch, filling in any gaps and adding new sub-branches as ideas and associations occur to you.

Step 6 If you wish, add arrows, curving lines and links between your main branches to reinforce the connections you have found between them.

When you have completed your Mind Map, you can use it as a list ticking off each of the branches once you’ve completed the task.

When the party’s over, it’s useful to keep it to refer back to in future years!

Kool Kidz Parties A Kool Kidz’ party goes with a swing from beginning to end. Choose from: Traditional (3 years +), Sports (relay races, football, unihockey, team-games), Themed (a twist on the traditional party; superheros, fairies and more), Disco (with lights, snow machine and games, dancing competitions and prizes), Pedal Go Kart (races, timed laps, games with a medal for the birthday child). Two hour parties with a break for food followed by more fun.

One hour after school parties also available.

To find out more call 01582 723449 or visit www.koolkidzgroup.co.uk

Tony Buzan’s is the writer of Tony Buzan’s Mind Map Mastery: The Complete Guide to Learning and Using the Most Powerful Thinking Tool in the Universe, available from most bookstores priced £14.99. familiesonline.co.uk

Education

STEM: Helping Children with the Fundamentals of Education

By Christopher Cederskog It’s not easy being a parent.

You want to do the best for your children, but sometimes it’s hard to work out what the best actually is.

Education is one of those areas where advice is constantly changing.

If you are interested in helping your kids with the fundamentals of education there is an acronym which you should become aware of: STEM. It stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and it is fast becoming the core of the British and global education system. There is hardly a career which does not involve some element of STEM, from farming to neurosurgery, and it also plays a part in a many everyday activities. This is why it’s important our children can understand its key tenets.

As a parent, then, what can you do to help form the STEM of your child’s tree of knowledge?

I have always believed that learning should be fun and the popular perception is that the subjects of STEM are anything but. However, science, engineering and technology are particularly well-suited to play and mathematics can be applied to virtually any day-to-day situation.

It’s just a matter of identifying the right opportunities.

The next time you’re baking pastry together, let your child measure out the ingredients and ask them questions: what does ‘half fat to flour’ mean? Let them work out, according to that rule, how much flour is needed if you’re using 100 grams of fat. Get them to count out how many pastry cases were made from that ratio, then work out how much more pastry it would take to double the number of cases, or how many pies each family member will get based on the current number. Talk about the ingredients, what they are and where they’ve come from.

The next time your child falls, take the chance to talk to them about gravity and discuss why they fell downwards rather than upwards! If they’ve grazed their knees, once the tears have stopped, chat a bit about biology – why is blood red, why do scabs form, how do cuts heal? If you don’t know the answers yourself, call on Doctor Google – he’s always there to help.

When you’re out with your children, encourage scientific observations: when walking to the park, talk about why the leaves are green or why they fall in autumn. See if your children can spot any mini-beasts and set them the challenge of learning about them when they get home. And when at home, help bring out your child’s inner-engineer by encouraging them to put those endless MegaBlocks and LEGO bricks to work.

Every activity can be a learning opportunity without a child needing to identify it as such. Your job as a parent is to try to find ways to make the learning opportunity fun. familiesonline.co.uk

While I’m not saying that all education should be done by stealth, I am an advocate of learning through play. The lessons I most strongly remember from my childhood are those that were learned while I was having fun: the Van de Graaff generator sparking as much imagination as electricity; the recreation of the witches’ scene in Macbeth making Shakespeare seem relevant and interesting; the days in the garden, learning where food actually comes from and that there is a point to worms.

Children were born to learn and their brains are busy absorbing information from the second they leave the womb. If you can make your lessons fun, informal and an integral part of everyday life, then your little ones will learn by osmosis and you can sit back in the happy glow of a good job, well done.

Christopher Cederskog is MD of Wonder Workshop which teaches children coding through robotics and enables them to master critical thinking, problem solving, cause and effect, communication, and collaboration. For more information, visit www.makewonder.com

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Child Development

How Much Does Gender Matter?

By Dr Lucy Maddox

We are expert at training our children to be boys and girls.

In fact, we’d have to work hard to get better at this!

From the moment a baby is conceived, its sex is determined and it will be exposed to an entirely different menu of hormonal influences, both in utero and beyond. It’s the balance of different hormones - androgens (male hormones) and oestrogens and progesterones (female hormones) - which result in the differentiation of physical characteristics and genitalia between boys and girls.

Some people also use these sex differences to explain differences in behaviour. However, research suggests that the impact of sex

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differences on behaviour is massively exaggerated. Whilst it is tempting to attribute differences in behaviour between girls and boys to their biology, there is not good evidence to back this up. Christia Spears Brown, Professor at the University of Kentucky, studies sex differences. She says “Of course, behavioural differences do exist.

Boys, as infants, are a little more active and a little more impulsive than girls and throw a ball with greater velocity and power. In childhood, boys have better body image than girls, and more confidence in their maths ability (although they don’t differ in actual maths ability). However, these differences may well be due to socialisation - to boys being encouraged to practise ball-throwing more and to girls picking up a message that “girls aren’t good at maths.”

If there aren’t major behavioural differences between boys and girls, then why do we think there are? We all have a natural tendency to see things that back up our existing beliefs: a confirmation bias. This makes it easy for us to see differences as related to biological sex, when they might just be individual differences in personality.

Importantly, society tends to train children from a very early age to behave in different ways depending on their biological sex.

From birth, children are surrounded by messages from advertising, film and television and clothes and toys. There may well be differences in the way boys and girls behave, but they are often very likely to be influenced by what they have experienced as they grow.

Recognition of biological sex happens early.

Even by the age of 1 year, children begin to have the ability to distinguish between male and female faces if there are gender-related cues. By age 3, girls and boys have a sense of their own gender identity. Between 3 and 6 years old, children develop the idea of gender constancy - the idea that someone’s biological sex doesn’t change and that you can’t be both a girl and a boy.

Stereotypes about gender also form early: ideas about expected clothes, play and behaviour are already around before children reach age 6 years. One study showed boys tending to prefer assertive character traits and girls tending to value affiliative traits which enhance the ability to get on with others. The effects of these roots, laid down so very early on, probably in the messages boys and girls have been given, arguably manifest in typical adult male and female styles of interaction at work and in relationships.

What can we do to help free children from gender constraints?

Professor Spears Brown thinks that there are three main things:

Make gender less relevant to everyday life, (e.g. no need to say “hello boys and girls” just say “hello everyone”).

Correct children and other adults when they fall into the trap of gender stereotypes, (e.g. how often do we praise girls for looking nice and praise boys for being strong?)

Focus on buying children toys that foster the traits we want to encourage, rather than buying toys that are supposed to be for a particular sex.

It’s well worth thinking about our own ideas about gender, the scripts we have been given by our families and by society around us about what is “boy behaviour” and “girl behaviour.”

If we can hold up our inherited beliefs to the light then there is some hope of us being able to challenge or champion them, to allow for curiosity about other cultures, families and ways of being. This might also create more space for our children to be able to do, say, feel and be what they are, whatever their biology.

For more on gender and other child development topics, Dr Lucy Maddox’s book “Blueprint: How Our Childhood Makes Us Who We Are” is available from Amazon at £14.99.

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Half Term & Special Events May Half-Term at The Sandpit Theatre

Perform’s summer course Inspire your child’s imagination this summer with Perform’s unique holiday courses. During August, your 7-12 year olds can be part of The Greatest Show On Earth. Together with Phineas Barnum, we’ll be risking everything to put on a spectacular circus designed to show the public things they've never seen before.

The Greatest Show on Earth is a specially written piece combining uplifting songs, dazzling dancing and a heart-warming story. It is a fantastic production that every 7-12 would love to be a part of.

“They seemed to have fun from the moment they walked in to the moment they left. A really wonderful week!” Alex Estwick, parent Dates and venue: 6 - 10 Aug from 10am-3pm at Fleetville Junior School, 228, Hatfield Road, St Albans.

Find out more at www.perform.org.uk/ summer fun, call 020 7255 9120 or email enquiries@perform.org.uk

Whether you love musicals or movies, at The Sandpit Theatre boredom is not an option. On Sun 27th May you can relive the magic of ‘The Greatest Showman’ and sing along to hits such as This Is Me! ‘Doctor Dolittle’, arrives on Monday 28th with a brand new musical adventure full of audience participation and puppetry.

There's a showing of Pixar’s animated classic ‘Finding Dory’ on Wednesday 30th May. The fun doesn’t end when the holidays are over because the following week you can catch the deviously delicious sci-fi smash hit musical, Little Shop Of Horrors.

Book now to avoid disappointment at www.sandpittheatre.co.uk or call 01727 799565.

The Geronimo festivals (Dubbed ‘Glastonbury for Kids’), are unlike any other family event in Britain offering something for both seasoned and newbie festival-goers. What sets Geronimo apart from other festivals is not only the unrivalled value for money the event offers, but also the sheer number of unique attractions to enjoy for all ages!.

Geronimo North takes place in the grounds of the Arley Hall Estate set in beautiful Cheshire countryside between 25th – 28th May, whilst Geronimo South will be held at the iconic Knebworth House in Hertfordshire on 30th June – 1st July.

Without doubt one of the most popular zones of any Geronimo Festival is the Main Stage. 2018 will see some of children’s TV royalty take to the stage to entertain including the one and only Justin Fletcher.

Book your tickets today and make some magical memories in 2018! www.geronimofest.com

Visit the Enchanted Museum On Saturday 12th May, see the Enchanted Museum come to life as legendary creatures appear at an exciting twilight event at Chiltern Open Air Museum. For this special event the Museum, in Chalfont St Giles, will open for a unique and exciting event from 4pm - 8.30pm.

The Museum's historic buildings will be lit up by candle, lantern and firelight for you to explore. This year’s theme is magical realms and you can take part in activities and crafts inspired by traditional stories and magical fairy tales. You’ll also meet a host of magical characters along the way including the beautiful winged Pegasus. You are invited to toast marshmallows by the campfire and take part in our Knight’s Training School to become a knight or lady of King Arthur’s court!

All visitors, big and small, are invited to attend in costume and can enter the prestigious fancy dress competition. There

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National Mills Weekend

will be a special enchanting walk through the woodlands, face painting and tree face modelling. Visitors can spot Beatrix Potter characters in the allotment and help Peter Pan find his shadow (watch out for pirates!).

There will be a BBQ and refreshments available to purchase on the Village Green, including Pimms and locally produced Chilterns beer. Find out more and buy your tickets from www.coam.org.uk

On 12th and 13th May, National Mills Weekend takes place across the UK, with more than 300 windmills and watermills opening their doors to the public. This festival of our milling heritage is a fantastic opportunity to explore your local mills. Participating mills include many not normally open to the public, with a range of special events.

Before the steam engine, wind and watermills provided the power for many different processes - from milling flour to extracting oils.

You can explore mills that produced, or still produce these products, some restored to working order, some derelict, some still working commercially. Find out more at www.nationalmillsweekend.co.uk

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What’s On Country Shows, Fairs, Fetes and Festivals HARPENDEN FUNFAIR Harpenden Common, St Albans Road, Harpenden, AL5 1DT www.harpenden.gov.uk 25-28 May - 6-10pm Roll up, roll up for all the fun of the fair.

HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY SHOW The Showground, Dunstable Road, Redbourn, AL3 7PT 01582 792626 www.hertsshow.com 26 and 27 May Agricultural show and family entertainment.

Cost: Ticket valid for 1 day.

Advance purchase 20% discount.

Adult £16. (On the day £20).

5-15yrs £7.20 (£9). Family £40 (£50). Over 60s £14.40 (£17).

Under 5s free TOTFEST 2018!

Hitchin Priory, Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, SG5 2DL www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/totfest-2018tickets-42055723802 27 May - 12-5pm Live shows; sports village; creation tent; mega baby rave; soft play; weaning workshops; balance bike track; science workshops; baby yoga and massage; signing; cupcake factory and messy play. Age 4 mths – 5 yrs.

Cost: £13.50. Under 3 mths free.

Buy online by 26 May GERONIMO FESTIVAL Knebworth House, SG3 6PY www.geronimofest.com 30 Jun and 1 Jul High ropes, zip wire, den building and climbing walls. Animal lovers can become junior zoo keepers. Music, theatre and craft workshops. Magician and illusionist performances. Two circuses. Silent discos, baby raves. Jousting tournaments, motorcycle stunts and fire shows.

Cost: From £27.50. Under 2s free. Free Senior ticket with a full adult ticket ST ALBANS STEAM AND COUNTRY SHOW Oaklands College (Smallford Campus), off Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL4 OJA 07943 161770 www.hertssteam.co.uk 12 Families Herts

2-3 Jun - Opens 10am Steam engines, vintage vehicles and tractors, fairground, stalls and refreshments. Steam engine parade at 2pm.

Cost: £8. Under 16s and Senior: £5. Family £20 HERTFORD CASTLE Castle Street, Hertford, SG14 1HR 01992 552885 gohertford.co.uk Cars at the Castle 3 Jun - 12-4pm Display of classic and modern cars on the lawn. Children’s activities. Explore the Castle.

FREE Carnival and Fun Day www.hertfordcarnival.org.uk 24 Jun - 12-5pm Live entertainment. Over 50 stands. Children’s fancy dress competition. Castle open to explore.

FREE entry HARPENDEN CARNIVAL Harpenden Common, St Albans Road, Harpenden, AL5 1DT www.harpenden.gov.uk 9 Jun - 12-7pm Wild West theme with rope shows, line dancing, rodeo, archery.

FREE entry, some activities chargeable WHITWELL STEAM AND COUNTRY FAIR Mansell's End Farm, Bury Lane, Codicote, SG4 8XY 07484 327312 www.whitwellsteam.com 9-10 Jun - 10am-5pm Funfair. Steam engines and classic vehicles.

Cost: £10. Child £6. Senior £8.

Family £28. Advance booking 15% discount BRAMBLETON MODEL RAILWAY OPEN DAY Highfield Oval, Ambrose Lane, Harpenden www.brambleton.org.uk 12 May - 2-5.30pm Cost: £2.50. Child £1.50 LEMSFORD FETE St John's C of E School, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 7TR www.lemsfordfete.co.uk 7 May - 12-4pm This country fete include maypole dancing, coconut shy, merry-go-round, jazz band and Pimms tent.

Cost: £2. Senior £1. Under 16s free. Free parking

HERTINGFORDBURY and THE GREENS SUMMER FETE Recreation Ground, St Mary’s Lane, SG14 2LE 07770 988891 16 Jun - 1.30-4.30pm A classic village fete. Vintage fairground attractions, miniature railway, live music, food stalls, fire engine and more.

FREE entry. £1 car parking on field APPLECROFT SCHOOL SUMMER FETE Applecroft Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6JZ 01707 323758 www.applecroft.herts.sch.uk/ PTA 23 Jun - 11am-3pm Stalls, games, bouncy castle, live entertainment, BBQ, licensed bar.

Cost: £1 entry. Child/Senior free ALBAN WEEKEND St Peter's Street, St Albans, AL1 3JE www.enjoystalbans.com Alban Pilgrimage 23 Jun - from 11am A procession of 12-ft tall carnival puppets retracing Saint Alban's last steps. From St Peter's Church, through the City Centre to the Cathedral.

Alban Street Festival 24 Jun - 12-6pm Food stalls. Creative and sporting activities. Live music and performances.

FREE

Half Term Camps and Courses GORDON CRAIG THEATRE Lytton Way, Stevenage, SG1 1LZ 01438 363200 www.gordon-craig.co.uk Matilda Themed Drama Camp 29 May-1 Jun Ages 6-12. Explore drama, music, singing, dance and visual art activities to bring musical stories to life.

Cost: £115. Siblings and Drama Academy students £100 ARTSKOOL 07890 575828 www.artskool-kids.com Arty sessions for ages 4-12.

The Pavilion, Welwyn, AL6 9AS 9 May - 10am-12noon Artscape - Southdown, Harpenden, AL5 1PW 30 May - 10am-12noon Leavesden Green Community Hub, WD25 0BW 31 May - 1-3pm Cost: £15 each or 2 for £25 at same session COOKERYEATERY www.cookeryeatery.co.uk Make breakfast, lunch and dinner plus snacks.

28, 29 and 30 May Ages 4-11 in Central Hitchin.

Cost: £40 31 May and 1 Jun Ages 8-16 in Letchworth.

Cost: £50

ARMED FORCES DAY 2018

KOOL KIDZ CAMPS

www.armedforcesday.org.uk 30 Jun - 10am-4pm Show your support for local veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces.

Broadway, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 Band, military vehicles, RAF 100 celebration, Cadet Challenge Cup Soapbox Challenge, children’s rides, trade and food stalls.

Gadebridge Park, Leighton Buzzard Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1DN Portsmouth Action Field Gun Display Team, the RAF Halton Military Wives Choir and more.

FREE

Sandridge Primary School, Woodcock Hill, Sandridge, St Albans, AL4 9EB 0845 603 2858 www.koolkidzgroup.co.uk 29 May-1 Jun Ages 4-12. Half or full days.

See website for prices

Shows THE ALBAN ARENA Civic Centre, St Albans, AL1 3LD 01727 844488 www.alban-arena.co.uk Bing Live!

20-22 Jun - 1pm 23 and 24 Jun - 10am and 1pm See your little one’s face as their favourite characters are brought to life.

Cost: £16.50, £14.50 Wind In The Willows 27-30 Jun - 7.30pm 27 and 30 also 2pm Cost: £19.50. Concs £15.

Family £60

familiesonline.co.uk

BROADWAY THEATRE Eastcheap, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3DD, 01462 681088 www.broadway-letchworth.com Shakespeare Brought To Life with James Mayhew and Realm of Music 20 May - 3pm Watch the stories unfold on James Mayhew’s renowned easel whilst listening to original tunes from Shakespeare’s play’s.

Age 7+.

Cost: £15. Concs £12. Family £48 Lily and Bear 24 Jun - 11.30am and 2pm Magical musical tale about the give and take of friendship. Age: 18 mths to 6 yrs.

Cost: £12. Concs £10. Family £38 GORDON CRAIG THEATRE Lytton Way, Stevenage, SG1 1LZ 01438 363200 www.gordon-craig.co.uk Teletubbies Live: Big Hugs 30 and 31 May - 10am and 1pm Cost: from £13. Under 6 mths free HERTFORD THEATRE The Wash, Hertford, SG14 1PS 01992 531500 www.hertfordtheatre.com

familiesonline.co.uk

Fame 16-18 May - 7.30pm 19 May - 3pm and 7.30pm Age 8+.

Cost: £16.50. Concs £14.50.

Weds £12 for all Me and My Bee 20 May - 1 and 3.30pm Climate change is massive. Bees aren’t. Age 5+ Cost: £8 Dinosaur World Live 31 May - 2 and 4.30pm 1 Jun - 11am and 2pm Discover a pre-historic world of astonishing and life-like dinosaurs. Interactive show.

Age 3+.

Cost: £15 The Owl and the Pussycat 2 Jun - 2pm Join Owly-cat and family members, Jumblie and Quangle Wangle Quee, in a story inspired by the nonsense world of Edward Lear. Age 3+.

Cost: £13. Family £48 The Little Mermaid 17 Jun - 2pm Ballet Theatre UK re-tell Hans Christian Andersen’s story of the mermaid.

Cost: £19. Conc: £16

The Close-Up Show 19 May and 23 Jun - 8pm Close-up magic, trickery and sleight of hand. Ages 10+.

Tickets: £17.50 The Gruffalo's Child 30 Jun - 11am and 2pm One wild and windy night the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warning. Age 3+.

Cost: £13. Free Babes in Arms tickets available from the Box Office on the day THE RADLETT CENTRE 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, WD7 8HL 01923 859291 www.radlettcentre.co.uk Milkshake! Live: The Magic Storybook 28 May - 11am and 2.30pm All singing, all dancing journey through the world’s favourite fairy tales. Ages 3-7.

Cost: £15 The Big Pop Party 31 May - 6pm Olly Murs, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Katy Perry tribute acts.

Cost: £15

The Snail and The Whale 8 and 9 Jun - 11.30am and 2pm Tall Stories’adaptation of the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Age 4-7.

Cost: £12 RHODES BISHOPS STORTFORD 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 3JG 01279 710200 www. rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk The Little Mermaid 27 May - 3pm Hans Christian Andersen’s story of the little mermaid.

Cost: £17.50. Concs £15.50.

Child £11.50 THE SANDPIT THEATRE The Ridgeway, St Albans, AL4 9NX 01727 799565 www.sandpittheatre.co.uk Doctor Dolittle 28 May - 11am and 2pm A new show with original music, audience participation and puppets. Ages 5+.

Cost: £8. Family £28

13

What’s On THE WESTON AUDITORIUM

RHODES BISHOPS STORTFORD

University of Hertfordshire, De Havilland Campus, Hatfield, AL10 9EU 01707 281127 www.uharts.co.uk Sarah and Duck 19 May - 2pm Join Sarah and Duck and friends as they plan a birthday party for Scarf Lady. Puppetry, storytelling and music.

Age 3+.

Cost: £13. Concs £11. Family £44

1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG 01279 710200 www. rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk Nick Sharratt’s Big DrawAlong 31 May - 2pm Illustrator, Nick Sharratt, shows you how to draw Tracy Beaker and other characters. Age 6+.

Cost: £12. Concs £10. Family £40 Museums at Night: Night Time Trail 16 May - 5-8pm Find your way around the galleries by torch light. Age 3+, must be with an adult.

FREE Roman Writing Workshop 9 Jun. Drop-in 11am-3pm Try writing on a wax tablet in Roman cursive script.

Cost: £2

WYLLYOTTS THEATRE Wyllyotts Place, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 2HN 01707 645005 www.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk Alice in Wonderland 2 Jun - 2 and 5pm Hilarious new family musical.

Cost: £17.50. Child £14.50.

Family £60. Optional Mad Hatter’s tea party 4pm £7 per head The Little Mix Experience 23 Jun - 6pm Tribute act.

Cost: £16

Museum and Art Activities CHILTERN OPEN AIR MUSEUM Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont Saint Giles HP8 4AB 01494 871117 www.coam.org.uk May Day Merriment 6 – 7 May Learn how the Elizabethans celebrated May Day with dance and music.

Enchanted Museum: Magical Realms 12 May 4pm – 8.30pm Special evening opening, see the Museum transformed into different magical realms inspired by traditional stories and fairytales.

Roman Gladiators 27 – 28 May Hear the clash of steel and cheer as Roman gladiators do battle.

Bushcraft Weekend 16 – 17 June Bring the family to learn some essential survival skills such as fire lighting and shelter building.

Suffragettes 23 – 24 June Learn about the Suffragettes and watch displays of suffrajitsu.

14 Families Herts

STEVENAGE MUSEUM St George’s Way, SG1 1XX 01438 218881 www.stevenage.gov.uk/museum Ice Age exhibition Until 7 July Family-friendly exhibition. When was the last Ice Age? What was this area like then?

FREE Elephants and Woolly Mammoths 17 May - 1.30-2.30pm Stories, games and art and craft fun for under 5s. Booking essential.

Cost: £2 Neon Night 19 May - 5-7pm The lights will be off, but you will glow in the dark! Take a torch.

Booking essential.

Cost: £3 per child (Concs £1.50) ROYSTON MUSEUM 5 Lower King Street, Royston, SG8 5AL, 01763 242587 www.roystonmuseum.org.uk Toddler Music and Dance 4 and 18 May, 8 and 25 Jun 10.30-11.30am Booking essential.

FREE Historical Crafter Day: Clockmakers 26 May. Drop-in 10.30am-12noon Crafty activities and trail around the museum. Ages 4-10.

Cost: £3 per child Voyages of Discovery 31 May. Drop-in 10.30am-12noon Interactive stories. Ages 4-10.

Cost: £3 per child

Crafty Kids: Little Gardeners 2 Jun - 10.30am-12noon Decorate a plant pot, plant a sunflower and make a mini windmill or scarecrow. Ages 4-10.

Cost: £3 per child Community Showcase Launch: Royston Town Band 9 Jun - 10.30am-12noon Opening event for Town Band exhibition with trail and activities.

FREE Historical Crafter Day: Weaponry in Royston 23 Jun. Drop-in 10.30am-12noon Crafty activities and trail around the museum. Ages 4-10.

Cost: £3 per child

can be found using nets and pots.

Booking essential.

Cost: Free. Suggested donation £5 (Members £3)

MILL GREEN MUSEUM & MILL

White Stubbs Lane, Broxbourne, EN10 7QA 01992 470490 www.pwpark.com Cost (online price): £16.65.

Child/Senior/Disabled £13.72.

Under 2s free Otter Weekend 26 and 27 May Special Reading of Kangarillapig 26 May Reading and book signing by children’s author, Rosie Buttons.

Bush Hall Lane, Mill Green, Hatfield, AL9 5PD 01707 357850 www.welhat.gov.uk 10am, 11.15am,1.15pm, 2.30pm Holiday activities lasting one hour. Age 4+. No booking required.

29 May Design and decorate a fabric bag.

30 May Make a dream catcher.

31 May Create a Calico Early Man wall art picture.

Cost: £3.50 per child per session

Animals and Nature BLAGROVE COMMON Sandon, SG9 0RG www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk Family Bug Hunt 31 May - 10-11am or 11.3012.30pm Booking essential.

Cost: Free. Suggested donation £5 (Members £3) BATFORD SPRINGS Harpenden, AL5 5AQ www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk River Dipping 1 Jun - 10.30am-12noon Take your wellies to enter the water and see what you can find.

All ages. Booking essential.

Cost: Free. Suggested donation £5 (Members £3) TEWINBURY FARM HOTEL Tewinbury, Hertford, AL6 0JB www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk Family River Dipping 2 Jun and 1 Jul – 7-9pm Explore the Chalk Stream Discovery Trail. Then see what

RYE MEADS NATURE RESERVE Rye Road, Stanstead Abbotts, SG12 8JS www.rspb.org.uk Messy Wellies 16 May and 20 Jun - 10.3011.45am Each session has a different fun activity, exploring the reserve.

Under 5s.

Cost: £4.50 per child (Members £3.50). £3 parking charge for non-members PARADISE WILDLIFE PARK

KNEBWORTH HOUSE Knebworth, SG3 6PY 01438 812661 www.knebworthhouse.com Cost (online advance price): £8.55. Family £30.60. Under 3s free. Event entrance includes Park and Gardens with Dinosaur Trail and Adventure Playground.

Dino Adventure 12 May Hands-on experiences with snakes, lizards and tortoises.

Hunt for hidden fossils at the Dino-Dig Palaeontological Site using specialist tools.

Father’s Day Medieval Jousting 17 Jun - approx 12.30 and 2.30pm Costumed knights on warhorses. Fantastic display of horsemanship and hand to hand combat. Try archery too for a small charge.

Sport ACTIVE TOTS 01462 474838 www.activenorthherts.co.uk Multi-sport activity session for families with 2-5 yr olds. Parents join in too. Parachute games, movement games, mini obstacle courses and more.

No need to book.

familiesonline.co.uk

District Park, Serpentine Close, Great Ashby, SG1 6NH Tuesdays 1-1.30pm Walsworth Common, Woolgrove Road, Hitchin, SG4 0BZ Thursdays 10.30-11am Bancroft Recreation Ground, Hitchin, SG5 1NJ Thursdays 1-1.30pm Broadway Gardens, Broadway, Letchworth, SG6 3PH Thursdays 2-2.30pm Avenue Park, West Avenue, Baldock, SG7 5AZ Fridays 1-1.30pm Priory Gardens, Melbourn Street, Royston, SG8 7BZ Fridays 2.15-2.45pm Cost: £2 per person (adult and child) ACTIVE KIDS 01462 474838 www.activenorthherts.co.uk Multi-sport sessions for families with 5-11 yr olds. Parachute games, movement games, mini obstacle courses and more.

Parents join in too!

Bancroft Recreation Ground, Hitchin, SG5 1NJ Tuesdays 3.45-4.15pm Broadway Gardens, Broadway, Letchworth, SG6 3PH Thursdays 3.45-4.15pm Priory Gardens, Melbourn Street, Royston, SG8 7BZ Fridays 3.45-4.15pm Cost: £2 per person (adult and child)

Clubs and Classes PERFORM Weekly drama, dance and singing classes www.perform.org.uk/try 020 7255 9120 enquiries@perform.org.uk Confidence building fun for 4-12s. A unique mix of drama, dance and singing specially formulated to bring out every child's true potential. Classes are kept small to ensure lots of individual attention. Perform offer no-obligation FREE trial sessions.

Dates: 3 Jan – 29 Mar Venues: Bishops Stortford Summercroft Primary School Plaw Hatch Lane CM23 5BJ Drama 4-7s - Mon 4pm Drama 7-12s - Mon 5pm Broxbourne Broxbourne Sports Club, Mill Lane Close, EN10 7BA Drama 4-7s - Thur 4pm Drama 7-12s - Thur 5pm familiesonline.co.uk

Harpenden Harpenden United Reformed Church Vaughan Road AL5 4ED Dance 6-12s - Sat 2pm Drama 4-7s - Sat 9.30am, 11.15am, Tue 4pm Drama 7-12s - Tue 5pm Hemel Hempstead Apsley Community Centre London Road HP39SB Drama 4-7s - Tues 4pm, 5pm Hertford Mill Mead School Port Vale SG14 3AA Drama 4-7s - Sat 9.30am, 11.15am Hitchin Church House Hall Church Yard SG5 1HP Drama 4-7s - Wed 4pm Drama 7-12s - Wed 5pm Potters Bar St John's Methodist Church Baker Street EN6 2DZ Drama 4-7s - Fri 4pm, 5pm Radlett Christ Church Vision Hall Watling Street WD7 7JJ Drama 4-7s - Wed 4pm, 5pm The Radlett Centre, Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, WD7 8HL Drama 7-12s - Sat 11.15am Sawbridgworth Sawbridgeworth Memorial Hall, The Fourbury, CM21 9BD Drama 4-7s - Thu 4pm Drama 7-12s - Thu 5pm St Albans Fleetville Junior School 228 Hatfield Road AL1 4LW Drama 4-7s - Sat 9.30am, 11.15am Drama 7-12s - Sat 2pm United Reformed Church Homewood Road Homewood Road AL1 4BH Drama 4-7s - Wed 4pm Drama 4-7s - Thu 4.15pm Drama 7-12s - Wed 5pm Trinity United Reform Church 1 Beaconsfield Road AL1 3RD Drama 4-7s - Fri 4pm Drama 7-12s - Fri 5pm Welwyn Garden City Applecroft School, Applecroft Road, AL8 6JZ Drama 4-7s – Sat 2.30pm WGC Quaker Meeting House, AL8 6SP Drama 4-7s – Wed 4pm Drama 7-12s – Wed 5pm STAGECOACH THEATRE ARTS www.stagecoach.co.uk Stagecoach aims to bring out the very best in every child. Children will learn performance skills in dance, song and drama. They also develop communication

skills, improved self-esteem, co-ordination and fitness levels.

Early Stages is for 4-6yr olds.

Sessions 1.5hrs. Main Stages is for 6-18yrs. Session 3hrs. Further Stages for 16yrs plus. Some schools offer Summer Workshops and Parties.

Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead 01442 875977 Potten End First School Church Road, Potten End, HP4 2QY Early Stages: Sat 9.30, 11.15am Main Stages: Sat 10am, 2.30pm Swing Gate School Swing Gate Lane, Berkhamsted, HP4 2LJ Early Stages: Fri 4.30pm Main Stages: Fri 4.30pm Borehamwood 020 8958 3143 St Teresa's Primary School, Brook Road, WD6 5HL Early Stages: Sat 9.30, 9.45, 11.30am Main Stages: Sat 10am Chorleywood 01923 771291 The Russell School Brushwood Drive, Chorleywood, WD3 5RR Early Stages: Sat 9.30, 11.15am Main Stages: Sat 10am, 2.30pm Harpenden 01525 717567 Sir John Lawes School Manland Way, Harpenden, AL5 4QP Early Stages: Fri 4.15, 4.45pm; Sat 9.30, 11.15am, 2pm, 3.45pm Main Stages: Fri 4.30pm; Sat 10am, 2.30pm

St Albans 01525 630183 Cunningham Hill Junior School, Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans, AL1 5QJ Early Stages: Sat 9.30, 11.15am, 2pm, 3.45pm Main Stages: 10am, 2.30pm Welwyn and Hatfield 01707 429 777 Oaklands College, College Way, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6AH Early Stages: Sat 9.30, 11.15am, 2pm, 3.45pm Main Stages: 10am, 2.30pm Hertford 07474 082571 Duncombe School 4 Warren Park Road, Bengeo, Hertford, SG14 3JA Early Stages: Sat 9.30am Main Stages: Sat 10am Watford 01727 768738 Parmiter's School High Elms Lane, Garston, Watford, WD25 0UU Early Stages: Sat 9.15, 9.30, 10.30, 11.15am, 2pm Main Stages: Sat 10am, 2.30pm Further Stages: {16+}: Sat 2.30pm Rickmansworth 01923 771291 Little Green School Lincoln Drive, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, WD3 3NJ Early Stages: Fri 4pm Main Stages: Fri 4.30pm Further Stages: {16+}: Fri 4.30pm Maple Cross Junior School Denham Way, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth, WD3 9SS Early Stages: Sat 9.30am

15

What’s On

Families Herts is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, 16 familiesonline.co.uk Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Herts are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Herts. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.