harpenden NOW Feb 25

harpenden

k Pic up me m I’ E! E FR

NOW

February 2025

promoting local businesses, events and much more since 2006

07983 588313

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

2

www.theNOWmagazines.com

Welcome to February

With so many places to visit and things to do this month, we’ve squeezed in as much as we can from the Feb Fest, Football Legends, Feathered Friends, Lambing, Live Cinema and Luton Hoo to Star Gazing, Shuttleworth, Science, Workshops, Wildlife and Walks. To make sure you don’t miss out the magazines are available to read on line every month.

If you run your own business we‘d love to include you it’s so easy, just book your space online today.

Jane & Wendy

@theNOWmagazines It’s free to get the magazines each month in your inbox visit www.theNOWmagazines.com to subscribe

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

3 months £43 per edition 1/4 page £52 per edition 1/3 page £64 per edition 1/2 page £110 per edition Full page

other options are available

Book your advertising online NOW Deadline 8th Feb for March editions wendy@theNOWmagazines.com 07983 588313 www.theNOWmagazines.com

07983 588313

Enjoy your free time and let us do the hard work for you General household and office cleaning Moving in / out cleans Experienced in elderly or housebound clients Reliable key-holders Proficient in alarm systems

Phone for a free quotation 07909 091325 ~ Taking Care of Your Home ~

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

3

NOW for the Kids Whipsnade Zoo

Walk of the Week 6th Feb Hidden Gems Seek out some of Whipsnade's hidden animal treasures which even the most ardent visitors may have overlooked.

13th Feb Birds at Whipsnade Fly, flutter or simply walk as you hear about some of the incredible birds that call Whipsnade home.

27th Feb Nature's Safe with ZSL Discover the vital work that ZSL and Natures SAFE are doing to save species, and preserve genetic diversity for the future.

Toddler Safari 25th Feb - 22nd July Tuesdays 11am Go on a mini adventure to explore the natural world. Please ensure children have suitable clothing for playing outside.

All activities are included in admission Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable LU6 2LF www.whipsnadezoo.org 7th Feb 11am The BFG needs your help to make some wundercrump new dreams. Learn how Roald Dahl drew inspiration from the people and places in his life, explore the museum collection for inspiration and invent your own dream-story to take home in a dream bottle!

Ages 5-11, £6.50 per child, accompanying adults and under 3s free Discover Bucks Museum, Aylesbury HP20 2QP www.discoverbucksmuseum.org 15th - 23rd Feb With live lambing, newborn lamb bottle feeding demonstrations, visit the Lambing Pavilion to meet the shepherd, plus a full day’s programme of fleecy fun for a baa-rilliant day out.

Willows Activity Farm, St Albans AL4 0PF www.willowsactivityfarm.com

4

Watch the new-born lambs take their first steps in the Lambing Barn and keep an eye on the expectant ewes as you might even see a lamb being born. Have fun in the indoor playworld with drop slides, climbing frames and spinning platforms or adventure outside on the rollercoaster-esque Shaggy's Raceway.

Meet the other animals and get involved in the animal activities. From £16.75 Mead Open Farm, Leighton Buzzard LU7 9JH www.meadopenfarm.co.uk

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre

Steaming Days 16th - 19th Feb With a full-size steam train to take you up and down the track, miniature ride-on trains (extra £1.50), the Railway Museum, Visitor Centre, Railway Cafe and 25-acres of Railwayland to explore. £12.50, £11.50, £8.50 Paddington 23rd Feb Meet everyone’s favourite bear, tickets include entry to the Railway, unlimited steam train rides, Railway Museum entry and more. £14.50, £13.50, £10.50 www.bucksrailcentre.org

Burston Buds Spuds

BFG Dream Bottles

February Frolics

Lambing Week 15th - 23rd Feb

17th, 19th & 21st Feb 11.30am & 1.30pm Introducing children to the beauty of home-grown vegetables. Plant up seed potatoes, take them home and enjoy the rewards of your harvest.

Teaching children about sustainability, responsibility, nutrition and the cycle of plant growth. £6, please book Burston Garden Centre, St Albans AL2 2DS www.burston.co.uk

Ministry Of Science Live!

22nd Feb 12.30pm & 3.30pm With 20ft liquid nitrogen clouds, exploding oxygen and hydrogen balloons, fire tornados, hydrogen bottle rockets, ignited methane and even a self-built Hovercraft! 100% educational, 300% explosive and 400% fun. £15.50 - £66 Watford Palace Theatre WD17 1JZ www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

www.theNOWmagazines.com

07983 588313

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

5

Sandscape 21st Feb 11.30am & 2pm £7 ages 2-7 This silent theatrical piece embraces the Beauty and Essence of Nature exploring the texture, weight and breath of sand on various materials, offering an ever-changing view of the sight of sand, swirling and creating shapes, prints, lines, games and landscape.

The Hat Factory LU1 2EY

Wardown House, Museum & Gallery

Feb Fest

Stockwood Discovery Centre

The Bluebird 17th Feb 11.30am & 2pm £7 ages 5+ Join Mirtel, a Seer, and her tree spirit Micky, on their quest to find the elusive bluebird and help unlock its mystery.

Qu-Razy Quests 20th Feb 11.30am & 2pm £7 ages 5-11 The Myth Hunter needs your help to find the most treacherous stories known to humankind.

Bring your best adventure outfit and join in with daring escapes, swordfights, weird creatures, interactive games and the chance to become an honorary member of The Myth Hunter Academy.

Stockwood Discovery Centre LU1 4LX

Hat Factory Arts Centre

Extra Super Mega Rockin’ Rock Show 17th Feb 11.30am & 2pm £7 ages 3-10 All the best bits from Kid Carpet & The Noisy Animals, with the catchiest songs, games, puppetry and video projection!

The Sticky Dance 18th Feb 10am & 2pm £7 ages 3 - 5 Three dancers' shimmy through the audience weaving a tapestry of sticky tape inviting you to tape, stick and groove, to see and feel sound or to be still, watch and listen. Audiences are encouraged to explore freely, and turn the rules upside down.

The Little Prince 19th Feb 11.30am & 2pm £7 age 7+ Take a whimsical journey with the Little Prince as he wanders the universe in search of the true meaning of friendship and learns how to notice the most important things in life.

The Rainbow Butterfly 20th Feb 10.30am, 12.15pm & 3pm £7 age 3+ An immersive experience, blending traditional storytelling with aerial circus, graceful contortion and dynamic contemporary and Hip Hop dance.

6

Roshni 18th Feb 11am & 2.30pm £7 all ages Take an emotional journey, through wordless storytelling, percussive dance, and humorous upbeat audience interaction. This feel-good show is a treat for the senses and beautifully demonstrates the connection between music and dance.

The Mountain Witch 19th Feb 11.30am & 2pm £7 ages 3-8 An adventurous tale of seasons gone awry, an ancient witch and the determination of children to put things right. With inspiring dance, songs and original music played live on clarinet, flute and cello.

Wardown House, Museum & Gallery LU2 7HA www.culturetrust.com

Performing arts have loads of benefits for children and young people's academic performance:  Improving memory through learning lines and routines - key for information recall in exams!  Mental flexibility e.g. knowing how and when to shift focus to work with others on a performance.  Self-control to deliver a rehearsed performance as planned, avoiding acting on impulse and working collaboratively with others.  Growth mindset through the process of practice and rehearsing to build their skills over time. This creates a ‘having a go’ and ‘trying again’ approach and seeing reward in hard work.

Our registers are now open and all new students can participate in a two week trial. Classes take place at SJL School, Harpenden and Cunningham Hill Jnr School, St Albans.

Harpenden 07793 206846 St Albans 07725 162612 www.stagecoach.co.uk

www.theNOWmagazines.com

07983 588313

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

7

Out & About Moving More in the New Year

Was your New Year’s resolution about getting fitter and moving more? If so, why not try a Health Walk. Walking helps you look and feel good, maintain a healthy weight, strengthen bones and muscles, and get a better night’s sleep.

Hertfordshire Health Walks are sociable, a great way to explore your neighbourhood and free There are six regular, weekly walks in St Albans and the surrounding area, including a gentle ‘First Steps’ walk around Highfield Park. There are also several weekend walking opportunities for those seeking a longer, brisker walk.

Friendly volunteers will ensure a suitable pace for the group. Everyone is welcome, though the ‘First Steps’ walk is especially suited for people who have mobility issues. Simply turn up on the day and if it’s your first walk please arrive 10 minutes early to complete a New Walker Form, or you can register online.

If you are a regular walker, we’d love to hear from you, to register your interest in becoming a Health Walk volunteer please call 01992 555888 or email healthwalks.cms@hertfordshire.gov.uk Find a walk near you by visiting www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/healthwalks

Charity Hub Luton & Dunstable Hospital

Have you ever thought about volunteering?

The Charity Hub based in the Maternity Unit at L&D Hospital are looking for volunteers at the following times: Mondays 3.30pm - 6.30pm Alternate Wednesdays 3pm - 6.30pm Sundays 10am - 1.30pm & 1.30pm - 5pm They are also looking for volunteers to take the snack trolley round the hospital between Monday and Friday 9.30am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 4.30pm.

It’s a very friendly team, so if you’re interested and over 18 please contact CharityHub@bedsft.nhs.uk or 07800 711 370 for more information.

UH Arts

collaborations can be achieved with both human and non-human partners. Free Art + Design Gallery, Hatfield AL10 9AB Scenes from Lost Mothers 6th Feb 6pm A thought-provoking production highlighting the experiences of pregnant women and mothers in prison. £8, concs £5 The Forum Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB Love is in the Air 9th Feb 4pm de Havilland Philharmonic Orchestra perform Glazunov: Winter and Spring (from The Seasons) and Concerto for Alto Saxophone, Prokofiev: Fifth Symphony. £18, concs £15, child £8 Weston Auditorium, Hatfield AL10 9EU www.herts.ac.uk

National Garden Scheme

Walkern Hall Stevenage SG2 7JA 1st & 2nd Feb 12 noon - 4pm £6 This eight-acre winter woodland garden, has a carpet of snowdrops and aconites which is a constant source of wonder at this time of year.

As a medieval hunting park it’s known more for its trees such as the tulip trees and a London Plane which dominates the garden. Following on in the spring there’ll be a stunning display of daffodils and other bulbs. Home-made soup, tea, coffee and cakes will be available in aid of St Mary's Church and 10% to the National Garden Scheme.

8 Gosselin Road Bengeo, Hertford SG14 3LG 5th & 7th Feb 1pm - 4pm £5 With over 250 varieties of snowdrop, deep borders packed with perennials and grasses later in the year and a small front garden with lots of foliage interest. www.ngs.org.uk

Herts Wildlife Trust

Winter Tree Identification Workshop 1st Feb 10am - 3pm Spend the morning in the classroom, learning how to identify trees using bud and twig characteristics, then walk around the Park Nature Reserve putting your learning into practice.

Bring a packed lunch.

Cassiobury Park Watford WD18 7LG Drop In Session At The Wildlife Garden 20th Feb 11am - 2pm Explore the wildlife garden, make an apple bird feeder and meet Willoughby, the giant willowweaved hedgehog. Free, but weather dependent, aimed at children but all welcome.

Grebe House, St Michael’s St, St Albans AL3 4SN Walk: Herons, Egrets & Early Signs of Spring 22nd Feb 10am - 12.15pm Learn about the Herons and Egrets that call this Nature Reserve home, and look for the early signs of spring. Wear sturdy boots or wellies, event is weather dependent and may be cancelled at short notice. Donations appreciated Stocker's Lake, Rickmansworth Aquadrome WD3 1NB www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk

Exhibition: Mind + Matter: Towards Co-Creation 31st Jan - 25th April weekdays 10am - 4pm Following six artists’ journeys as they explore 8 ways in which meaningful cross-disciplinary www.theNOWmagazines.com

07983 588313

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

9

More Out & About Herrings Green Farm

Furry Friends 1st Feb 10.30am & 1.30pm Under the care of the animal keepers, children can meet and handle rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, Penelope the skunk, and lots more. £4.50, child £9.99 Feathered Friends 9th Feb 10.30am & 1.30pm The falconer will introduce children to a variety of smaller owls, such as the Little Owl and Barn Owl, they can then handle some of the different species, before having the opportunity to fly them. £4.50, child £9.99 Bird of Prey Encounter 23rd Feb 10am & 1st March 1pm Spend time handling various Owls, Hawks, Eagles and Falcons, as well as free-flying some of the birds in the arena. Then watch one of the flying displays and see the birds in action. £29 Herrings Green Farm MK45 3DT www.birdsofpreycentre.co.uk

St Albans City Walks

Historic St Albans 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd Feb 11.15am Ghosts and Ghouls 6th & 20th Feb 7.30pm City Centre Highlights 9th Feb 10.30am Wars of the Roses 16th Feb 2.30pm £6, please book online www.stalbanstourguides.co.uk

Sustainable St Albans

Quaker Meeting House, Southdown Road, Harpenden AL5 1PD Our Planet Our Future - Book Club 27th Feb 7.30pm Blue Machine: How the Ocean Shapes Our World - Helen Czerski The Cross Keys, Harpenden AL5 2SD www.sustainablestalbans.org

The Mum Club Brunch Club

7th Feb 10am - 12pm For all mums, bumps and babies. Please book Beech House, St Albans AL1 3EG www.themumclub.com

Dunstable Downs

Valentines Day: Blind Date With a Book 8th - 14th Feb 10m - 4pm Let Cupid's clues guide you to find a new love with pre-loved books, guaranteed date success at this second-hand bookshop! Selected and wrapped by staff, the books will make the perfect 'me time' curl-up companion. £2 donation February Fun for Everyone 15th - 23rd Feb 10am - 3pm Get outdoors and closer to nature, pick up an activity sheet and set off on a mini adventure.

With no set route, explore the beauty of the Downs your own way, no matter your ability. £2 donation www.nationaltrust.org.uk

St Albans South Signal Box

9th Feb 2pm - 5pm 19th Feb Half-term Opening 2pm - 5pm Visit the largest preserved Midland Railway signal box in the UK open to the public and next to a main line railway. See signalling demonstrations, operate working signals, a point and more. Free 5 Ridgmont Road, St Albans AL1 3AJ www.sigbox.co.uk

The Bishop of St Alban’s Garden

15th, 16th, 22nd & 23rd Feb 2pm - 4pm Enjoy the snowdrop display (weather permitting). £5, child free, dogs on leads welcome. Please wear suitable footwear, proceeds to the Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust.

Abbey Gate House, Abbey Mill Lane AL3 4HD

Thermal Imaging Cameras Harpenden: 5th & 25th Feb 8pm Zoom Winter Wednesdays Tea & Talks St Albans: 13th & 24th Feb 8pm Zoom Refreshments 10.30am, talk 11am Watch a short online zoom session to understand Book for your group, club or society, £10 per how to use the camera, then book to borrow one. person (min 10 people) 2 weeks’ notice required Choose from the following talks: Open Days - Victorian Terrace Eco House  A History of Luton Hoo Walled Garden 8th Feb & 8th March 9.30am - 11am & 11.30am - 12.30pm  Conservation at Luton Hoo Walled Garden A tour of a Victorian terrace in Bernard’s Heath  The Women’s Land Army 1914-1919 with owner Judith Leary-Joyce, author of the  Successes and Setbacks in the Walled Garden Beginner’s Guide to Eco Renovation. in the 20th century Repair Fair 15th Feb 5pm  Luton Hoo Opens to the Public 1947-1950 St Albans District Fixers will help repair Luton Hoo Walled Garden LU1 4LF household fabrics and electrical items. www.lutonhooestate.co.uk 10 Please book www.theNOWmagazines.com

07983 588313

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

11

Keeping Older Items Going 50plus specialises in home repairs, why replace when you can renovate or repair which is also more sustainable.

Plumbing: the days of the tap washer are in many cases long gone. Most taps now have cartridges, so if a tap starts dripping it can often be replaced. If you are unable to identify the cartridge it’s often cheaper if not greener, to change the whole tap. The same applies to mixer showers, but for electric showers we recommend replacement, as the chances are something else will fail.

Electrical: Plugs, sockets and light switches rarely fail and are usually only replaced for aesthetic reasons, and they have also significantly reduced in price. Lighting has undergone a revolution with the advent of LEDS and if you’re not using them it’s worth considering, as they are far more energy efficient. Many LED lights do not have replaceable bulbs so the whole fitting will need replacing if it fails, but the good news is malfunctions are rare. Ideally you should make sure you’re not using halogen floodlights as they use high amounts of electricity and fail more frequently.

Appliances: People often think appliances are not built to last and frankly it’s true. The cost of repair versus replacement is often marginal, particularly for older items. We don’t like it as it’s not green to keep disposing of goods which aren’t even 10 years old but economically it’s often the sensible thing to do. However, there are now a number of charities that refurbish and resell white goods.

Garden Woodwork: It pays to look after external woodwork, if your shed felt is failing, replace it before the roof begins to rot, make sure you regularly protect decking and keep up the paintwork on wooden windows. Aside from maintenance we also fit sheds, decking and ornamental items.

Please get in touch if you would like a quote for any household or garden maintenance.

01582 226 029 www.the50plus.co.uk Serving customers for over 20 years

12

www.theNOWmagazines.com

07785 563364

Senior Citizens 10% off all prices Dry Cut Wash & Cut Blow Dry Cut & Blow Dry Blow Dry After Treatment Restyle & Finish Shampoo & Set Cut & Set Perm from

07983 588313

£12 £14 £13 £22.50 £10 £25 £12 £20 £40

Colour Tint Colour Regrowth Hi-Lights F/H from Hi-Lights H/H from Semi Colour Second Colour Cap Hi-Light Under 12s Dry Cut Under 5s Dry Cut

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

£32 £26 £40 £30 £24 £7 £30 £10 £7

13

14

www.theNOWmagazines.com

Local, Reliable, Dependable Providing help to those that need it in and around the home, from simple tasks to assisting with outings, companionship and offering respite to carers who may simply need a break.

Contact us today

Celine: 07581 256506 Sarah: 07947 381130 info@caringconnections.co www.caringconnections.co

Tailor made assistance with independent living W lun e als ch o trip es & enjoy s to the get atre h er

 A great way to meet new people  No need to read music  No auditions  Not for profit

07983 588313

Harpenden Salvation Army Hall AL5 2TG Wednesdays 10.45am - 12.15pm Wheathampstead Mead Hall AL4 8BP (free parking) Mondays 1.30pm - 3pm

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

15

NOW at the Cathedral

Be a Chorister for a Day (Girls) 1st Feb 2pm An opportunity for girls in year 3 to experience the life of a chorister at the Cathedral.

The day will include musical games, the chance to learn new songs, a tour of the Cathedral and meeting current choristers. The afternoon ends with the chance to sing at Evensong with the Cathedral Choir.

More to Explore Tour: The Nave Screen, Up Close & Personal 2nd Feb 1.30pm Rory Young's engaging Martyrs' Statues have been installed on the nave screen since 2015.

This tour gives a rare opportunity to study them in depth looking at the crystal cross, angels ancient and modern and some striking graffiti.

Free, but please book Tour: Divine Designs 6th Feb 2pm & 8th Feb 10.30am Join this tour during UK National Astronomy Week (1st - 9th Feb) and encounter the work of a medieval abbot whose fascination for mathematics and astronomy led him to invent one of the most technologically advanced clocks of his time. £12 Talk: A Journey Back to the Beginnings of the Universe 6th Feb 7.30pm £12 Hertfordshire Chorus - JS Bach St John Passion 8th Feb 7.30pm Ben Johnson Evangelist / Andrew Ashwin Jesus Zoë Brookshaw soprano / Diana Moore alto Gwilym Bowen tenor / Ashley Riches bass Hertfordshire Chorus and The Hanover Band. £35, £26, £10, £5

16

Music by Moonlight 9th Feb 4pm The Cathedral Choir present an atmospheric concert of moon-themed music under the stunning Museum of the Moon, a captivating installation of a huge spherical illuminated model of the moon in the Nave of the Abbey. £12 Music Trust Lunchtime Concert 10th Feb 1pm The St Albans Cathedral Music Trust presents this concert to highlight the great work being done by local students and to inspire others.

Talk: The Wars of the Roses 15th Feb 10.30am Learn about how the power struggle for the throne between the two royal houses of York and Lancaster left its mark on the fabric and people of the monastery in the 1400s and 1500s. £12 Interstellar 10 15th Feb 7.30pm Roger Sayer, the organist on the original film soundtrack will perform a suite of Hans Zimmer’s music from the film, plus intergalactic favourites from 2001: A Space Odyssey and Holst’s The Planets. There will also be an audience Q&A. £25, £21, £18, £15 Invisible Wonders: Nanotechnology & the God of Creation 26th Feb 7.30pm Look down the microscope and discover a world of tiny wonders with Professor Russell Cowburn, FRS, Canon Scientist. £10, £6 Oaklands Shrines Exhibition 28th Feb - 10th March Oaklands College Art students present an exhibition of works in print, ceramics, graphics, photography, textiles, painting and drawing put together after researching shrines across a range of religions and cultures. Free St Albans Cathedral AL1 1BY www.stalbanscathedral.org

www.theNOWmagazines.com

No

wO pen

!

07983 588313

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

17

18

www.theNOWmagazines.com

07983 588313

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

19

NOW

for some Entertainment Abbey Theatre

Ladies’ Day 24th Jan - 1st Feb 8pm & 26th Jan 2.30pm Hilarious comedy following the fortunes of ladies as they take advantage of Royal Ascot’s shift to York Racecourse for one year only. £14, £12 An Evening with David Pleat 11th Feb 8pm David has lived a life at the heart of football, from his debut as an England Schoolboy International in 1960 to his time as a scout for Spurs up to 2024. He is joined by Brian Horton, Pleat’s captain, and Clive Allen who scored 49 goals for Spurs during the 1986/87. £30 Girls Like That 13th -15th Feb 8pm This powerful play explores the impact of social media on teenage identity and relationships. It follows a group of high school girls who navigate the complexities of popularity politics, self-image and societal expectations surrounded by online pressures. £12, £10 All My Sons 28th Feb - 1st March & 4th - 8th March 8pm & 2nd March 2.30pm It’s August 1947, Joe and his family are forced to confront their painful past. Tensions rise as secrets are revealed in this poignant reflection on materialism, moral responsibility, the consequences of dishonesty and the burden of guilt. £14 £12 Holywell Hill, St Albans AL1 2DL www.abbeytheatre.org.uk

5, 6, 7, 8 - The Steps Experience 2nd Feb 7.30pm High energy tribute to Steps, with hits including: Tragedy, One For Sorrow, Say You'll Be Mine, Deeper Shade Of Blue and many more. £28.50 Evening with Teddy Sheringham 3rd Feb 8pm Hosted by GB News Sport and Tottenham Hotspur Matchday Pitch Presenter, Paul Coyte. £40 - £80 Diana & Lionel - Endless Love The Show 7th Feb 7.30pm Celebrating artists Diana Ross & Lionel Richie. £28.50 Josh Widdicombe: Work in Progress 26th Feb 7.30pm £19.50 Join Josh as he warms up ahead of his brand-new tour Sean Conway - Endurance 28th Feb 7.30pm Sean set out to achieve something no-one else ever had; 105 Iron Man competitions in 105 days, the first to swim the length of Britain, the fastest unsupported cycle across Europe and a 4200 mile continuous triathlon. £20.50 Aldenham Ave WD7 8HL www.radlettcentre.co.uk

Live Cinema

Les Misérables: The Staged Concert Live!

2nd Feb 2pm & 11th Feb 7pm To mark its 40th anniversary, enjoy this spectacular staged concert on the big screen with an all-star cast including Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Matt Lucas and John Owen Jones. £15, £14 The Pioneer Club Macbeth: David Tennant & Cush Jumbo Bushrod + Yung Yusuf 1st Feb 7pm 5th Feb 7.30pm & 9th Feb 2pm London-based Bushrod cultivates a brand of infectious, David Tennant and Cush Jumbo lead a stellar cast in humble music, bridging the gap between alternative this enthralling new production, filmed live at the hip-hop and rap. Tackling subjects including love and Donmar Warehouse in London. £17.50, £16.50 loss, mental health and the mundane.

National Theatre Live: The Importance of Being Also performing is local rapper Yung Yusuf, who’s Earnest 20th Feb 6pm & 23rd Feb 2pm playful wordplay and unique energy keeps listeners A joyful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s celebrated story on their toes. £10, age 14+ of identity, impersonation and romance. £17.50 £16.50 Book Club Battle Quiz Night - Noir At The Bar Royal Ballet & Opera: Swan Lake 6th Feb 7pm 27th Feb 7.15pm & 2nd March 2pm £20.50, £19.50 Join hosts and local authors Luke Deckard and Heather Critchlow to see who has the best book brain. Prince Siegfried chances upon a flock of swans while out hunting when one of them turns into a beautiful £30, tables of up to 6, age 18+ Heathlands Drive, Harpenden Rd, St.Albans AL3 5AY woman, Odette, doomed to remain a swan forever, she has but one way to break the sorcerer's spell. www.pioneerclub.co.uk Campus West, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6BX www.campuswest.co.uk The Radlett Centre Richard Herring: Can I Have My Ball Back Old Town Hall Arts Centre 1st Feb 7.30pm In 2021 Richard Herring had testicular cancer and had Juicebox Live 6th Feb 8pm the murderous gonad removed. Hear him talk bollocks An electrifying night of musical local talent. £10, 18+ and answer the question on everyone's lips: Is a Rob Newman: Where The Wild Things Were severed gonad a fitting prize to bring in for 7th Feb 8pm £20, age 14+ Taskmaster? £16.50 This new comedy show is all about future cities, lost 20 www.theNOWmagazines.com

beavers, philistine Bingo callers, Dorothy Parker’s Multiverse Diaries and A Man Called Clive!

Alice Armstrong 8th Feb 8pm Alice’s music busts the seams of traditional genres, creating a heady amalgamation of blues, soul, funk, rock, pop and country. £18 Eshaan Akbar: Can’t Get No Satisfakshaan 9th Feb 8pm “An artfully pointed, refreshingly funny hour that suggests a big talent in the making” £18.50 That Knave, Raleigh 13th - 15th Feb Taking us on a journey through the astonishing highs and lows of the famous explorer, Sir Walter Raleigh.

The BRICK People 19th Feb 10am, 11.15am, 12.45pm, 2pm & 3.15pm A wide range of LEGO® related activities and workshops. £7.50 Fluff 21st Feb 8pm A darkly comedic play exploring memories and the choices we make in life. £16 Connor Burns: 1994 26th Feb 8pm Prolific joke writer, Connor’s Scottish-level cynicism and self-deprecation punctuates his disarmingly relaxed persona and an intelligent, razor-sharp wit.

Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE www.oldtownhall.co.uk

The Rolling Stones hits, and no better deliverers of masterly musicianship and charisma on the tribute circuit. £16 The DekkerTones 15th Feb 9pm This 9-piece ska / reggae / rocksteady / 2tone covers band, plays authentic ska and reggae from the late 60's Trojan and Bluebeat scene right through to the 2tone era. £16 U2 Tribe 22nd Feb 9pm Taking you on a journey of the history of U2's music, playing classics like 'I Will Follow', the passion of songs like 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', to the stadium staples such as 'Where the Streets Have No Name' and 'With Or Without You', the '90's reinvention with 'Mysterious Ways' and 'One', and later songs such as 'Beautiful Day' and 'Vertigo'. £15 Cutting Crew 26th Feb 8pm They’ll win your hearts with their razor-sharp musicianship, wit and emotional performance including their USA No 1, (I Just) Died in Your Arms. Recently voted Best Live Act by fans on the 80’s in the Sand and 80’s Rock Cruise festivals in Mexico plus shows in Australia, Japan, USA, Mexico and Europe, £27 Victoria Street, St Albans AL1 3TE www.thehorn.co.uk

Barn Theatre

Orpheus In The Underworld

A Monster Calls 7th - 15th Feb 8pm & 15th Feb 2.30pm Connor, a bullied schoolboy, has nightmares which culminate in a visit from a monster outside his bedroom window. Breath-taking fantasy, physical theatre and raw emotion. £15 An Evening of One-Act Plays 19th - 22nd Feb 8pm Growing Pains - A coming-of-age comical drama, exploring the challenges of leaving behind a childhood you’re reluctant to let go of.

Tuna Fish Eulogy - Albert was no ordinary child, he liked to sit and count his tins of tuna. One day, he was found dead and two tins were missing. Twelve years later, his grown-up ghost returns to interview his mother and the babysitter to reconcile what happened.

Did they do it, or was it suicide? £13 Welwyn Garden City AL8 6ST www.barntheatre.co.uk

The Horn

The Rolling Clones 8th Feb 9pm There are no better guardians of the back catalogue of

07983 588313

13th - 15th Feb 7.30pm & 15th Feb 2.30pm A comic reimagining of the Orpheus myth, with a libretto by political satirist Rory Bremner. Expect an evening of satirical humour that critiques society while exploring themes of love, infidelity, and social pressure. £10 - £24.50 Watford Palace Theatre, Clarendon Road WD17 1JZ www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Ceilidh

1st March 7pm Join in the fun at this Barn Dance with the Brookfield Band. £12, concs £8, child £3 07899 536580 Southdown Performing Arts Centre, Harpenden AL5 1QQ www.ticketsource.co.uk/southdownspace

Intergenerational Choir

Tuesdays 12.45pm - 1.30pm term time Inclusive choir for all, just turn up. 01582 768278 The Salvation Army Hall, Leyton Green, Harpenden www.harpenden.gov.uk

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

21

www.arlandscapes.co.uk

22

www.theNOWmagazines.com

Multi Award Winning Company

All aspects of Horticulture, Garden Maintenance and Landscape Construction

01727 757463 / 07747 692153 greenleafgardenco@gmail.com greenleafgardenco Greenleafgardenco

www.lanwarnelandscapes.co.uk

Crown Reducing  Stump Grinding Hedge Trimming  Dead Wooding Felling & Dismantlement Seasoned Firewood  Pollarding Tree Reports Fully Qualified & Insured Staff Local Authority Approved Contractor

A local family business offering regular, occasional and one off gardening and maintenance services Lawn Mowing I Hedge Cutting Weeding I Garden Clearance Fencing I Power Washing/Sealing Turfing I General Maintenance + Much more…

Contact us now for a free quote!

01582 529429 I 07854 449371 info@detailgardening.co.uk DetailGardening

www.detailgardening.co.uk

07983 588313

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

23

John Barrowman - Laid Bare 8th Feb 7.30pm Unwavering and uncensored about his passion for life and his profound love of song and story. £30 - £40 Ward Thomas 14th Feb 7.30pm Twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas, hailed as the UK’s most successful country act are on an intimate, acoustic UK tour. £28.50 £37.50 The Alban Arena Teach Rex 15th Feb 10am & 12.30pm Johns’ Boys Choir 1st Feb 7.30pm One of the most decorated British male choirs in Using life-like dinosaurs to teach children about the anatomy and life of one the most history, who have won numerous choral competitions and in 2019 became the first British mesmerising creatures that ever roamed our planet. £11.25, age 3+ Male Voice Choir to win the Pavarotti ‘Choir of the World’ prize. £29.50 Arts Society Harpenden Area 20th Feb 10.30am St Albans Scout & Guide Gang Show Making an Old Master: Apprenticeship and 12th - 15th Feb 7.30 & 15th Feb 2.30pm A fun packed variety show full of uplifting songs, Studio Life for the Would-Be Artist. energetic dance routines and brilliant comedy Fairport Convention 21st Feb 7.30pm sketches. From £10 Featuring founding member Simon Nicol on guitar and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass guitar, Ric Jim Davidson - The Next Chapter Sanders on violin, Chris Leslie on fiddle, 16th Feb 7.30pm Jim invites you to join him for another evening of mandolin and vocals. £35 rip-roaring, grown-up comedy. £30 My Heart Will Go On 22nd Feb 7.30pm Celebration of the music of Celine Dion. £30.50 Northern Soul Live 22nd Feb 7.30pm Hear this 10 piece band playing authentic style of Oasiz 28th Feb 7.30pm Northern Soul Music, your feet won’t stop Paying homage to Oasis’ record breaking 2nd dancing. £30 album and including all the big anthems that you would expect from a greatest hits tour. £24 The MozART Group 27th Feb 7.30pm Eric Morecambe Centre, Harpenden AL5 2FR This hilariously funny group is a superb string www.everyonetheatres.com quartet, whose patron is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Two violinists, a violist and a cellist, Bugsy Malone hysterical, even if you don’t know your Mozart 10th - 22nd Feb 7.30pm & 22nd Feb 2.30pm from your Bach! £32.50 It’s the wild streets of 1920s New York, where 80’s Live 28th Feb 7.30pm gangsters run the show, join Bugsy as he dives Including hits Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, headfirst into a thrilling turf war. £17.50 Tainted Love, Love Shack, Living on a Prayer, The Sandpit Theatre, St Albans AL4 9NX Don’t You Want Me?, It’s Raining Men and the www.sandpittheatre.co.uk list goes on! £34 Ladies Down Under 13th - 22nd Feb The Alban Arena, St Albans AL1 3LD www.everyonetheatres.com Following the success of Ladies’ Day in 2022, Breakaway Theatre Company returns with its The EMC sequel, as we join inimitable fish packers Jan, Phil Walker Happy Bunny 1st Feb 7.30pm Linda, Pearl and Shelley for an adventure in Come join this award-winning comedian in his Australia. Full of humour and fun but with real-life brand new show for a night of laughter angst and pathos. Enjoy their wit, warmth and guaranteed. £17.50 bewilderment as their carefully planned trip takes Live at The EMC 6th Feb 8pm some unexpected turns. £15 A selection of the best circuit comedians and The Maltings Theatre, St Albans AL1 3HL rising stars. £20 www.ovo.org.uk

NOW for

some more Entertainment

24

www.theNOWmagazines.com

RTI AUTO SERVICES LTD

Specialist in Vehicle Servicing and Maintenance

MOT ONLY £35

Find us on Facebook

When Booked with a Full Service

@rtiautoservicesltd

− Servicing (all vehicles) − MOT’s − Tyres − Batteries

− Air Conditioning − Bodywork Repair − Remapping − Wheel Alignment

− Wheel Refurbishment − Timing Belts − Exhausts − Diagnostics

Free Vehicle Collection

Nutwood (Left Hand Gate), Down Green Lane, Wheathampstead AL4 8EB

Contact Robert Innes 07596 454 550

Friendly, Reliable, Independent Business

07983 588313

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

25

Out of Town

Go 'behind the ropes' and learn about the history of the aircraft and aircrew who fought in the skies over France and Britain. From Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfires to a Bristol Blenheim and the last airworthy Curtiss Hawk-75, a guide will take you up close to the exhibits and aircraft.

IWM Duxford, Cambridgeshire CB22 4QR www.iwm.org.uk

Waddesdon Winter Weekends until 9th Feb Saturdays & Sundays 10am - 4pm Enjoy a walk and admire the beauty of the gardens in winter. Entry to the grounds is free Putting the House to Bed Tour 1st - 23rd Feb Saturdays & Sundays 11am & 1pm Discover how the house and collection are ‘put to bed’ and cared for by the conservation stewards while its closed during the winter months. £27.50 Winter Walking Tours 2nd Feb - 23rd March Wednesdays & Sundays 11.30am Highlights include the Elephant Family, Daffodil Valley and winter and spring blooms. Meet by Visitor Information Centre, included in grounds admission Valentine's Stargazing Dinner 14th Feb 6.30pm A night of indulgence, discovery and romance, enjoy a four course dinner with wine pairings, followed by a stargazing experience with expert guidance from UK Astronomy. £150 Spring at Waddesdon 15th Feb - 23rd March Wednesdays - Sundays 10am - 4pm Take a walk through the grounds, see the birds at the Aviary and enjoy refreshments from the Coffee Bar or Stables Café.

Normal grounds admission applies Outdoor Adventure Workshops 15th & 19th Feb A 2-hour adventure where children can explore the woods, enjoy den building, fire lighting, animal tracking, bushcraft, nature education and games. £28, ages 6 - 9, please book Eythrope Parkland Spring Tours 19th - 21st Feb 10.15am Wednesdays 26th Feb - 30th April 10.15am Visit this private park and woodland garden accompanied by Eythrope’s guides. Tickets include transport to and from Eythrope, lunch, grounds admission to Waddesdon Manor. £50 Waddesdon, Bucks HP18 0JH www.waddesdon.org.uk

IWM Duxford

Scramble! The Summer of 1940 until 23rd Feb 11am & 1.30pm Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays 26

Afternoon Tea at Cafe Van Hage

until 26th April Enjoy a selection of sandwiches, freshly baked scones cream and jam, pastries and cakes. £20.95 Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell SG12 9R www.bluediamond.gg

Dark Skies 1st Feb 5pm - 8pm

Celebrate the night skies with an evening of stargazing, educational talks and activities including a mobile planetarium. Artificial lights will be switched off to allow stars to be seen without glare or local upward light. Experts and enthusiasts, including The University of Hertfordshire: Bayfordbury Observatory and the Hertford Astronomy Group, will come together to raise awareness of the effects of lighting at night on humans and the surrounding ecology. £2 The Castle, Hertford SG14 1HR www.hertford.gov.uk

Learning Lunchtimes

All free, no need to book Taking Good Photographs 3rd Feb 11am Photography enthusiast David Knapp, will share practical tips on how to take better photos using cameras and smartphones, that will instantly elevate your photography.

From Big Stripes to Small Spikes: How your local safari park is contributing to native and global conservation efforts 10th Feb 11am With conservation being a key role of a modern safari park, Woburn Safari Park partnered with the Forest of Marston Vale. Katie Chapman will present the park’s native and global conservation efforts, while touching on the stories of some of the species living there.

Gardens an Hour (or so) from Bedford 17th Feb 11am Discover a selection of hidden garden gems and hear about unique and lesser-known gardens like Rousham Park and Copped Hall, each with its own charm and history.

Forest of Marston Vale, The Forest Centre, Marston Moretaine, Beds MK43 0PR www.marstonvale.org

www.theNOWmagazines.com

St Albans The Flooring Professionals You Can Trust KC Flooring Specialists Ltd are experts in all types of flooring

Visit our Local Showroom KC Flooring Specialists LTD 200 Watford Road, Chiswell Green, St Albans AL2 3EB

01727 869 692

www.kcflooring.co.uk

07983 588313

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

27

01727 224802 M & M Decorators

Fully qualified City and Guilds Over 25 years experience All interior and exterior work undertaken Specialist in all types of wallpaper All work finished to a high professional standard Free quotations at competitive prices Matthew Hayden 01582 270715 01727 867660 07970 720911 mandmdecs@gmail.com mandm_decorators 28

Effective low cost advertising that really works!

12 months 1/4 page £33 per edition 1/3 page £40 per edition 1/2 page £49 per edition Full page £84 per edition

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

Please get in touch

Call Jane or Wendy 07893 588291 07983 588313 jane@theNOWmagazines.com

www.theNOWmagazines.com

www.theNOWmagazines.com

Harpenden Blinds

We Supply & Fit Beautiful Wooden Plantation Window Shutters Specialising in Bay Windows

Free No Obligation

Consultation, Measuring & Quotation

Winter Sale 25% off Shutters

20% off all Blinds Awnings Poles & Curtains

Kevin Buckler

Harpenden Blinds harpendenblinds@outlook.com

01582 461639

20 Bewdley Close Harpenden

DJ&M Plumbing Services Ltd We care about your small jobs too! ● Electric and Power Showers Fitted ● Ball Valves and Overflows ● Blocked WC’s, Sinks, Baths and

Basins

● Repair/Renew Stopcocks and Taps ● Plumb in Washing Machines

and Dishwashers

● Repair Leaking Pipes ● Outside Taps

Dean Herrington 01727 764217 07830 159010 info@djmplumbing.co.uk www.djmplumbing.co.uk see our main advert on the inside back cover

07983 588313

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

29

30

www.theNOWmagazines.com

07983 588313

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

31

More Out of Town

Natural History Museum Tring

Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year until 27th April 10am -5pm Free Incredible compositions and stunning photographs that capture the beauty and fragility of the natural world taken by talented young photographers from across the globe.

Bird Feeders with the RSPB 18th Feb 10am Make an apple bird feeder while hearing all about the work of the RSPB and how you can become involved in helping nature. Free, drop in Explore Reptiles 18th, 19th & 20th Feb 10.30am & 2pm Get hands on with some scaly specimens and discover what makes reptiles so turtle-y amazing! Free, drop in Behind the Scenes Tour 27th Feb 2,30pm Themed around the Voyages of Discovery, this tour gives you the unique opportunity to get up close to some historical specimens, including those linked to Charles Darwin, Alfred Russel Wallace and Ernest Shackleton. Adult £10 Tring HP23 6AP www.nhm.ac.uk

RAF Museum STEM Week

The Bubbly Maths Show 15th - 18th Feb 11am & 2pm Guinness World Record holding artist Caroline Ainslie will take you on a journey full of bubbles, giant balloons and laughter as she encourages children to love learning and enjoy maths and science, with lots of audience interaction and massive visual props. £6.50, ages 4-10 Airfix Make-and-Take Workshops 17th - 19th Feb 11am, 1pm & 2.30pm Build a model of the Sopwith Pup, kits can be made on-site or taken away and completed at home. £5, age 7+ Paper Airplane Designing Contest 19th - 21st Feb 11am, 12pm, 2pm & 3pm £3 Have you got what it takes to make a streamlined jet that will go the distance? Find out by designing and refining your paper plane to try and win the Museum’s Paper Airplane Designing Contest, the current record is 19 metres. Age 4+ Laser Tag 20th - 23rd Feb 11am, 12noon, 1pm & 2pm £6.50, age 8+ Young cadets can shoot fellow participants to claim their place at the top of the leader board.

There’ll be lots of games planned so don’t miss out on being the top space cowboy!

Grahame Park Way, London NW9 5LL www.rafmuseum.org.uk

Shuttleworth

Scale Model Exhibition 16th Feb 10am Explore the Engineering hangar where you’ll find plenty of keen modellers showcasing their work in the hope of taking home one of the many awards up for grabs. £12.50 Wrest Park Engineering Open Workshops Filming Tour & Bridgerton Afternoon Tea 22nd & 23rd Feb 10am 5th - 29th Feb 1.30pm Weds & Sats Take a look behind the scenes at what it takes to Featured in series such as The Crown, Antiques restore, rebuild, maintain and operate one of the Roadshow and Bridgerton, take a tour round world’s most extensive collections of working Wrest Park which has been the back-drop for vintage agricultural exhibits. Sit in a genuine some of TVs most dramatic moments. There’ll be 1942 Mark Vc Spitfire, AR501, which among a chance to strike a pose in costumes from the other duties in WW2 escorted the infamous Georgian era. After the tour, afternoon tea will be USAAF B-17 ‘Memphis Belle’, for which tickets served in the dining room. £46.50, please book are sold separately. £20 Half Term History Makers Open House & Tours 22nd & 23rd Feb 11am 15th - 23rd Feb 10am - 4pm £14, child £8.50 Immerse yourself in the history of the Join characters from the past for heritageShuttleworth family and visit the Grade II House. inspired hijinks and hands-on shenanigans.

Entry as part of Engineering Open Weekend, buy Silsoe, Beds MK45 4HR an event ticket to visit the House. £10. www.english-heritage.org.uk Shuttleworth, Biggleswade SG18 9DT www.shuttleworth.org Ashridge House Champagne House Tour 9th Feb 2pm Half Term Family Activities Led by resident history expert, uncover secrets 17th - 21st Feb nestled behind ancient bookcases, and dive into Learn about Enigma, one of the cipher 700 years of captivating history. £30 machines, create a strong cipher and have a go Afternoon Tea 23rd Feb at breaking one yourself. Make a rotor, set up a Enjoy a selection of homemade cakes and plugboard, have a go at cribbing and more. Age savouries, accompanied by teas and coffees.

5-15, must be accompanied by an adult.

Ashridge House, Berkhamsted HP4 1NS Included in admission www.ashridgehouse.org.uk Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB www.bletchleypark.org.uk 32 www.theNOWmagazines.com

07983 588313

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

33

NOW at the Museums

St Albans Museum + Gallery

Exhibition: Catching the Chain until 25th April Inspired by the Museum's cells and courtroom this explores the history of criminal justice and the ways in which local communities have dealt Harpenden Museum Harpenden: From Village to Town: 1860-1914 with crime from the Iron Age to today.

Exhibition: Outsiders - a Journey Through January - March Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays 11am-3pm Homelessness 17th Jan - 16th March free A documentary photography project which An exhibition telling the story of how Harpenden in the period up to WW1 was transformed from a captures a snapshot of homelessness in modern Britain. Including personal testimony from the rural village to a town. Triggered by the coming participants alongside environmental of the railways, when the population tripled and monochrome portraits taken using a mix of digital the core of the Town we know today was and vintage film cameras. created. The story is explained and illustrated through displays, and commentary on original Messy Monday Mornings photos, maps, documents and individual 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th Feb 10.15am - 11.45am memories from Society archives.

Enjoy messy play and creative activities with Downstairs at the EMC, your child. Drop in, under 5’s, £6.50 Rothamsted Park AL5 2FR Generations: Drop in! www.harpenden-history.org.uk 8th - 22nd Feb 10.30am -12.30pm The Museum is looking for those with a Verulamium Museum connection to South Asian countries to get Exhibition: Mapping an Uneven Path: involved in their next community co-curated Stories of Health & Disability at Verulamium exhibition - Generations: Stories from South until 23rd Feb Asian St Albans. Do you have objects you could Exploring the ways in which Romans practiced share? How do you tell your stories, and what and understood medicine and healing, as well does 'South Asian St Albans' mean to you. as their cultural attitudes towards disability.

Museum Minis 14th Feb 10am & 11am Talk: Roman Coins 11th Feb 7pm A story, a craft activity and a museum treasure Join curator David Thorold, as he shares his hunt. Age 2 - 4, £6.50 extensive knowledge of Roman coins from Make a Thingambob!

Verulamium and across the Roman world.

18th Feb 10.15am, 11.30am, 1.30pm & 2.45pm £10, please book Fun and creative craft workshops inspired by the Archaeology for Families imaginative work of Maria Meyer, currently on 18th - 21st Feb 10.30am display in the gallery. Let your imagination run Learn how archaeologists record what they find wild and invent your own quirky Thingamabobs! in the ground by analysing genuine finds.

Age 5+ £6.50 Age 7 - 12, free with admission Make a Model Lion & Unicorn Clay Workshop for Families - Make a Roman 19th Feb 10.15am, 11.30am, 1.45pm & 3pm Cup 20th Feb 10.30am & 11.30am Craft and decorate a Roman style cup or beaker. Look for the lion and the unicorn behind the magistrate’s chair in the courtroom, then make Age 7+ £6.50 your own pair of animals from colourful polymer Talk: Living in Comfort? 28th Feb 7pm clay. Models will need to be baked in the oven at Focusing on the multisensory experience of living home. Age 5+ £7.50 in Roman residences at the heart and edge of St Albans AL1 3DH the Roman Empire. £10 www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk St Albans AL3 4SW 34 www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk www.theNOWmagazines.com

07500 801192

07983 588313

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

35

The Community Kitchen

Caring & Sharing Compassionate Cafés

Rennie Grove Peace Compassionate Cafés provides a space for people who have been affected by any type of loss and would like to go along for a friendly chat and a chance to meet others over a cuppa. The Harpenden Café is open on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month 2pm - 3.30pm.

Well Bean Café, Harpenden Trust Halls, 130 Southdown Road, Harpenden AL5 1PU www.renniegrovepeace.org

Watford Half Marathon 2nd Feb

As a beneficiary Rennie Grove Hospice Care has 20 free spaces available for this event, so why not register your interest today. Starting in the picturesque Cassiobury Park, the route follows fully closed roads, serene country lanes, and will pass through Bucks Hill, Commonwood Common and Chandlers Cross before looping back to Cassiobury Park. There is no registration fee, but as a fundraising event successful participants are asked to raise a minimum of £300.

Cassiobury Park, Watford www.renniegrovepeace.org

Bringing the community together with food, friendship and kindness at monthly meals, where everyone is welcome, there’s a lovely friendly atmosphere, the food is great and you pay what you can afford/want. To donate food, sponsor the CK or volunteer, just get in touch.

Soup & Sarnies 11th Feb & 11th March 1pm - 2.45pm drop in Evening Community Kitchen 25th Feb & 25th March arrive 5pm / eat 6pm Please book on 07727 207818 or email kitchen@chapelhub.co.uk Chapel Halls, Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead AL4 8AG www.chapelhub.co.uk

Shaws Corner Volunteer Open Day

14th Feb 12 noon - 3pm drop in Interested in volunteering, if so reserve your place by calling 01438 820307. On the day talk to staff and volunteers about the role and see how they look after this special place.

Shaw's Corner, Ayot St Lawrence AL4 9BX www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Village Probus Club

This local club meets on the second Thursday of the month at Aldwickbury Golf Club and membership is open to retired or semi retired professional businessmen. To enjoy friendship and fun together with varied activities contact them at vpcofh@gmail.com

Herts Musical Memories

These singing sessions are a fun and stimulating activity, providing health benefits for those living with dementia and their carers.

Wheathampstead 10.30am - 12 noon 10th, 17th & 24th Feb Marford Memorial Hall AL4 8AY St Albans 2.15pm - 3.45pm 14th, 21st & 28th Feb Homewood URC Church Hall AL1 4BH 0208 950 5757 www.hertsmusicalmemories.org.uk

Take a Tour of Keech 11th Feb

Keech Hospice Care provides free, specialist care for adults and children with life-limiting illnesses, and vital support for their loved ones. Book onto this open day tour and discover what Keech is really like and find out more about the excellent specialist care they provide.

Keech Hospice Care, Luton LU3 3NT www.keech.org.uk 36 www.theNOWmagazines.com

07983 588313

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

37

Index of Businesses Accountants Hicks

Blinds & Shutters Harpenden Blinds

37 29

Car Body Repairs

Prestige Paint Shop Ltd

Car Servicing / Repairs RTI Auto Services Ltd

Care Homes

Field House Care Home - Bupa The Orchard

Children’s Art Classes ArtShed!

Chimney Sweep

Home Sweep Home

Cleaning

Merrivac Molly Maid

35

Electrician

St Albans Sparks

Fitness

Fit20 Harpenden KC Flooring Specialists Ltd

Funeral Directors 25

Austin’s

25 9 11

27

Photographer

5 12 3 13

7 7 29

AR Landscapes Ltd 22 Detail Gardening & Maintenance 23 Greenleaf Garden Company 23 Sunshine Gardens 22 Image Mobile Hairdressing

Healthcare

Spire Harpenden Hospital

Hearing Services

Hearing Healthcare Practice

Home Care

Caring Connections Nannies 4 Grannies You & I Care

Locksmiths

Lock Around the Clock Locksmith Services

Loft Ladders

Home Counties Loft Ladders

CB Decorators M & M Decorators

Pest Control

Back Cover

Hairdressing

Painters & Decorators

17

Gardening / Landscaping

Dance & Drama Penny Waterman School of Dance Stagecoach

Kinsbourne Wealth Management 37

Flooring

Building

Open Plan Solutions

Finance

13 18 & 19 14 15 38 2

The Verminator

30

Steve Collins Photography DJ&M Plumbing Services Ltd

29 & 39

Property Maintenance The 50 Plus

Roofing

Singing Club

Clover Singing Club

Slimming

Lighter Life

15 Front Cover

Solicitors

Rayden Solicitors

Tiler

PragmaTile Fircroft Tree Surgery Ltd

Waste Management Windows

Cloud 9 Glazing

38

12 39

GJ Smith Roofing

Dubetta 33

13

Plumber

Tree Surgeons 30 31

28 28

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

3 29 23 30 31

Discounts

DJ&M

PLUMBING SERVICES LTD ●

●

●

●

Bathrooms, Shower Rooms, Cloakrooms and Kitchens from Design to Completion

Electric and Power Showers ● Repair/Renew Stopcocks, Taps and Outside Taps ● Blocked WC’s, Sinks, Baths and Basins ● Leaking Pipes and Overflows ● Washing Machines and Dishwashers Installed ●

Local Family Run Business, Over 40 Years Experience Honest and Reliable Service Free Consultation/ Quotation for all Enquiries

given on all Bathrooms & Kitchens supplied

Tiling Plastering Electrical

Dean Herrington

07830 159010

info@djmplumbing.co.uk

07983 588313

01727 764217

www.djmplumbing.co.uk

wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

39

40

www.theNOWmagazines.com