NH Now - Summer 2019

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News Make a splash in our lovely Lidos

Views

Get BBQ ready for a sizzling summer

Pull your trainers on and get running in North Herts Take a trip to one of our beautiful villages

Your Community Magazine

Events Festivals, dog shows and summer fairs

Image: Letchworth Outdoor Pool as featured in the Boots Summer TV Advert

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Keep up to date with @NorthHerts

Are you keeping up to date with news in North Herts? NHDC has launched a new email bulletin service called @NorthHerts, which delivers news from the Council straight to your inbox. There are a range of topics so you only need to sign up for what interests you, and you can change your preferences at any time.

Topics include latest news, events, waste and recycling, North Hertfordshire Museum and Active North Herts. You can also use it to find out about any disruption to services or to find out what job opportunities there are at the Council.

CONTACTING NHDC

It is quick and easy to sign up, simply visit the @NorthHerts sign up page www.north-herts.gov.uk/subscribe to find out more.

Welcome to the Summer 2019 edition of NH Now In this edition of our digital magazine, we celebrate food – from local produce, to BBQ tips and the low down on food hygiene standards across the district. We also take a look at the history of three of our beautiful villages and how we work to conserve our heritage assets. With the warmer weather comes an ideal opportunity to get active and so we give you the inside track on running in North Hertfordshire – there are opportunities out there for people of all abilities, including complete beginners.

This is our third edition of NH Now. We hope you like what you see and we would love to hear your feedback. Email us: pressoffice@north-herts.gov.uk or leave us a comment on our social media channels.

We are on the lookout for great community stories so if you have ideas for content for future editions, we would love to hear from you.

Sarah Kingsley, NHDC Communications Manager

Most NHDC services can be accessed online. Find out how to report an issue, apply for a licence, pay a bill or apply for benefits, all through our website: www.north-herts.gov.uk

Other ways to contact us

www.facebook.com/northertsDC

01462 474000 @NorthHertsDC

In person: Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth, SG6 3JF

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NH Now feature

Celebrating our Local

Produce North Herts is home to some fabulous suppliers of local produce, as well as food businesses which are reaping the rewards on a national level. Read on to find out more ...

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Capsicana

Food is a wonderful thing to be involved with. People interact with it on such a real level and when people eat it is a good time of the day

A Hitchin-based business, founded on a love of chillies and Latin American food is picking up awards and being stocked in major supermarkets.

Capsicana Ltd was founded by Ben Jackson just 10 years ago when he decided to swap his gruelling London job for a foodie passion. Spurred on by his childhood experience of Latin American and Mexican food in the US, Ben began by importing chillies direct from Mexico and creating recipes.

He then launched the next version of Capsicana on 24 June 2015 (his birthday!), almost immediately picking up a listing with Whole Foods Market in their High Street Kensington branch. The people at Whole Foods loved the products so much that they decided to put them in all of their UK stores.

All of this was achieved with the support of James Beaton, a personal hero of his who agreed to become a mentor and business coach.

The next major achievement was securing Waitrose in July 2016. It took a long time to get their attention but once he secured a meeting and talked through his vision for the brand the buyers totally connected with his passion – Capsicana was in!

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Reflecting on his success in business Ben had some words of wisdom for anyone who, like him, was hoping to follow their dreams.

“If there was one piece of advice I could give to anyone thinking of setting up, it would be never wait for ideal conditions don’t wait to put yourself out there when things are perfect, just go for it.”

Ben said: “Food is wonderful thing to be involved with. People interact with it on such a real level and when people eat it is a good time of the day. Food is all about having pleasure and taking in nutrients, it is so important.

“The business we are in is complex but I love fighting against the big corporates who don’t always use the best ingredients where we use expensive chipotle or paprika. It is all about creating high quality products, using great ingredients.”

North Herts has proved to be a great area for local food producers and Ben is convinced that it is going a long way to help secure this success.

“Any business is started from a local point of view. I think Hitchin has a very special something about it. One of the reasons why it is featuring so highly as a top 10 town in many surveys is due to the ethos which its people have. There is a creativity and a vibrancy which is contagious.”

This year is looking to be even more positive as Capsicana are still toasting winning a Great Taste award and a Golden Fork for East Anglia. They have also just hired a marketing assistant and are marking launches in Ocado and a number of Waitrose stores.

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Wobbly Bottom Farm

Cheese making is an art, it is hard work and it’s a skill which takes time to master

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A surplus of goats milk and a desire to produce good local food has meant that Wobbly Bottom Farm has become famed for producing gourmet artisan cheeses.

Based just outside Pirton, the farm, which is run by Alan Bungey and Angela Dyson, produces soft and hard goats cheeses, along with a range of cows milk cheddars.

The fact that food produced in North Herts can be as good as anything found elsewhere in the world is one of the key beliefs behind the success of the cheese produced at Wobbly Bottom Farm.

The farm first shot to prominence in North Herts as people saw the cheese at Farmers’ Markets throughout the area.

The rise of such markets was a boost for local producers, as it provided a great marketing opportunity for many previously unseen products while also allowing people to buy the goods.

Such profile has not only led to successful sales locally, but it now means that Wobbly Bottom Farm cheese has been picked up by a number of chefs and can be eaten at restaurants such as Los Reyes in Hitchin and the Lussmans chain throughout Hertfordshire.

“We need to keep it local” says Alan. “Local is as good as anything you can find from anywhere in the world. People do like to buy our cheese because they know where it has been produced, they can see the goats whose milk has produced it and know that it has travelled very few miles to get to their plate.

“One of the big issues we face is showing people that while they may pay a little bit more than a supermarket purchased cheese, they are also paying not just for the local credentials, but also for the hard work which goes into making it.”

Making cheese is certainly not a quick business. Indeed as Alan explains, a goat log can be made on day one and be ready to eat on day three, whereas a hard cheese can take upwards of six months to produce and a mature cheddar might need some 18 months before it is ready.

“Cheese making is an art, it is hard work and it’s a skill which takes time to master. It’s my wish to pass on my skills to someone who would like to be involved in this craft” said Alan.

Anyone who would like to find out more about cheese-making and the products at Wobbly Bottom Farm can contact Alan on 01462 433873.

To find out more about the product range and to order click here

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Help i n herita g to co n g s e asset erve in No s rth H erts

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After Before

Bear House, Ashwell

What do the following properties and places have in common? The rear extension at the Broadway Cinema in Letchworth, the Premier Inns in both Letchworth and Hitchin, the installation of two lift towers at Letchworth Train Station, and the Weston Homes development near Baldock train station? The answer is that they have all gone through the planning process with input from the Council’s Conservation Officer, Mark Simmons.

With over 2,600 listed buildings, 44 Conservation Areas and 12 Historic Parks and Gardens in North Hertfordshire (all of these are designated heritage assets), Mark’s work is incredibly varied.

Mark says: “If an owner wants to make any changes to a listed building such as replacing windows, internal re-ordering or an extension, listed building consent is required, to which I will make a recommendation. I also advise on planning proposals affecting the special character of a historic park and garden or a Conservation Area.”

Using his specialist knowledge, Mark provides detailed advice and recommendations about alterations, extensions and conversions, and in exceptional circumstances whether demolition would be acceptable. With regard to works requiring listed building consent, Mark often advises on replacement windows and materials for extension works and considers the impact of alterations on matters of significance such as historic fabric, existing fixtures and fittings and the property’s historic plan layout. He also advises on ‘Buildings at Risk’ such as the restoration of the Grade 2 listed Peach House (built 1854) at Codicote.

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Redcoats, Little Wymondley

Business owner, Cliff Nye, owns The Farmhouse at Redcoats in Little Wymondley. Cliff recently restored a granary and converted three disused barns, aged between 300-400 years old (all formerly Buildings at Risk), turning them into a wedding and conference venue. Cliff said: “The depth of knowledge and understanding of the construction, materials and heritage of the building from Mark Simmons was invaluable and was offered without hesitation, which I found to be very encouraging when one is dealing with a local authority. I would like to put myself forward as a very satisfied customer.”

Home owner, Louise Faure Walker, owns Bear House, a medieval Grade 2* listed house in Ashwell that is over 500 years old. She recently went through the conservation/ planning process to gain permission for changes to the house, including replacing a 1990’s conservatory with a contemporary single storey kitchen extension, erecting an attached garden room and replacing the internal stairwell. From pre-application advice to the end of the process took three years, due to the complexity of the work. Louise said: “Bear House is one of the finest dwellings in the village of Ashwell. The project was immensely complex and challenging, requiring collaboration between all the parties involved. The building required a complete renovation and restoration both inside and out. It is now fully restored and guaranteed a future for many years to come.”

Find out more about the conservation service at North Herts click here

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What’s On

this May Half-Term TotFest

Alice In Wonderland

The ultimate pre-school festival is back!

Aimed at children aged six months to five years, parents and children can expect unique, fun, interactive events such as giant painting canvasses, miniature fairground rides, bounce land and live performances.

Join Alice and her magical adventures in Wonderland. Meet the Mad Hatter, White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat and Queen of Hearts, plus many more exciting colourful characters.

26 May, 12noon – 5pm, Hitchin Priory

www.ticketline.co.uk/totfest#tour

Dino Adventure Day

27 May, 11am – 5pm, Knebworth House Experience the prehistoric world of the dinosaurs! Ventura Wildlife Rangers will be offering hands on experiences with the live reptilian relatives of the dinosaur, including snakes, lizards and tortoises.

Hunt for hidden fossils at the Dino-Dig palaeontological site using specialist tools.

Booking essential. www.knebworthhouse.com/ knebworth-house-events/

29 May, 2pm and 6pm, Broadway Cinema and Theatre, Letchworth

www.broadway-letchworth.com/ theatre/whats-on/alice-in-wonderland

Creepy Critters

27 May –31 May, Standalone Farm, Letchworth Animals galore await you at the meet and greet Ameyzoo Roadshow! Get up close and personal with a wide variety of animals and learn more about how they live. This event is included with the cost of entry and will operate on a first come first serve basis. https://standalonefarm.com/events/

Dumbo

31 May at 7.30pm and 1 June at 3.30pm, Royston Picture Palace Roll up, roll up and get your tickets for the all new grand live action adventure of Dumbo, the circus elephant who can fly! PG rated. http://roystonpicturepalace.org.uk/

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Pool goers practising artificial respiration (an earlier form of CPR) at the Hitchin Outdoor Pool in 1939.

Credit: North Hertfordshire Museum

Love your Lido

Outdoor Pools in North Herts Whether you’re a lover of alfresco dips, or want to fill your summer with some familyfriendly activities, a trip to the Hitchin or Letchworth outdoor pools should be high on your to-do list.

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The Letchworth Outdoor Pool, situated in scenic Norton Common, opened its doors in 1935 and the Hitchin Outdoor Pool on Butts Close officially opened in 1938.

Both pools are thriving and much loved by residents.

The pools open for the season on Saturday 25 May until Sunday 8 September. Both pools are 50m long, heated and surrounded by grassed sunbathing areas, with toddler pools. Refreshments are available from the poolside cafes, or you can even bring your own picnic and make a day of it.

This year both pools have benefitted from investment from NHDC. Over at Hitchin the toilets and changing area have been refurbished and the outdoor play area is undergoing an exciting makeover. The new secure play area will feature an exciting mix of play opportunities for children, including a climbing structure with a slide, a ‘butterfly’ seesaw and music corner complete with bongos, a xylophone, shaker and rainmaker. There will also be a number of benches installed, so parents can relax while their children are busy at play. A new two tier covered cycle rack is also set to be installed and completed later in the season.

Over at Letchworth, the toilet and shower areas have been refurbished and the safety surface around the small pool has been completely replaced. Watch this video (opposite) to find out how you can beat the queues on opening day!

Date for your diary: Saturday 23 June

This year both pools have benefitted from investment from NHDC. Over at Hitchin the toilets and changing area have been refurbished and the outdoor play area is undergoing an exciting makeover.

Head over to the Letchworth Outdoor Pool and Norton Common for an action packed day of fun on Saturday 23 June. In conjunction with the Letchworth Festival, NHDC will be running a fun day including opportunities to try yoga and aqua yoga. Brave the “Fun Zone” session in the pool, or try your hand at Pickleball and the Xplorer – a family friendly navigation challenge.

Authors Emma Pusill and Janet Wilkinson have also chosen the Letchworth Outdoor Pool to launch their new book ‘The Lido Guide’. Signed copies of the book will be available to purchase on the day.

For more information and to check opening times visit: Letchworth Pool or Hitchin Pool

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Running in North Herts

On your marks, get set, go!

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When it comes to views, treadmills can’t compete with the beautiful countryside that North Herts has to offer! For this edition we’ve been out and about speaking to some local running groups for their top tips to tempt you off the couch…

First up, we met with Grant Chapman, Men’s Club Captain and Head Coach at the Royston Runners. With over 200 members, the Royston Runners welcome people of all abilities from gentle runners up to the elite. Based at the Heath Sports Club in Royston, Therfield Heath is right on their doorstep; picturesque with panoramic views and no traffic, there are many trails and routes to explore!

Grant has been leading the Couch to 5K programme at the Club for the last three years. The programme is designed to take participants from beginner to 5k runner in anything from 10 weeks. The courses are usually run in January when motivations are riding high and around April time when the evenings are lighter.

Grant said: “We follow the run walk method to get your body used to running and gradually build up to around 60 minutes of running at a pace that you’re comfortable with. By the end of all the courses I’ve done, everyone has been able to run / walk the 5k.”

Emma Brunt and Simon Lipscombe are currently undertaking the Couch to 5k programme in Royston and signed up for different reasons. Emma said: “I just wanted to improve my fitness, running seemed an easy way to achieve that. I want to be able to keep up with my children. I’m progressing well and really enjoying it; it’s nice to run with other people.”

Simon said: “I intend to run next year’s Cambridge half-marathon with my friend Damon (another C25K initiate), hopefully without stopping.

Couch to 5k is my entry into this. I’m finding it relatively easy at the moment, but I’m looking forward to pushing myself as it gets harder.”

Another popular club is the North Herts Road Runners – based in Letchworth Garden City. Known as the Squirrels, the club caters for members with running abilities ranging from social joggers to athletes, representing England and Great Britain.

The club make the most of all the many beautiful paths and routes that North Hertfordshire has to offer. They are blessed to have the Greenway so close to home; on any Sunday morning you’ll find dozens of Squirrels out. Other popular routes include heading past the Lavender fields, on through Pirton and out towards Pegsdon Hill, or the opposite way through Baldock and on to Sandon. Visit their website for details of sessions.

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North Herts Road Runner, Jo Sopala, explains what joining the club has done for her: “Aged 43 and having never run before, I was inspired to sign up to North Herts Road Runners Couch to 5k course, primarily to help me continue losing weight. As someone who was still five stone overweight, I expected people to laugh at me, but I honestly received nothing other than support and encouragement.

“I was immensely proud when I ran my graduation 5k and gobsmacked when the club asked if I and my fellow running graduates would like to join NHRR. I couldn’t believe it. We proudly wear our club vests and some of our group are now posting very respectable times.”

For those looking to run in Hitchin, look no further than the Hitchin Running Club - better known by their nickname - the Hares. The club was formed by enthusiasts who want to run on a regular basis in a social environment. They don’t take themselves too seriously but are affiliated and run on a regular basis in local and national events. For more information, visit their website.

Upcoming Running Events Royston: Hitchin: Hitchin Hard Half Marathon, Hitchin 10k and Fun 5K – 23 June

Letchworth Garden City: Letchworth Parkrun – a free weekly 5km event for runners of all abilities.

Royston in Blue – a 5km run which supports Teenage Cancer Charity Sunday 23 June, Therfield Heath

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First Saturday of the Month 5km a monthly free-to-enter timed 5k around Norton Common.

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Run Round the Garden, Leys Avenue Letchworth, Saturday 16 June. Part of the Letchworth Festival, it consists of three separate running events: a 5km race, the rare opportunity of a 1-mile road race, plus a free-to-enter children’s fun run.

Standalone 10k, hosted by the North Herts Road Runners – Sunday 7 October.

Surrounding Areas: Great Ashby Fun Run / Walk - 9 June

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Running

A handy guide to get you started: North Herts Road Runners’ Head Coach, Karen Dodsworth shares her top tips for beginners: 1. Start easy and build up gradually.

4. Stay hydrated

If you haven’t exercised for a while then walking may be a good place to start. Walking briskly can help you build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier. Once you’re ready to begin running, ease into it slowly and increase your distance and pace gradually.

Your muscles work best when they are well hydrated, so drinking water throughout the day is essential to help your body perform at its best when you are running.

2. Warm up and warm down Before you run it is important to warm up to gradually to raise your heart rate and prepare your body for running. Walking briskly, marching on the spot, side steps and skipping are all possibilities. After running, warm down by jogging or walking and doing a few stretches.

3. Find the right shoes Find a pair of shoes that are comfortable and offer the right degree of support to help reduce the risk of injury. A good pace to start is to find a running shop that offers gait analysis so that they can assess your running action and find the right shoe for you.

5. Remember rest and recovery is as important as training An adequate amount of sleep is important to help your body perform well and rest days help your body to recover from and adapt to the wonderful training that you are doing. Running three times a week with a rest day in between is a great way to start.

6. Make running social Running with others can be so much fun! Check out your local running club, local running shops and the RunTogether website which may all have starter groups near you.

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Barbecue food hygiene gets a grilling!

It’s nearly summer, so if you love barbecuing it’s time to get your barbecue out of storage and ready for the summer season.

We spoke to Jonathan Crump from Crumps butchers in Ashwell, for some top barbecuing tips: • “Beef and lamb whole cuts cook well on a barbecue as they can be cooked on the rare side, but chicken and pork must be cooked thoroughly to an internal temperature of 75°c – you can use a cooking thermometer to check the temperature of the meat. Never cook meat that has been minced rare e.g. beef burgers or pork sausages.

• Roast pork spare ribs slowly in an oven then bring out and finish them off on the barbecue.

• Many modern barbecues have lids so these cook the food more thoroughly, like an oven.

They are great for cooking sausages, burgers, butterflied legs of lamb and spatchcocked chicken.

• If you are using a charcoal fire, which gives the food a nice woody, smoky flavour, make sure that you use enough coal to start with, as it does tend to burn out before the meat is cooked.

• Personally I like to use charcoal to cook and really like minted lamb cutlets, which we mature for a couple of weeks before we sell them. They cook quickly, stay juicy and are easy to eat using the bone to hold.”

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Top tips for BBQ safety – follow the 4 C’s Cleaning – cleaning gets rid of

Cooking – food needs to be cooked

o Wash hands with hot water and soap before cooking and eating

o If food is charred on the outside it doesn’t mean it is cooked on the inside

bacteria found on your hands, equipment and surfaces that may come into contact with food:

o Don’t wash raw meat as it splashes bacteria onto hands and surrounding surfaces and is one of the easiest ways to get food poisoning o Don’t mix utensils and serving dishes that have been used for raw and ready to eat food Chilling and defrosting – chilling helps stop harmful bacteria from growing: o Defrost food overnight in the fridge or use the defrost setting on a microwave o Don’t defrost foods at room temperature as it enables bacteria to grow o Store raw foods separately from ready-to-eat foods, covered on the bottom of your fridge

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o Use a fridge thermometer to check the temperature is below 5°c as dials on fridges don’t always show you the right temperature

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at the right temperature and for the correct length of time to make sure that harmful bacteria are killed:

o Burgers should always be served well done, because when meat is minced to produce burgers, any harmful bacteria from the surface of the raw meat is spread throughout the burger o Consider cooking chicken in the oven first, then giving it a final finish on the barbecue Cross-contamination – when raw food touches or drips onto readyto-eat food, surfaces or utensils: o Make sure you use different serving plates, food preparation surfaces and utensils for raw and cooked food o Thoroughly wash your hands after touching raw meat and before handling cooked food o Keep raw meat separate to ready to eat foods

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Our ultimate guide to the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

Royston Royston Kebab Kitchen,

Every year in the UK, around one million people have the unfortunate experience of suffering from food poisoning. If you are unlucky enough to have a meal or snack at a business that is not following strict hygiene standards and procedures, then you could end up being one of those statistics.

Environmental Health Officers use the Food Standards Agency’s Food Hygiene Rating Scheme to grade premises in the following way: 0 - urgent improvement necessary 1 - major improvement necessary 2 - some improvement necessary

4 - hygiene standards are good 5 - very good The rating awarded reflects the hygiene, structure and management of a business.

If a business is rated 3 or above it will not require a follow up visit from the Environmental Health Officer as standards are considered satisfactory.

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3 - hygiene standards are generally satisfactory

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All the local businesses shown in this article have achieved a 5 food hygiene rating

Officers work closely with those who score below 3 to help improve their food hygiene rating – this includes advising them of changes that need to take place to meet standards, then carrying out spot checks at the premises to make sure advised changes have been implemented.

As part of their work, our Officers can: • Take food samples and photographs • Inspect records • Write a letter or report listing work to be done, or faults to be rectified • Serve Hygiene Improvement Notices if the business is breaking food hygiene law • Serve an Emergency Prohibition Notice which forbids the use of premises, equipment or processes • Recommend prosecution for the most serious cases The next time you go out to eat in North Herts, look out for the Food Hygiene Rating sign in the window of a food serving establishment, or look up their Food Hygiene Rating here on the Food Standards Agency website:

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Potting Shed Cafe, Thornes Garden Centre, Letchworth

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Find out more about our Food Safety and Hygiene work here on our website Letchworth Montessori, Garden City

Highbury Infants School, Hitchin

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North Herts Day Services, Hitchin

We spoke to Helen Avey, Head Teacher at Highbury Infant School and Nursery in Hitchin.

The school recently received a Food Hygiene Rating of 5 for meals served to pupils at the school:

We feel these inspections are important in maintaining high standards of food hygiene across schools and businesses.

They help to ensure that food is being prepared in the correct way, protecting children from any possibility of eating contaminated food. The agreed food rating system means that all schools and businesses are obliged to follow the same high standards. Highbury School is pleased to have achieved a 5 in the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

, Royston Royal Bengal

Wonderland Day Nursery, Letchworth

Enchanted Day Nursery, Letchworth

hworth Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Letc

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Focus on VILLAGES One of the best things about living and working in North Hertfordshire is the ability to escape it all and have a wander around some of our many beautiful villages. Here we focus on just three of them.

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Ashwell Having recently marked an official 1,100 years, Ashwell has a remarkable story which actually goes back even further. But along with its past, the village is also host to a modern settlement and has a natural beauty which marks it out as a key part of the local tourist trail.

The year 917 was given as the date when land was reclaimed by Alfred the Great and Ashwell, among a host of other towns and villages was created. However, in 2002, some 26 silver and gold plaques and jewellery were found at a field in Ashwell End. These were offerings to a previously unknown goddess, meaning there were inhabitants before Ashwell’s ‘official’ settlement date. After the Romans, incoming Anglo-Saxons settled and built houses scattered around the countryside, populations grew and estates were formed. Ashwell, with its freshwater springs, which today provide a major tourist attraction, was the centre of such an estate.

The impressive parish church dates back to 1218, and while it was a initially a focus of celebration, it has also had a darker side and has an inscription marking the Black Death which reached the area in 1349 and is thought to have killed as many as half the inhabitants of the village in the ensuing plague.

There are a number of other outstanding buildings in Ashwell, which still has three pubs, The Rose and Crown and The Three Tuns, both on the High Street, and The Bushel and Strike – opposite St Mary’s Church. Long before the Bushel, in 1633 a wine tavern called The Wheatsheaf was kept on Mill Street. Later it was owned by the village’s own brewery, Fordhams. The Wheatsheaf was eventually pulled down and the Bushel in the adjoining house was started as a small beer house more than 60 years ago.

Ashwell Village Museum was founded in 1930 but its origins go back a decade earlier, when pupils of the Ashwell Merchant Taylors School chanced on archaeological curios – coins, clay pipes and a beer mug – which they displayed in a garden shed.

Ashwell Village Museum was founded in 1930 but its origins go back a decade earlier

The collection was shown at a church fete and proved so interesting that a committee was formed to find a permanent home for it and other finds from the village. A half-timbered Tudor house was bought for the purpose.

The village also holds a number of events throughout the year, with Ashwell at Home being held on the second Sunday in May since the 1980s while Ashwell Show takes place on August Bank Holiday Monday.

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Barkway Barkway lies on the eastern section of the Chiltern Hills and there is evidence that it has been inhabited since ancient times. It is believed that a pre-Roman mound was utilised as a strong point in the area and lookout with views as far as Ely. Signs of activity during the Roman invasion were confirmed when a small cache of Roman silver was found at the edge of nearby Rookey Wood some 200 years ago.

However, it was the Norman Invasion which brought a new culture to England and when William the Conqueror commissioned the Domesday Survey in 1086, Barkway was recorded for the first time, where it was reputedly listed as “Birchwig,” which was translated as Birch Way. The heyday of the village came in the 18th century, as it was a major stopping off point along the coaching route from the capital to the north-east. However with the decline of this form of transport, the village missed out on a second chance when a certain Robert Stephenson proposed a railway station nearby. Alas it didn’t come to pass and Barkway had only one more resurgence when it became a hub due to the building of the airfield at nearby Nuthampstead during the Second World War. Once again Barkway grew for a short spell, but we are now left with a picturesque and vibrant village which is much loved by those who live there.

Modern day Barkway hosts a flint and stone church, which is over 800 years old and has a full peal of eight bells which are rung every week. There are a host of amenities, including a school, the popular Tally Ho Pub, a recreation ground and nearby Golf Course.

There is still a nod to its trading past and its traditions in the form of the Barkway Street Market which is brought to life each year. Barkway Market itself can be traced back to 1270 but after lapsing, it was brought back in 1977 and often attracts more than 4,000 people.

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Modern day Barkway hosts a flint and stone church, which is over 800 years old

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Pirton Pirton is a delightful village which is close to both the Bedfordshire border and also to the Chilterns. As with many similar places in North Hertfordshire, its first official record dates back to the Domesday Book, when it featured in the 1086 survey and was known as Peritone, which is thought to mean Homestead of Pears.

The document found that Pirton was home to a vast amount of arable land with some farms and mills. However, there is evidence of earlier settlements, especially following the discovery of Bronze Age items and the fact that the village will have been visited on many occasions by those travelling the Icknield Way, which passes through it.

Modern day Pirton is home to the Grade I listed St Mary’s Church, which has an 11th century tower, though this was rebuilt in 1877. There is also a Methodist church nearby. The focal point is The Motte (The Mound) which is believed to date from the early 1500s and which still plays a key part in attracting visitors to the area, along with The Bury, which is a vast area containing much of the remains of the old village.

Modern day Pirton is a very active community. Both locals and those who visit can enjoy two pubs, The Fox and the Motte and Bailey, which offer a good food and beverage selection. A monthly farmers market is held and villagers also enjoy an annual craft show and the Pirton Pumpkin Show, which has hit national headlines as locals endeavour to find the King Pumpkin in the village, with the heaviest example grown.

The focal point is The Motte (The Mound) which is believed to date from the early 1500s

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What’s On

June Baldock Big Lunch 2 June

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Tickets available from Baldock Community Centre.

Find out more click here

Hitchin Beer and Cider Festival

6 – 8 June 2019, Hitchin Rugby Club, 6-8 King George V Playing Fields, Thursday 5pm - 11pm, Friday / Saturday 12noon - 11pm

May

February

Decorative Salvage and Vintage Fair

25 - 26 May, 10am - 5pm, Knebworth House

25 / 26

Traders from the UK and beyond provide a fantastic selection of quality stock, including reclaimed items, industrial furniture, textiles, ironwork, art, design pieces, decorative mirrors, lighting and much more. Find out more click here

NH Now Summer 2019

200+ real ales, ciders, perries, international draught and bottled beers! Taste ciders nominated in this year’s Hertfordshire Cider of the Year competition. Food provided

by Hitchin Street Food Monthly. £4 entry. Find out more click here

Triangle Garden Open Day and Fun Dog Show

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9 June, 12 noon- 4.30pm, Ransoms Recreation Ground, Hitchin A fun day out for all ages in aid of the local community garden with lots of outdoor activities, including an all age bake off, fun dog show, snail racing, welly-wanging, wet sponge stocks, plant sales, global food stalls and craft stalls. With entertainment from Garden City Samba and Bollywood Dance. Find out more click here

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Letchworth Festival 15 – 30 June

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Whitwell Village Day 22 June, Whitwell

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A celebration of life in Letchworth Garden City and a chance for the local community and beyond to come together to take part in a whole range of activities, including concerts, film screenings and plays, guided walks and talks and exhibitions. There’s something for everyone.

Fun times await as Whitwell holds its annual village day. This year there will be a Village Day Bake Off for all budding Mary Berrys out there.

Or take part in the Wheelbarrow Challenge race! Stalls and refreshments available on the day.

Find out more click here

Find out more click here

Rhythms of the World 29 June, 12noon – 11pm, Hitchin Town Hall

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Jump to the beat and celebrate the diversity of music from all around the world! Entry is free. Refreshments available.

Find out more click here

July

Pirton Summer Fair

Royston Historical Pageant

13 July, 1pm – 8pm, Off Walnut Tree Road

7 July, Priory Memorial Gardens, Royston

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Step back in time and experience ye olde medieval times! Medieval feasts, games and dancing, soldiers in armour, falconry displays, archery demonstrations and a medieval procession. Find out more click here

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Flying displays, competitions, stalls and information about local societies and activities.

Enjoy the live music and dance the night away!

Refreshments available.

Find out more click here

Codicote Village Day 20 July 2019

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This year’s theme is ‘A Night at the Movies.’

Attractions include the village day parade, animal corner, dance and gymnastic displays and Codicote School Maypole Dancers, along with some new attractions.

Find out more click here

NH Now Summer 2019