Outlook - Summer 2025

Community news from North Herts Council

OUTLOOK OUT Grazing for greener pastures

Help us prioritise our pounds

Bin collection changes

Heroes praised Summer 2025

What’s on www.north-herts.gov.uk

There are some key developments happening in the district this summer.

Bin collection changes come into effect on 4 August. Make sure you’re clear on the changes by reading pages 10 and 11 plus look out for the detailed leaflet coming through your door in July.

Welcome to your summer edition of Outlook magazine.

Thanks for picking up this issue – I hope you find it an interesting read.

We’re officially in the summer season now which is when North Herts really comes to life as we’re able to fully enjoy our amazing green and outdoor spaces. If you haven’t tried our outdoor gyms, taken a dive into our pools or got the kids paddling in our splashpads then now’s your chance! See pages 12 - 14 for all the details. If indoor events are more your thing, our Community Wellbeing team have got some great, free and low-cost, craft, cooking, exercise and wellbeing sessions organised across various locations in the district this summer. Find the event for you on pages 16 and 17.

Council meetings

Thanks to a £7.74 million grant from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation scheme, we’re also now able to move even further forwards with our sustainability priority and decarbonise our leisure centres, with work starting from July.

See page 15 for all the details.

We’re always keen to hear your views and are currently looking for feedback on our services and your priorities for the future through our Budget survey. If you haven’t completed it yet, the details are on page 3, and we’d really value your thoughts. In September, we’ll be asking you to share your views on local government reorganisation and

what you feel would best reflect the priorities of North Herts. See page 3 for the background on why this is happening and what this means for North Herts. Look out also for a consultation on our Local Plan in the autumn (page 9).

Finally, I’d like to take the opportunity to introduce our Special Interest Member Champions who will be giving greater focus to the following specific areas in the district: Young people: Cllr Cathy Brownjohn; Environment: Cllr Emma Fernandes; and Housing: Daniel Wright-Mason. We’ll also be announcing a Health Champion soon. They’ll be out and about the district over the coming months and we’ll run a feature on their priorities in our winter edition.

Come and meet your local councillors at our monthly community surgeries.

Ask for advice, tell us your views and enquire about local authority services.

Contacting North Herts Council Most North Herts Council services can be accessed online. Find out the date of your next waste collection, apply for a licence, report an issue, register to vote or pay a bill, all through our website: www.north-herts.gov.uk

Other ways to contact us: Phone: 01462 474000 www.facebook.com/northhertsDC @NorthHertsDC

@northhertsdc

north-hertfordshire-district-council 2

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Royston: 10-11.30am, second Saturday, every other month, Market Hill.

The plans will affect all existing councils in Hertfordshire, including North Herts, and the government asked us to work together to submit an interim proposal for reorganisation by 20 March 2025 which you can find on our website www.north-herts.gov.uk/ devolution. We’ve since received feedback from the government on our interim proposal and now need to work with our Hertfordshire counterparts to submit a final proposal in November this year.

This is where you, our valued residents come in.

Letchworth: 10.30 – 12 noon, third Saturday, Garden Square Shopping Centre.

In September, we will be asking you to share your thoughts on local government reorganisation and what you feel would best reflect the needs and priorities of our North Herts communities. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter at www.north-herts.gov.uk/updates or keep an eye on our website and social media channels to have your say. If you’re not online, see how to get in touch on page 2.

HAVE YOUR

Help us prioritise our pounds

Daniel Allen Leader of the Council

You can also find out more by calling Customer Services on 01462 474000 or by visiting your local library to use their computer.

Hitchin: 10.30 – 12noon, first Saturday, Town Square, Hitchin.

In December 2024, the government published the English Devolution White Paper which set out their plans to reorganise local government and simplify the current two-tier system of district and county councils in England by replacing them with one or more unitary councils. These unitary councils, with indicative populations of 500,000 residents or more, will be responsible for all local government services in their area. Additionally the government is looking to create new Strategic Authorities, likely led by directly elected mayors.

Have a lovely summer.

Please check our website for details of upcoming council meetings: www.north-herts.gov.uk/meetings

Monthly Community surgeries

Devolution and local government reorganisation

Baldock: 10.30 – 12noon, last Saturday, Tesco, High Street, Baldock.

North Herts Council is committed to equal opportunities and our aim is to make our services easy for all residents to use. If English is not your first language or you have difficulty reading this document please contact us to discuss how we may be able to assist you.

We’re starting our future budget-setting process later this year and like many other councils, we have some difficult decisions to make.

Before we start the process, we’d like to know more about which services you value most and your priorities for the future.

From parks and greenspaces,

to street cleaning and environmental health, and everything in between, we use the 11.6% we receive from your council tax to provide a wide range of important services.

Your thoughts will be invaluable in shaping our future budgetsetting process, so it’s important you take part and have your say.

The consultation closes on 1 August.

Here’s how to take part:

Please call: 01462 474000, or email service@north-herts.gov.uk Textphone (for textphone users) on: 01462 474800

Visit www.north-herts.gov.uk/consultations or scan this QR code with your smart phone.

OUTLOOK is published by the Communications Team, North Herts Council, Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth, SG6 3JF email outlook@north-herts.gov.uk

You can use a computer at the Council Offices in Letchworth (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or visit your local library.

© Unless otherwise stated, articles and photography are copyright of North Herts Council.

Visit our social media pages and fill out the survey at a time that suits you.

Every care is taken to ensure accuracy, but the publisher or manager cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions in editorial content.

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Careline continues to cover Herts

Our award-winning Herts Careline will continue to work in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council following its extension for the delivery of telecare and assistive technology services until 2031.

independently in their own homes for longer. This includes emergency pendant alarms, door sensors, fall detectors, smoke detectors, bed mats and smart plugs, which combine to provide both reactive and preventative support.

The service supports more than 13,000 residents to help them live

Visit www.care-line.co.uk or call 0300 999 2 999.

News in brief

New car park machines

Electoral register

Our annual canvass will start in the autumn and a new electoral register will be published on 1 December.

Please look out for voter registration messages and follow the instructions so we have the right details for you.

You may get a form in the post, an email and/or a text message. People who have moved home recently are particularly encouraged to look out for information and register to vote at their new address. If you know you’re not registered to vote, the easiest way to register is online: www.gov.uk/ register-to-vote

New EV chargers

Keeping rental properties safe and warm We’ve recently published a Tenants’ Charter to provide guidance and support to local tenants and landlords. It sets out the rights and responsibilities for tenants, landlords and the council, to ensure rented homes in the district are habitable and meet certain standards.

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check that they can afford the rent, plus heating costs, and pay rent and bills on time.

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report disrepair or damage promptly and in writing to their landlord or their agent and keep a record.

The council will offer tenants help with writing to their landlord if needed and respond to complaints within three working days (sooner in an emergency).

We will investigate disputes between tenants and landlords, taking appropriate action where necessary, which can include enforcement action against the landlord.

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check that the landlord has provided a current Energy

More information: www.northherts.gov.uk/tenants-charter

For instance, we advise tenants to:

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Performance Certificate (EPC) at the start of each new tenancy - if the property does not have a good EPC or is not heated sufficiently, condensation and subsequent mould is more likely to occur.

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If you’re finding it hard to charge your EV vehicle, new state-of-the art charging points have been installed in eight of the council’s long stay car parks across the district: Bancroft, The Lairage and Woodside in Hitchin, Garden Square and Hillshott in Letchworth, The Twitchell in Baldock, and Civic Centre and The Warren in Royston. Managed by Blink Charging UK, the project has been funded by a £135,000 grant from the government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) under the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) and Blink.

Following the installation of new car park payment machines across the district, we have updated guidance after receiving feedback from regular users.

Cllr Daniel Allen, Leader of the Council, explained: “Unfortunately, it seems like one of the new features – ‘Checking in and Checking out’ – is causing some confusion. The point of this facility is to allow those paying

electronically to ‘Check in’ at the start of their visit, and ‘Check out’ when they finish, without having to guess how long they’ll be or rush back to the car park.”

Specifically in Royston, even though parking is free after 3pm, customers must still register their parking session. This is so we can understand usage figures and visitor patterns to the town centre over the whole day.

If you have any queries, please see our Frequently Asked Questions and ‘how to’ videos on our website: www.north-herts.gov.uk/ ParkingMachines If you’re not online, see how to get in touch on page 2.

Enhancing community safety One of the council’s Community Safety Officers recently attended a neighbourhood action event in and around the Jackmans estate in Letchworth.

Led by housing association Settle, organisations spoke to residents

about community safety and anti-social behaviour, and the police were able to address some immediate concerns.

Find out more about community safety in North Herts at www.north-herts.gov.uk/ community-safety

Partners will continue to work together to help make the area safer, more welcoming, and a better place to live.

If you’re not online, see how to get in touch on page 2.

Be weather ready

As our climate changes, hot spells are expected to be more frequent and more intense. A number of major heatwaves have occurred in recent years with 40°C being recorded in the UK for the first time in July 2022.

In addition, summer thunderstorms can produce large hail, gusty winds, lightning and torrential rain that can disrupt transport, damage property and cause power cuts. Think about what you can do to protect yourself, your family and friends: www.gov.uk/prepare SUMMER 2025

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Waste &

What are the changes?

Recycling Bin collections changing from 4 August Our new waste & recycling service starts on 4 August, making recycling easier for you; making our collections more efficient; and ensuring our communities receive a waste and recycling service which is both environmentally and financially sustainable for the future.

From 4 August you will be able to: • Start recycling loose plastic bags and wrappings – thanks to the successful trial by Knebworth, Sawbridgeworth and Royston residents last year.

1 Your bin collection service will change

Why are the changes happening?

The decision to move to a three-week collection cycle and align services between North and East Herts follows a public consultation carried out in Summer 2022.

The changes are designed to enable you to recycle more than you can currently, and meet the Government’s ‘Simpler Recycling’ requirements, which call for the separate collection and recycling of food waste and cardboard and paper, as well as the recycling of plastic bags and wrappings.

1 week cycle – Food waste collections will remain weekly.

New 2 week cycle – A chargeable garden waste collection will remain fortnightly. collection 3 week cycle – Your non-recyclable waste, mixed recycling and cardboard and cycles

paper bins will move to a new alternating three-week collection cycle.

2 Your bin collection days may change You may have a change in bin collection days. More information will be provided before the new service begins.

Flats and properties with communal waste bins will have collection day changes, but will still follow a similar frequency to their current arrangements.

3 From 4 August, you can start using the blue-lidded bin you have received to recycle all your cardboard and paper It is a new government requirement to collect paper and cardboard separately, ensuring this material is of a higher quality when it’s sent for recycling.

What can be recycled in your blue-lidded bin: Newsprint, white and brown paper, magazines, cereal boxes, cardboard packaging and toilet roll inners.

4 You will be able to include loose plastic bags and wrappings in your black-lidded recycling bin

• Separate your cardboard and paper recycling from your other recycling – so more room for those boxes from that well-known online retailer!

Your black-lidded bin will continue to be for recycling, minus your cardboard and paper.

• Continue to recycle all your food waste weekly – including bones, peelings and scraps.

What can be recycled in your black-lidded bin?

Tins, cans, foil, cartons, glass bottles, jars, plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, film lids, plastic bags and wrappings.

Please note: Your purple-lidded bin will continue to be for non-recyclable waste, including nappies, vacuum bag contents, broken ceramics, tissues, kitchen roll, wet wipes, pet waste and bedding.

Follow us on social media for hints & tips along the way @NorthHertsDC

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Where can I find more information? (with your new blue-lidded bin)

Talk to your local councillor at our monthly community surgeries

www.north-herts.gov.uk/binchanges

Look out for the detailed leaflet being delivered to your door in July

Read the welcome letter delivered

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Grants for groups Lots of good causes continue to benefit from our community grant funding, including: Preston Parish Council – £594 towards a defibrillator cabinet.

Pirton JoyCare – £870 towards the running costs of supporting older people in the community.

The British Schools Museum – £1,133 to create a new exhibition exploring the childhood storybooks of the late Queen Mother, highlighting Hitchin’s rich history.

Resolve – £1,500 towards the cost of key workers to run group therapy sessions and help support those suffering from substance and alcohol misuse problems.

Christchurch Baldock – £1,560 for their Body & Soul classes which provide fitness sessions for retired people (pictured below).

Hitchin Town Youth Football Club – £2,000 for two new sets of goalposts for Holwell Recreation Ground, enabling thousands of young players to enjoy better facilities.

Cassel Hall Trust – £2,000 to help replace the boiler at Cassel Memorial Hall in Lilley which is used by a variety of groups.

Offley Parish Council – £2,000 towards renewing their basketball court.

The Living Theatre Whitwell – £2,000 towards their outdoor art trail project.

Holwell Parish Council – £2,365 towards updating fire precautions at Holwell Pavillion.

Carers in Hertfordshire – £2,393 to start a new carer support hub in Hitchin and Royston for unpaid carers to access advice, wellbeing activities and social connections.

Caudwell Youth – £3,800 to support their work with at-risk young people aged 11 to 24 in North Herts.

Heroes praised & money raised

Each winner received an engraved glass trophy and a gift voucher at our annual Civic Event in February hosted by Chair Cllr Clare Billing. Nearly £1,000 was raised for the Chair’s chosen charity, Sands, which works to support anyone affected by the death of a baby.

David Whitiker – Caring Award Sponsored by Nyaradzo Funeral Services A generous volunteer at Hitchin Pantry, David has spent the past three years offering support to socially isolated individuals. He also provides essential transport and moving services for those in need.

This year’s North Herts Heroes have been named! Five outstanding individuals have been honoured for their remarkable volunteering contributions.

Harmesh Bhandal – Dedication Award Sponsored by Rewind Media Ltd Harmesh has devoted more than 40 years to supporting the South Asian community, from helping people with language barriers to running social support groups, her lasting impact has been invaluable within the community.

Ray Wilson – Green Award Sponsored

by John O’Conner As the founder of Green Care at Norton, Ray has created a community-driven project that brings people together to grow their own produce. His focus on sustainability, recycling, and inclusivity has fostered a strong sense of community.

Maggie Hackney – Health Award Sponsored by Altro Maggie’s lifelong commitment to helping others includes founding Hitchin AED (Automated External Defibrillator), a project that has provided vital public access to defibrillators throughout the town. Her work supporting blood donation and other community services has made her a beloved local figure.

Hugo Hughes-Slattery – Young Star Award Sponsored by Lovell Following the death of his father, Hugo has courageously used his personal experience of grief to support other bereaved children with the help of charity Stand By Me. He has shared his story, helped with fundraising, and supported fellow students facing similar challenges.

For more information: www.north-herts.gov.uk/grants If you’re not online, see how to get in touch on page 2.

£

Sustainable grants available soon

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Money will be available soon for community groups and businesses to take action on sustainability and climate change.

We have a pot of nearly £80,000 for people to apply to for projects such as increasing biodiversity, reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency, and increasing community engagement.

Look out for more details soon!

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Have your say on development Churchgate refresh We are due to consult on an update to our Local Plan later this year, so please have your say. brings a splash of colour

Churchgate refresh brings a splash of colour

Every planning authority has to have a Local Plan, to guide decisions on future development and address the needs and opportunities of an area – such as greenspace, housing, employment and shops.

If you’ve walked through Churchgate Shopping Centre recently, you may have noticed that it has been spruced up — starting with the basics.

Following your feedback, we’ve been making improvements to brighten up the area and make it more welcoming while we work on long-term regeneration.

The North Herts Local Plan 201131 was adopted by the council in November 2022. Since then, new government planning legislation and guidance has and is coming into place, so we will be taking these changes into account.

We also want to ensure we can

Fresh coat of paint for the canopy!

help provide everything that North Herts needs.

We are using a special digital consultation tool/platform which you can sign up to now to ensure you get notified when the consultation starts.

The Local Plan will set policies for the whole of North Herts over the next 15-20 years but did you know, you can always view and comment on planning applications, from minor developments to strategic sites, and you can actually

keep track of planning applications in a specified area of North Herts using our online map and get a notification when new applications are submitted.

Please scan the QR code with your smart phone or visit: www.north-herts.gov. uk/LPupdate If you’re not online, see how to get in touch on page 2.

The update will cover topics such as: climate change

natural environment

effective use of land

greenbelt

historic environment

communities

housing

transport

town centres

employment

design of new homes and places

Colourful planters brightening up the space!

The floors have already had a deep clean, and we’ve been sprucing up the site with freshly painted canopies, heritage-style flower barrels, colourful hanging baskets and new planters. These updates will help bring a touch of charm to the space this summer.

While these might seem like small changes, they’re part of a bigger picture — showing our commitment to investing in Churchgate while we continue planning for the future. We want the area to feel more vibrant and inviting for traders, residents and visitors alike.

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Next steps Thanks to your fantastic response to our latest consultation — we received over 1,500 contributions — we’re moving forward with a shared vision for the Churchgate Regeneration Zone.

We’ve been working closely with design, planning and regeneration experts to test what’s realistic and deliverable, while protecting what makes Hitchin special. Five key development principles will now shape the next phase, including heritage-led regeneration, a revitalised market and riverfront and greener infrastructure.

Before the end of the year, we’re hoping to appoint a development partner to help turn this shared vision into reality.

Your feedback helped shape the foundations of this plan, and your voice will remain central as we move ahead.

Sign up to the Churchgate Hub to stay updated www.north-herts.gov.uk/ churchgatehub If you’re not online, see how to get in touch on page 2.

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North Herts Greenspaces

Hive fives all round!

We’re buzzing with pride to report that the Letchworth Bee Corridor has been recognised internationally! It has won not one, but two Green Apple Awards, which recognise environmental best practice around the globe!

Make a splash this summer!

Get stoked for new skatepark!

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Let’s hope for some lovely summer sun to make the most of our four splash parks across North Herts.

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They are open every day, 10am to 6pm, until 7 September, at:

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•

Avenue Park, Baldock

•

Bancroft Recreation Ground, Hitchin – with café kiosk open weekends and school holidays

Hitchin’s skatepark at King George V Recreation Park is due to reopen in September.

As this magazine was going to press, the final touches were being made to the design and the construction work, scheduled for 12 weeks, was due to start in June.

Howard Park, Letchworth – with café kiosk open 7 days a week Priory Memorial Gardens, Royston

Our park café kiosks serve hot and cold soft drinks and light snacks including toasted paninis and ice cream (including vegan).

The project, in partnership with Groundwork East, has cost £250k and has been funded through the council’s capital budget. Local users have been encouraged to give their views throughout the design process.

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This project involves teams across the council but is led by John O’Conner, our grounds maintenance contractor.

What is a Bee Corridor?

This budding project has now spread its wings to a second town in North Herts, to help enhance local biodiversity and create a thriving habitat for local wildlife in Royston.

Cllr Mick Debenham, Executive Member for Environment, Leisure and Greenspaces, said: “This initiative has pollenated Letchworth with enthusiasm for the importance of bees and local biodiversity and we are really excited to be creating one in Royston. Hopefully other towns and villages will follow!”

Bee corridors join up bees’ habitat over a specified area to help them buzz around more easily, and also help other pollinators like butterflies and hoverflies. We need to improve bees’ environment, especially with the impact of urban developments, so they have enough flowers to pollinate, find a mate and shelter.

For more information please visit: www.north-herts.gov.uk/ BeeCorridors or email: BeePartOfIt@JohnOConner.co.uk

Bees are fundamental to our ecosystem and we cannot afford to lose them – one in three mouthfuls of food eaten worldwide is dependent on pollinators, from your morning cup of coffee to a lovely juicy apple!

Get fit in the fresh air – for free!

In partnership with Groundwork East we have installed another outdoor gym in North Herts, at Avenue Park in Baldock.

available either nearby or via a handy QR code, making it easy for users of all fitness levels to get started.

It features similar equipment already put in at Baldock Road Recreation Ground in Letchworth and King George V Recreation Ground in Hitchin, including a touchscreen bike and crosstrainer, chest press, Swedish ladder, human flagpole and pull-up station. Each piece of equipment has instructions

Catherine Browne, Landscape Architect at Groundwork East, said: “The equipment should be shaded in the summer and protected from wind in the winter. We took particular care to design the gym in a social way, so friends could work out together and Everyone Active can run sessions on the permeable tiger mulch area.”

Living lawnmowers

As per the front page, livestock are returning to some of our nature reserves this summer!

Weston Hills. Oughtonhead Common in Hitchin has English Longhorn cattle all year round.

English Longhorn cattle will be grazing at Purwell Meadows in Hitchin and Weston Hills and Ivel Springs in Baldock. We’ll also have sheep on Gibbet Hill at Baldock’s

Grazing is by far the best kind of management we can have on these threatened sites, in terms of protecting the rare species that make up meadow habitat.

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Take a dip this summer!

North Herts’ outdoor swimming season is well and truly underway – and what a start it’s been!

Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre made waves this spring with the launch of cold water swimming.

More than 400 people visited during the opening weekend in May, when the pool was left unheated, giving residents the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of a cooler dip!

Regular swimmer Mike Davies said: “The temperature was perfect, all the old friends in attendance and in fine spirits. The sun was shining beautifully – swimming at its best.”

The pilot was a hit, with strong turnout and glowing feedback.

Everyone Active, which manages the centre on our behalf, is now exploring options for a longer cold

water season next year. With the pool now fully heated for summer, Hitchin lido is looking fresh with new circulation pumps, stylish deck chairs and a few fun extras for families.

Letchworth Lido is celebrating a huge milestone this year – its 90th anniversary! The much-loved facility has also had a refresh, including new parasols, more seating and upgraded facilities.

Cllr Mick Debenham, Executive Member for Leisure, said: “These outdoor pools are a real gem in our community.

With new events, upgrades and feedback-led improvements, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this season.”

For more information please visit: www.everyoneactive.com

A brand-new programme of events at both pools is being launched, from floating sound baths and Rookie Lifeguard courses, to pool parties and the popular Summer Solstice celebration, there’s lots on offer. Quiet swims and early morning lanes are also available.

Letchworth Lido is celebrating a huge milestone this year – its 90th anniversary!

Get Active in Your Community Everyone Active offers a great range of friendly, low-cost fitness classes across North Herts – including in Hitchin, Baldock, Knebworth, Weston and Whitwell.

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Classes such as Buggies and Bands and Strength and Mobility, are held at local venues like village halls and community centres, making it easy to stay active close to home.

Visit everyoneactive.com/centre/ north-herts-community-outreach to find out more.

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Green light for greener leisure centres We’ve approved a major £15.89 million investment to decarbonise our leisure centres – making them more energy efficient and helping us reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

The decision follows a successful bid for £7.74 million from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Delivered

by Herts-based Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd, this will be one of the UK’s largest leisure centre decarbonisation projects.

The works – taking place at Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre, North Herts Leisure Centre in Letchworth and Royston Leisure Centre – will include replacing ageing gas boilers with air source heat pumps, installing solar panels, improving insulation and glazing, and upgrading air handling and energy systems.

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Once complete, the project is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions across all three sites by over 60%.

Alongside environmental improvements, we’re investing in modernising the centres: •

A new changing village and flume in Letchworth

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Refurbished health suite and gym changing rooms in Hitchin

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A new gym extension and refurbished changing village in Royston.

The project is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions across all three leisure centres by over 60%

We thank you for your support during this exciting transformation of our local leisure centres.

We are also set to undertake decarbonisation projects at North Herts Museum, Hitchin Town Hall, and at our District Council Offices in Letchworth.

To find out more about the temporary closures, visit: www.everyoneactive.com/ DecarbNorthHerts/ If you’re not online, see how to get in touch on page 2.

Some temporary closures and reduced services until spring 2026 will be needed, including a partial weekday pool closure at Hitchin for around five months.

To help maintain access, the lido season will be extended at Hitchin and Letchworth.

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==

Low Impact Exercise Classes are FREE OF CHARGE thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.

Seated exercise to music FREE

Join the Making Movement team for seated exercise to music classes to get fit and have fun!

Community Wellbeing Adult Craft Sessions £5 *Book

Baldock Community Centre, Simpson Drive, Baldock SG7 6DH 1.30-3pm 15 July – Paper Craft 5 August – Slow Stitch 9 September – Needle Felting 7 October – Paper Craft 11 November – Slow Stitch 9 December – Seasonal Craft

Knebworth *Book

Royston

St. Martin’s Church Parish Centre, St Martin’s Road, Knebworth SG3 6ER 10-11.30am

The Old School House, 4 Market Hill, Royston SG8 9JL 10-11.30am

26 June – Paper Craft 31 July – Felting 14 August – Slow Stitch 25 September – Paper Craft 9 October – Felting 6 November – Slow Stitch 4 December – Seasonal Craft

17 July – Slow Stitch

Fun with food for families

*Book

Christchurch, Bedford Road, Hitchin SG7 6DH 4 July 9.30-10am

Baldock

*Book

*Book

7 August – Needle Felting 18 September – Paper Craft 16 October – Slow Stitch 13 November – Needle Felting 11 December – Seasonal Craft

St. Martin’s Church Parish Centre, St Martin’s Road, Knebworth SG3 6ER Mondays 2-3pm

Baldock Community Centre, Simpson Drive, Baldock SG7 6DH Tuesdays 1.30-2.30pm.

Thursdays 2-3pm

Royston

Join the Stevenage FC Foundation for classes to improve strength and balance in a positive environment.

Just turn up – no need to book

Free NHS Health Checks if you’re aged 40-74 to assess heart health, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and diabetes risk. *Book FREE

Royston

25 June and 1 July Royston Leisure Centre, Woodcock Road, Royston SG8 7XT

Extra Time Hub

FREE

*Book

Baldock Community Centre, Simpson Drive, Baldock SG7 6DH

The Old School House, 4 Market Hill, Royston SG8 9JL

17 July 10.15-10.45am

24 July 10-10.30am

* For more info or to book visit: www.communitywellbeingnorthherts.co.uk

The Extra Time Hub provides the opportunity to socialise, form new friendships and take part in activities that are based upon what individuals want to do. Activities vary from quizzes, music, games such as Boccia and New Age Kurling, crafts, board games & more.

Royston

Fortnightly from 11 September . 10am-12pm The Old Schoolhouse, 4 Market Hill, Royston SG8 9JL Just turn up – no need to book

Royston The Old Schoolhouse, 4 Market Hill, Royston SG8 9JL Mondays 10.30am-12pm No classes 18 & 25 August

Carers Cooking FREE We are working with Carers in Herts to offer FREE social cooking sessions to local carers.

All sessions 10.30-12pm

Knebworth

*Book

St. Martin’s Church Parish Centre, St Martin’s Road, Knebworth SG3 6ER 3 July, 7 August, 11 September, 16 October, 13 November

Royston

*Book

The Old Schoolhouse, 4 Market Hill, Royston SG8 9JL 7 July, 8 September, 13 October, 10 November

Cooking on a budget course Royston *Book The Old School House, 4 Market Hill, Royston SG8 9JL 10-11.30am 3, 10, 24 and 31 July More dates available to book from September

* For more info or to book visit: www.communitywellbeingnorthherts.co.uk

Email: communitywellbeing@north-herts.gov.uk or Call: 01462 474111

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St. Thomas of Canterbury Church Hall, Melbourn Road Royston SG8 7DB Wednesdays 2-3pm

NHS Health Checks

More dates available to book from September.

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Baldock

Strength and Balance FREE

Join us for this 30 minute interactive, hands-on cooking session for children under 5 with their adult. Join Angie from Creative Chefs to discover a variety of seasonal vegetables and fruit in a fun, stimulating environment.

Hitchin

Knebworth

Classes break for 2 weeks in summer and at Christmas. Just turn up – no need to book.

pp Arts and crafts workshops for adults.

Try a new craft, explore your creative side, and meet new people in these sessions.

Baldock

Royston

Email: communitywellbeing@north-herts.gov.uk or Call: 01462 474111

SUMMER 2025

SUMMER 2025

OUTLOOK

17

What’s on in North Herts North Herts Museum

Summer of Fun 19 July – 30 Aug Jam-packed schedule of fun workshops & activities for children from circus workshops to face painting: www.loveletchworth.com

Brand Street, Hitchin

The World of Martin Brown: Horrible Histories © & other dazzling drawings!

Until 21 September Original cartoons, artwork & exclusive behind-the-scenes insights from acclaimed illustrator Martin Brown. Plus interactive drawing stations, immersive environments and informative displays.

Summer holidays at Standalone Farm: •

Mind-blowing experiments with Science Boffins

•

Adorable ducks get skilfully rounded up by an expert sheepdog at the Dog & Duck Show

•

Up-close educational voyage into space in the Space Dome

Hitchin

The Roman Empire from Caeser to collapse 16 July & 20 Aug, 7.30pm, £7.50 Talks delving into the lives of the emperors throughout the ages.

Country Frame Baskets – two-day workshop 26 & 27 July, 11.15am-2.15pm, £80 Join our contemporary basketmaker & willow artist as you make an ancient style of basket. Suitable for beginners.

Start a career that makes a real change

Willian before the Garden City 12 August, 12pm, £7 Talk on the village’s history & landscape features.

Hitchin Town Hall Kids Film Club Every Tuesday in the summer holidays, £4 Keep an eye out for film announcements on social media.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a career change, why not embrace the opportunities that we have whilst enjoying flexible working and an improved work-life balance?

Make a difference to North Herts, visit:

www.north-herts.gov.uk/jobs This campaign is funded by UK Government

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OUTLOOK

SUMMER 2025

Kids Summer Disco 3 August, 12-2pm, £6.50 per child Music and games for under 12s, under 1s go free.

SUMMER 2025

Hitchin Comic Con 12 July The first super fun, family-friendly event in the Market Place: www.visithitchin.com Priory Park Summer Series 18 – 20 July – James Bay, joined by Freya Ridings, Skinny Living, Peonie and Amellia Brown.

28 – 31 Aug – Nile Rodgers & Chic plus special guests.

Hitchin Beach 28 July – 1 Sept Located in the Market Place with deck chairs, children’s rides & activities.

Letchworth The Letchworth Open at Broadway Gallery Until 26 July Showcasing an extraordinary range of artwork from artists across Letchworth, Hertfordshire & surrounding counties.

Little People Love Letchworth Saturday 12 July, 10am-4pm The first family festival celebrating community, creativity & discovery in the Garden Square Shopping Centre: www.loveletchworth.com

The Best in Comedy at Broadway Cinema & Theatre 26 July, 8pm Featuring Axel Blake, Lou Sanders, Andrew Maxwell & Adam Beardsmore.

Baldock BaldockBuster Outdoor Cinema Day 9 August, 12pm, The Buffs Football Club The Baldock Events Forum is hosting a FREE outdoor cinema event with films throughout the day with BBQ, popcorn & sweets.

Royston Royston Cave Saturdays, Sundays & Bank Holidays until 28 September A popular, man-made, underground chamber cut into the chalk bedrock beneath the town.

OUTLOOK

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FREE

7 JUNE – 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

A dazzling display of cartoons and art by best-selling children’s book illustrator Martin Brown North Herts Museum, Brand Street, Hitchin, SG5 1JE Open Tuesday to Saturday 10.30am – 4.30pm, Sunday 11am – 3pm

A FREE EXHIBITION FOR ALL THE FAMILY

Admission Free

Horrible Histories® books are published by Scholastic Ltd. Horrible Histories is a trademark of Scholastic Inc. and is used under authorisation. All rights reserved. Illustration © Martin Brown.

The World of Martin Brown: Horrible Histories and Other Dazzling Drawings is an exhibition from Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books, developed by the South West

20 Heritage OUTLOOK Trust in collaboration with Martin Brown and Events of Wonder.

SUMMER 2025