harpenden NOW March 24 by wendy robertson

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NOW

March 2024

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Welcome to March As always at this time of year there’s lots to do, so we’ve crammed in as much as we can from Lambing, Mother’s Day Afternoon Teas, Music and a Celebration of Speedway to Theatre, Whipsnade Walks, Cathedral Tours, Easter Activities galore and so much more! To make sure you don’t miss out the magazines are always available to read online, and 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

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You can NOW book advertising online Deadline 8th March for April editions wendy@theNOWmagazines.com 07983 588313 www.theNOWmagazines.com

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NOW at the Cathedral Russell Watson 2nd March 7.30pm This world-renowned tenor accompanied by Mike Moran will perform classic songs old and new, together with a selection of hits from his illustrious career. £46.75 - £74.25 Tour: Rebirth & Reform 4th March 2pm Exploring the dawn of the Renaissance to the Post-Reformation. £10, child £3 Abbey by Night 6th March 8.30pm Be transported back in time to the medieval abbey as you encounter fantastic stories of the past under candlelight. £18 Tour: Let the Women Speak! 8th March 10.30pm Celebrate International Women's Day and the Feast of St Zita with stories of women across the ages, heard and unheard, seen and unseen, who have left their mark on the fabric and history of the cathedral. £10, child £3 Master Masons: The Men Behind the Great Medieval Cathedrals 9th March 1.30pm Hear about how ordinary people created dizzyingly high buildings on which even the top-most parts were delicately decorated. Online tickets only now available £10, student £6 Tower Tours 9th March 10am, 11.30am & 1pm 10th March 2pm, 2.30pm & 3.30pm Climb the 211 steps up to the top of the oldest Cathedral tower in Britain and experience fantastic views of St Albans. £15, child £12 St Albans Chamber Choir: On Wings of Hope 9th March 7.30pm A concert of hope and optimism with uplifting pieces of music from European composers spanning the 19th and 20th centuries. £10 - £25, child £6 Mothering Sunday 10th March 9.30am Parish Eucharist with distribution of posies. Tour: Divine Designs 12th March 2pm Explore the incredible ways in which science, technology, engineering and maths have been used for centuries to build and beautify the Cathedral. Discover the science of stained glass, how a 5,000 tonne tower has stood for nearly 1,000 years, and why the Wallingford Clock was the most advanced astronomical clock at the time it was made. £10, 4 child £3

Joint Schools Choral Society and Orchestra Concert 13th March 7.30pm £14 - £20 Choral Discoveries: Handel Dixit Dominus and Arvo Pärt Salve Regina 16th March 8pm Performed by The Lea Singers. £10 & £20 More to Explore: Images of the Virgin Mary 17th March 1.30pm Hear why Mary is so important and find out about the different ways she is portrayed in the cathedral. Free A Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Commonwealth Family of Nations 17th March 2pm St Albans School Choir will be performing along with Tring Park School and others. Unlocking the Archives 18th March 7pm See some of the gems and unusual items usually kept under lock and key in the collection. £15 Organ Concert: Thomas Dilley 20th March 12.30pm free Afterlife of Trees Tour 21st March 10.30am Explore the fascinating woodwork in the Cathedral. £10, child £3 JS Bach - St Matthew Passion 23rd March 7pm St Albans Bach Choir centenary concert. £15 - £36 Palm Sunday Procession 24th March 9.30am Meet by the Clock Tower on the High Street to set off for the procession to the Cathedral. Bring a branch or some greenery to wave as you walk and recall Jesus's journey to Jerusalem. Holy Week - Address & Compline 25th - 27th March 8pm A service of night prayer with an address from the Holy Week preacher, the Rt Revd Christine Hardman. Maundy Thursday 28th March 11am: A sung Eucharist, and the blessing of the holy oils for use throughout the following year. 8pm: This service includes the priest washing the feet of some of the congregation to recall what Jesus did at the Last Supper, followed by a watch until midnight to recall the long agony of Jesus. Sung by the Cathedral Girls Choir and Lay Clerks of the Cathedral Choir. Good Friday 29th March 10am: Children's Service with crafts, music, and storytelling, taking the journey with Jesus to the Cross 12 noon: Three Hours Devotion - Preaching of the Passion 1.30pm: The Liturgy of Good Friday, sung by the Cathedral Choir 8pm: Unity at the Cross, an ecumenical service led by Churches Together in St Albans Easter Eve 30th March 5pm: Evensong sung by the Cathedral Choir. 8pm: Easter Vigil beginning quietly in darkness, ending in joyful light and noise and including baptisms and confirmations from across the diocese. Easter Day Services 31st March 9.30am: Easter Eucharist 11.15am: Easter Choral St Albans Cathedral AL1 1BY www.stalbanscathedral.org

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NOW for the Kids

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre

Peppa Pig 3rd March Meet the cheeky little pig at intervals throughout the day. Day Out With Thomas 29th - 31st March Enjoy a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine and Percy then meet Sir Topham Hatt, Rusty & Dusty, the Station Sweepers and Trevor the Traction Engine. Normal admission changes apply Aylesbury, Bucks HP22 4BY www.bucksrailcentre.org

Egg Hunt Trail

29th March - 14th April (excl Mondays) Look for 12 eggs hidden around the galleries, learn about different types of animal eggs, discover what egglaying animals are on display and test your knowledge by answering questions along the way. £1 per trail, ages 5+ Tring Natural History Museum HP23 6AP www.nhm.ac.uk

Hertford's Superhero Trail

29th March - 14th April Follow the trail map and discover the knitted characters hiding in shops and shop windows across Hertford Town Centre. Locate the clues for a chance to win a £30 gift voucher to spend at a local retailer. Download the trail map or collect one from the Hertford Town & Tourist Information Centre. www.hertford.gov.uk

The Hertfordshire Family Easter Festival

30th & 31st March 12 noon - 6pm Enjoy this fun-filled festival, with the The Big Easter Egg Hunt, Family Neon Rave, Inflatable Park, Xtreme VR, Crazy Golf, Live Stage, Wrestling Stage, Circus School, Toddler and Baby Tent, Art & Crafts Tent, Carnival Fair Ground and more. Family's only, no adults without children. £18 - £25.50, under 2’s free Hertfordshire County Showground, Dunstable Road, St Albans AL3 7PT www.hertsshow.com/showground-events

Easter Wonderland

See website for dates Let the story of Alice in Wonderland come to life, as you follow Alice down the rabbit hole and enter an immersive Wonderland, you won’t believe your eyes! Along your journey, look out for familiar faces, including the mischievous Mad Hatter and friends, but beware of The Queen of Hearts! Mead Open Farm, Billington, Beds LU7 9JH www.meadopenfarm.co.uk 8

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Out & About St Albans Museum + Gallery

Exhibition: Becoming Us until 30th June Exploring the role of the African Caribbean community in St Albans and celebrating its multifaceted contributions to the city over the past 80 years. Free Talk: Rana Begum 14th March 7pm Hear Rana talk about her work as an artist, her connection to St Albans and her latest exhibition, Ordered Form. Either via Zoom, or in-person where you can also explore the museum at night. St Albans Museum + Gallery AL1 3DH www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

RSPB Rye Meads

Sensory Trail until 31st March daily 9am - 5pm Use an OS Map to follow the route, locate the sensory highlights, and look out for Trust Trail Icons around the reserve. Dogs are not permitted. Free Guided Walk: Wednesday Wander 6th March 11.45am - 2pm Join a volunteer guide for an informal walk and witness the diversity of wildlife that calls the reserve home at this time of year. £5.75 Rye Meads, Hoddesdon SG12 8JS www.rspb.org.uk

Harpenden Writers 1st March 10am

Poetry workshop led by members. New members and guests welcome. Friends' Meeting House, Southdown Road AL5 1PD www.harpendenwriters.com

Sustainable St Albans

Playing Out Information Session Find out how the Playing Out scheme works and how you can close your own residential street for play and community building. Free but please book 1st March 10am & 11am Bennet's Club, Leyton Road Harpenden AL5 2HU 6th March 7pm & 8pm online www.eventbrite.co.uk Our Planet Our Future: Discover Your Home 12th March 7.30pm Find out how to reduce your energy use. Please book The Plough & Harrow, Harpenden AL5 1PR Repair Fair 16th March 2pm - 5pm Take your faulty electrical items, worn and torn fabrics and the team of skilled amateur fixers will do their best to put them right. Please book Chapel Halls, Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead www.sustainablestalbans.org 12

3rd & 10th March 2pm - 4pm Please wear suitable footwear, dogs on leads welcome. No wheelchair access. £5, child free Abbey Mill Lane, St Albans AL3 4HD

St Albans City Walks

Historic St Albans 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st March 11.15am Ghosts & Ghouls 7th & 21st March 7.30pm Tudor St Albans Revealed 29th March 2.30pm A Roman City Revealed 30th March 11am Crime & Punishment 31st March 2.30pm £6, please book online www.stalbanstourguides.co.uk

Luton Hoo Estate

Guided Walks: 20th Century Walled Garden Walking Tour ‘In their own words’ 6th, 13th & 20th March 10.30am Take a fascinating one hour tour of this unique garden and hear first hand accounts from those who lived and worked there. £10, please book 01582 879863 Friday Talk 29th March 11am Who worked for Bute in the 18th Century. Luton Hoo Walled Garden LU1 4LF www.lutonhooestate.co.uk

Whipsnade Zoo

Guided Walk of the Week Thursdays 10.30am free with Zoo entry Starting at the Visitor Centre 7th March: International Women's Day, learn about the incredible science that women are part of at ZSL. 14th March: Amazing Antelope, find out how they helped reveal an extraordinary truth about our world. 21st March: World Animal Days, there are several days - Pigs, Bears, Frogs and Butterflies. Learn more about them and the challenges they face in the wild. 28th March: Fearsome face off, hear about the adaptions animals must make to survive in the wild, comparing their abilities to see who is the toughest. Toddler Safari 26th Feb - 25th March Mondays 11am (term time) Splash in a puddle, go bug hunting, or find rainbows in the Butterfly House and more. For walking toddlers up to 5 years, free with zoo entry, numbers are limited. Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable LU6 2LF www.whipsnadezoo.org

Verulamium Museum

Exhibition: Women doing everything, everywhere, all at once… 8th March - 6th June ‘Meet’ the women archaeologists of the 1930s who brought Verulamium to life, with dig notebooks and diaries, telegrams and frozen in time photography. Then step back 2000 years and meet four Iron Age and Romanised women who left their imprint in the archaeological record, hear their voices echo from the past and listen to spine tingling musical instruments, war horns and marching armies. Free with admission St Michael's Street, St Albans AL3 4SW www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

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Please get in touch

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

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Caring & Sharing Wing Walk until 31st Oct

Raise funds for Keech Hospice Care to support their patients and loved ones, while enjoying the ultimate thrill-seeking experience. Take a wing walk strapped to a 1940s Boeing Stearman biplane, flown by some of the best display pilots in the UK. Registration £100, minimum fundraising £599 Wingwalk North London, Shuttleworth, Biggleswade SG18 9EP www.keech.org.uk

Skydive 16th March

Jump from 10,000ft with the North London Skydiving Centre, in aid of the Hospice of St Francis. Register now at www.stfrancis.org.uk

Great British Dog Walk

24th March - Munden Estate, Herts 28th April - Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury There will be waggy tails and wet noses in abundance when hundreds of dog walkers gather to raise money for national charity, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. Take part in the 3km or 6km sponsored dog walk and help train more incredible hearing dogs to alert partners to life-saving and important sounds and help them reconnect with life. £12 in advance, £15 on the day, child free www.hearingdogs.org.uk

Rennie Grove Peace

London Bridges Walk 26th March Take in either 5 or 10 London Bridges and some of the best sights the capital has to offer, while raising funds to support hospice care. Jurassic Coast Walk 18th & 19th May If you’re keen to explore a new area, why not sign up for this new challenge. www.renniegrovepeace.org

Help Children in Hospital this Easter 29th March Please donate Easter eggs and gifts for the Children’s Ward at the L&D Hospital www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/charity

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NOW for some Entertainment The Alban Arena

Sleeping Beauty 29th Feb & 1st March 7.30pm 2nd March 2pm & 6.30pm £21, child £19 Classic fairy tale presented by Rare Productions. An Audience with Liverpool Legends 4th March 7.30pm £38, VIP £98 With Peter Beardsley and Ray Houghton in an evening of entertainment and banter. Sarah Millican: Late Bloomer 7th March 8pm £34.50 Go along and laugh at her, with her and beside her. Ben Fogle - Wild 8th March 7.30pm £32 Hear Ben’s encounters with people and animals, and how they changed his life. The Magic of Motown 9th March 7.30pm £34 With songs from artists such as Lionel Richie, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and more. Graziano Di Prima. Believe – My Life Onstage 11th March 7.30pm £31, £37 An electrifying evening of Latin and Ballroom dancing. Country Roads 12th March 7.30pm £32 Enjoy the biggest country songs of all time. The Talking Pictures TV and Renown Pictures Festival of Film 16th & 17th March 11am An unmissable weekend filled with nostalgia, hosted by Mike Read and Caroline Munro. Sensational 60s 21st March 7.30pm £33 Starring Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich, The Trems, The Swinging Blue Jeans and Vanity Fare, in a show that will transport you back to the magic of the 60s. Livewire The AC/DC Show 22nd March 7.30pm £24.50 Livewire deliver a critically acclaimed rock ’n’ roll set and a journey that takes fans from ‘Back in Black’ through to the 2020 release ‘PWR UP’. Jonathan Pie: Heroes & Villains 23rd March 7.30pm £29.50 Marvel in wonder as he kicks in The Establishment’s back doors and rifles through its kitchen cupboards. Reginald D Hunter – The Man Who Could See Through Sh*t 24th March 8pm £26 Join Reginald D Hunter as he explores this phenomena. Fireman Sam The Great Camping Adventure 30th March 12pm & 3.30pm £19.50, child £18.50, family £72 Norman wants to go on an adventure, so he follows two famous animal explorers into the mountains and becomes stranded in a cave. 20

Now it’s up to Fireman Sam to save the day! Thank ABBA for the Music – The 50th Anniversary 31st March 7.30pm £27.50 Featuring hits including Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, Take A Chance On Me, Voulez-Vous and of course, Waterloo and more! Civic Centre, St Albans AL1 3LD www.alban-arena.co.uk

Abbey Theatre

Steel Magnolias 1st, 2nd, 5th - 9th March 8pm & 3rd March 2.30pm Truvy’s salon is at the heart of Chinquapin, Louisiana. As the characters of the small town come and go through its doors, the beauty and complexity of their daily lives in the Deep South unfold. Celebrating the power of friends, families and resilience in the face of adversity. £14, concs £12 La Traviata 17th March 2.30pm £18, student £10 19th, 20th, 22nd & 23rd March 7.30pm £22.50 Performed by St Albans Chamber Opera. Alfredo professes his love to Violetta, convincing her to live a life of bliss in the countryside with him. Violetta questions if she should abandon the life of a Parisian courtesan for ‘true love’. Westminster Lodge, St Albans AL1 2D www.abbeytheatre.org.uk

The Eric Morecambe Centre

The Story of Swing 1st March 7.30m £30.50 Award winning vocalist and trumpet player, Gareth John and the stunning SOS Big Band, take you on a journey of swing and big band music from The Ratpack to Robbie and Basie to Bublé. A Tribute to The Carpenters 2nd March 7.30pm £29.50 Bringing to life all the hits including, Close to You, Top of the World, Rainy Days and Mondays, Please Mr Postman, Goodbye to Love and many more. Sweeney Todd The Musical 20th - 23rd March 7.30pm & 23rd March 2.30pm £22, child £19 Harpenden Musical Theatre Company will take you on a spine-tingling theatrical journey into the depths of the human psyche in this darkly captivating tale of love, revenge, and the price of obsession. Spot’s Birthday Party 25th March 2pm & 4pm £18, child £16, family £63 With party hats, songs, dancing and lots of interactive party games, this is going to be the best birthday party ever!

Nina Kristofferson Sings Billie Holiday 29th March 7.30pm £25.50 An intimate, immersive and magical show, with a mix of stories and songs including hits such as God Bless the Child, Lover Man, Strange Fruit, All of Me and many more. There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly 30th March 2.30pm £18, child £16 Bringing the world’s best loved nonsense rhyme to life in a blend of live action, puppetry and animation. The perfect treat for everyone aged 3 to 103 Rothamsted Park, Harpenden AL5 2FR www.the-emc.co.uk

Rimsky and his Pupils

2nd March 7.30pm With St Albans Symphony Orchestra playing RimskyKorsakov’s Snow Maiden Suite, Glazunov’s. Violin Concerto in A minor, Liadov’s Kikimora and Respighi’s Pines of Rome. £13, £18, students £5, child £2 St Saviour’s Church, St Albans AL1 4DF www.ticketsource.co.uk

The Old Town Hall

Daniel Foxx: Villain 2nd March 8pm With his trademark wit and grandmother's pearls, he's taking us back to the 2000s. £14 The Instrumentals 9th March 11.30am & 2pm Bursting to life with brilliant puppetry and bold music, this show is full of love and laughter, about the memories we hold and how we celebrate life. Please book, age 4+ Tom Houghton: It’s Not Ideal 15th March 8pm After an incredible break-out year, this multi-viral, social media sensation sets out on his biggest and most hilarious show yet. £16.50 Solve-along-a-murder-she-wrote: Broadway Malady 16th March 8pm An interactive screening of the classic Murder, She Wrote episode ‘Broadway Malady’. Jessica Fletcher heads to New York City but soon gets caught up in a murder mystery only she (or you) can solve. £21 Connor Burns: Vertigo 18th March 8pm Hilarious, relatable, a bit rude in places of course and all-the-while served up with superb material, brilliant delivery and proper belly laughs. £12.50 James Kirby 23rd March 8pm Blending elements of folk, pop, blues, indie rock and piano, his compositions range from fast and furious to heartfelt and melodic, while finding unorthodox techniques to make music from every

part of the acoustic guitar. £17 Screaming Blue Murder Comedy Club 25th March 8pm With Richard Morton, Stella Graham and compere, Bennett Arron. £10 The Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE www.oldtownhall.co.uk

Barn Theatre

Welwyn Youth Drama Festival 4th - 8th March 7.30pm & 9th March 6pm Beginning by David Eldridge 22nd - 30th March 8pm & 30th March 2.30pm Barn Close, WGC AL8 6ST www.barntheatre.co.uk

Live Event Cinema

Titanic - The Musical 10th March 2pm A stunning and stirring production focusing on the hopes, dreams and aspirations of the passengers. £14 - £15 National Theatre Live: The Motive and The Cue 21st March 7pm 1964: Richard Burton, newly married to Elizabeth Taylor, is to play the title role in a new Broadway production of Hamlet under John Gielgud’s direction. As rehearsals progress, two ages of theatre collide and the collaboration between actor and director soon threatens to unravel. £16.50 - £17.50 Royal Opera House: Madama Butterfly 26th March 7.15pm & 31st March 2pm With a score that includes Butterfly’s aria, 'Un bel dì, vedremo' (‘One fine day’) and the Humming Chorus, Giacomo Puccini’s opera is entrancing and ultimately heart-breaking. £19.50 - £22.60 Campus West, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6BX www.campuswest.co.uk

Bring Your Baby Pub Quiz

15th March 12 noon - 2.30pm At this fun, brain-stimulating daytime parent social, the quiz will take a slower pace than traditional ones, with breaks to feed, change and chat, and a soft play area. Please book Alban's Well, St Peter's Street, St Albans AL1 3LP www.bringyourbaby.org

Harpenden Choral Society

23rd March 7.30pm £18, child £8 Haydn: Nelson Mass / Durufle: Requiem High Street Methodist Church, Harpenden AL5 2RU www.ticketsource.co.uk/harpendenchoralsociety www.theNOWmagazines.com 07983 588313 wendy@theNOWmagazines.com 21

More Out & About

great community event with live music. St Saviours Church, St Albans AL1 4DF Face Book: Street Food Heroes

Art + Design Gallery Sat-ART-day 9th March 11am - 3pm free A fun day with inspiring activities for people of all ages. Come and get creative, make, see, and hear about the World Illustration Awards Touring Exhibition. Drop in Western Auditorium Beethoven Unwrapped 24th March 4pm de Havilland Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates all things Beethoven, opening with Coriolan Overture, Conductor Robin Browning will then explore Pastoral Symphony, number 6 in F, before the Orchestra gives a complete performance of the work. £15, child £6 University of Herts, Hatfield AL10 9AB www.uharts.co.uk

Moth Catching Demonstration

University of Herts

Rothamsted Manor

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea 10th March Enjoy afternoon tea in the magnificent Great Drawing Room of this Grade I listed Jacobean Manor House rarely open to the public. £45 Rothamsted Manor, Harpenden AL5 2BG www.rothamstedenterprises.com

What's Beneath Our Feet

16th March 10.30am - 12.30pm Join volunteer Jane for a walk around the Park to delve into its geological past and present, the walk will be around 3km over uneven ground. Suitable for adults and older children, dogs on leads welcome. Panshanger Park, B1000, Hertford SG14 2NA www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk

Harpenden Markets

Harpenden Sustainability Market 17th March Harpenden Farmers’ Market 24th March www.harpenden.gov.uk

Street Food Heroes 22nd March 4pm - 9pm

Bringing together awesome street food vendors for a

23rd March 6pm - 9.30pm Join in and search the trees for moths and compare results with light traps. All ages welcome, but no dogs. Free, but please book. Heartwood Forest www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/events

Lambing Weekend 23rd & 24th March 10am Get up close with the lambs, enjoy fairground rides, the welly wang, safari scavenger hunt and food and drink stalls. Please book, £7, family £25 Oaklands College, St Albans AL4 0JA www.oaklands.ac.uk

Potters Open Day 24th March from 9.30am A day of discussions and demonstrations, and an opportunity to meet the Potters and buy their work. In person £49.46, via Zoom £27.80 Trestle Arts Base, St Albans AL4 0JQ www.trestle.org.uk

Small Hours 26th March 7pm

Join author Bobby Palmer, as he’s interviewed about his latest book, Small Hours, a thought provoking novel about connection and belonging and how the world comes alive when you stop to take it in. £5 Harpenden Library, High Street AL5 2RU www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

Easter Funfair 28th March - 1st April

Harpenden Common www.harpenden.gov.uk

Spring Flight with Skye the Kite

29th March - 14th April 10.30am - 4pm Join Skye the Kite on an uplifting adventure as she takes flight. Take the trail to see what’s in the sky through games and challenges, then claim your chocolate egg. Trail sheets from the visitor centre £3 Dunstable Downs, Whipsnade Road LU6 2GY www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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Out of Town

Hatfield House

Live Music with Lawrence Hill 1st March 6.30pm An evening of feel-good music and wholesome food at the Coach House Kitchen, with Lawrence a local singer songwriter. No extra cost NGS Gardens Open For Charity 16th March 11am - 4pm The West Gardens will be open for you to enjoy the spring bulbs in the lime walk, sundial garden, view the famous Old Palace garden, childhood home of Elizabeth I, and the adjoining woodland garden with masses of daffodils and bluebells. £9, child £4.50 Dogs and Daffs Charity Walk 17th March 9.30am - 4pm In aid of Riding for the Disabled Association, Digswell Place Group. Stroll the grounds of the Park with your pooch and take part in the Fun Dog Show. £7.50 in advance, £9 on the day www.hatfield-house.co.uk

Waddesdon Volunteer Recruitment Day 6th March 11am - 3pm Please book Mother's Day Afternoon Tea 9th & 10th March With a selection of savoury treats and sweet fancies. Please book £45, child £23.75 Mother's Day Gin Tasting 9th & 10th March 12pm & 2.30pm £25 Head down to the atmospheric cellars, learn about the history of the spirit and the distilling process, as well as sampling a number of gins. Exhibition: Guercino at Waddesdon: King David and the Wise Women 20th March - 27th Oct Wed-Sun 11am - 4pm Over 350 years since they were painted, five paintings by renowned Bolognese painter Guercino are on display together for the first time. A Taste of Italy 22nd March 7pm Starting with Prosecco and canapés in the Wine Cellars, followed by a five course menu each paired with Italian wine. £125 Easter Trail Runs 27th March - 7th April 10am-5pm (closed 2nd April) As well as the Easter trail, make sure to stop off at the newly-refurbished playground. £3 per trail, plus normal grounds admission Waddesdon, Aylesbury, Bucks HP18 0JH www.waddesdon.org.uk 30

Shuttleworth Collection

Mother’s Day Market 10th March 10am - 4pm Explore the grand rooms and grounds of the House and Garden Suite and meander around a variety of local food, craft and gift stalls. Easter Bunny Fly In & Egg Hunt 30th & 31st March gates 10am Look up to the sky around 11.30am and see the Easter Bunny make an entrance from the airfield. Follow the bunny’s helpers into the Swiss Garden and join the hunt to find the Easter eggs they left behind. Collect three eggs to claim a chocolate surprise. £15, child £5 Shuttleworth, Biggleswade SG18 9DT www.shuttleworth.org

Knebworth House

Mother’s Day Sunday Lunch 10th March A delicious three-course lunch, complete with a glass of prosecco and a surprise sweet treat for Mum. £38, child £19 Knebworth Barns Easter Trail 29th March - 1st April While enjoying a visit to Knebworth House, Gardens and Park, why not take part in the Easter Trail. £2 plus normal admission cost Knebworth House, Stevenage SG1 2AX www.knebworthhouse.com

Bletchley Park

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea 10th March 12 noon & 2.30pm Treat your mum to a delicious afternoon tea in the iconic Victorian Mansion while enjoying the sounds of a bygone era with vocalist Alison Carter. £70, concs £65 National Radio Centre: Build Your Own FM Radio 17th March 9.45am & 1pm The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) is holding a fun and hands-on workshop where you can learn more about radio and electronics and build your own VHF FM Broadcast Receiver. Ages 11-18 years old, under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult Cracking Easter Family Fun 29th March - 12th April Crack codes and solve puzzles in the Easter Bunny Hunt, learn about the Mansion and the Leon family or join an egg-citing family tour (selected dates), free with admission Drop-in activity sessions & family tours (selected dates) Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB www.bletchleypark.org.uk

Celebration of Speedway

17th March 10am - 4pm Celebrating the 96th Anniversary of Speedway in the UK. With lots of activities including display bikes, pit lane start ups, meeting former riders, and a wide range of Speedway memorabilia for sale. The National Speedway Museum and the Speedway Memorial Garden will also be open. £15 Hertfordshire Zoo, Broxbourne EN10 7QA www.hertfordshirezoo.com

Future Nature Tree Surgery & Garden Care All Aspects of Tree Work including Stump Removal Fruit Tree Specialist Garden Clearance & Fencing “Always leaves a clean and tidy site” St Albans Based 35 Years Experience Contact Chris

01727 844243 07518 626938 chris.futurenature@gmail.com

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

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

www.detailgardening.co.uk

www.theNOWmagazines.com 07983 588313 wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

Offering New Services: Garden Clearance and Tidy Up Regular Garden Maintenance Tree and Shrub Pruning Hedge Cutting Planting Fencing and Patios including Repairs and Cleaning Water Features and Ponds All Aspects of Hard Landscaping

Please call 01727 757463 07747 692153

www.lanwarnelandscapes.co.uk

www.arlandscapes.co.uk 32

01582 766728

Open Early March

Spring Plants

Now Available

www.theNOWmagazines.com 07983 588313 wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

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 34

Harpenden Blinds

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

Free No Obligation

Consultation, Measuring & Quotation

Spring Sale 25% off Shutters

20% off all Blinds Awnings Poles & Curtains

Kevin Buckler

Harpenden Blinds harpendenblinds@outlook.com

01582 461639

20 Bewdley Close Harpenden

www.theNOWmagazines.com 07983 588313 wendy@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 36

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

www.theNOWmagazines.com 07983 588313 wendy@theNOWmagazines.com

Index of Businesses

Accountants

Hicks

Architects

Rock Architects

Harpenden Blinds Shuttercraft

Penny Waterman School of Dance Stagecoach

Electricians

Arts & Culture UH Arts & Culture

Blinds & Shutters

Dance & Drama

23 35 Back Cover

Building

AJR Building Services Eco Tiffin Kingsholme Open Plan Solutions

Business Support STANTA

Car Body Repairs

Prestige Paint Shop Ltd

Car Servicing / Repairs RTI Auto Services Ltd

Charity

DENS - Hillbuster

Children’s Art Classes ArtShed!

Chimney Sweep

Home Sweep Home

16 16 2 10

DTS Electrical Solutions St Albans Sparks

37 37 18

KC Flooring Specialists Ltd

Funeral Directors Austin’s

Bridge Valley Nursery

Hairdressing Healthcare

Hearing Services

Spire Harpenden Hospital

Home Care

Abbots Care Caring Connections

Locksmiths 38

Conservatory Roof Solutions Nu-Look

Lock Around the Clock Locksmith Services

Property Maintenance Roofing

Rubbish Removal

Singing Club

Clover Singing Club

Solicitors

28 28

Abbey Law Rayden Solicitors

Solar Energy Sol Power

24 & 25 26 27 19 35 35

Tree Surgeons

Fircroft Tree Surgery Ltd

Waste Management Lewis Weir Waste Management Ltd

Whisky Festival Summerton Whisky Festival

Front Cover

Windows

Cloud 9 Glazing

Ken Hodson

Local Computer Hardware and Software Repairs Upgrades and Advice for Home and Business ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

No fix, no fee for all repairs - you have nothing to lose! Low hourly rate Most repairs carried out in your home, if not the computer will be picked up and delivered back to you. Problems with Windows / Applications / Games / Internet / Networks fixed Friendly training and instruction available in plain English Advice given on upgrades - many older computers can be upgraded at a fraction of the cost of a new machine Upgrades of hardware and software

07974 156743 / 01582 794723 enquiries@kenhodsoncomputerservices.co.uk www.kenhodsoncomputerservices.co.uk 38

8 11

Monster Junk

34 34

17 & 39

GJ Smith Roofing 33

Plumber

The 50 Plus 5

AR Landscapes Ltd 32 Detail Gardening & Maintenance 31 Future Nature 31 Lanwarne Landscapes Ltd 32 Sunshine Gardens 33

Ken Hodson

CB Decorators M & M Decorators

Flooring

Image Mobile Hairdressing

9 8 9

Painters & Decorators

Pop Up Shop Village & Co

Kinsbourne Wealth Management 29

Gardening / Landscaping

Cleaning

Computer Repairs

17 17

Home Counties Loft Ladders

DJ&M Plumbing Services Ltd

Hearing Healthcare Practice

A&R Roof & Hard Surface Cleaning & Restoration Ltd Merrivac Molly Maid

6 6

Finance

Garden Nursery 22

Loft Ladders

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.

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

01727 764217

www.djmplumbing.co.uk

www.theNOWmagazines.com 07983 588313 wendy@theNOWmagazines.com