st albans NOW April 16

st albans

NOW April 2016

A Hidden Gem St Albans Shakespeare Festival April ‘appenings!

St Albans Lets Walk NOW at the Local Theatres

NOW at the Cathedral

What’s on and lots more read ‘the NOW magazines’ monthly promoting local businesses, organisations and events since 2006

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Welcome to April

A Hidden Gem It’s all about Shakespeare this month with lots of St Albans Organ Theatre events planned to commemorate the 400th anniversary of his death, from a Street St Albans Shakespeare Festival 400th anniversary events Extravaganza to concerts and of course plays, and even Stagecoach Theatre School will be NOW at the Alban Arena performing one of his much loved plays. music, comedy & more There are still lots of Easter activities to do with NOW at the Local Theatres the children over the school holidays, so they dance, drama & music can work off all those chocolate eggs!

Birds & Bees You’ll see from our front cover we’re looking bees & herons forward to seeing carpets of bluebells this NOW at the Cathedral month, please have a look at the ‘Save the music, tours & more Bluebell’ appeal from Heartwood Forest on page 24 and make sure you tread April ‘appenings! festivals, fetes & more carefully if you go and see them.

Don't forget, if you need something doing Do Something For Charity choose local first, and as always we’d love to why not get involved hear from you with news of events and what's NOW for Some Music happening locally. sonnets, songs & Shakespeare Enjoy the read NOW for a Walk or Two Jane & Wendy walks for everyone n io it www.theNOWmagazines.com d ext e n St Albans Lets Walk e h t jane@theNOWmagazines.com h in walking through history To be t get in touc s.com 07983 588291 e s in ju magaz What’s on in April eNOW April h www.th t 8 & May ne:

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Index of Businesses 46

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A Hidden Gem St Albans Organ Theatre features a fascinating collection of unique self-playing musical instruments and two theatre pipe organs.

Originally the Collection was owned by Charles Hart, who towards the end of his life, expressed a desire that it was to remain available to the public and so set up a charitable trust, which is run entirely by volunteers.

Charles’ tradition of Sunday opening still continues as he wanted everyone to enjoy these unique instruments. Currently the Theatre is open every second Sunday from March to November, 2pm - 4.30pm. There are also regular Theatre organ concerts and special events including Vintage Afternoon Teas.

You can vote for St Albans Organ Theatre throughout April at Waitrose, St Albans in their monthly community fund draw, when funds are allocated to charities / organisations according to the public votes.

Volunteer help is always needed with running the Organ Theatre, with a range of interesting opportunities available, so why not get in touch and see how you can become involved.

For more details please visit www.stalbansorgantheatre.org.uk or email info@stalbansorgantheatre.org.uk

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St Albans Shakespeare Festival This year marks the 400th anniversary of the death of the greatest and most famous playwright in history. Running until June, the Festival celebrates Shakespeare’s legacy through a variety of artistic media. Many events will take place at the Maltings Arts Theatre, home of OVO theatre company, the Festival organisers.

Hold Off The Earth 29th March - 2nd April 8pm Maltings Arts Theatre

By Stephen Tomas – after Shakespeare’s Hamlet the King of Denmark is dead. Home for the funeral, his son Hamlet finds preparations underway for his mother’s marriage to his uncle, Claudius. Drawing on the earliest editions of Hamlet, this is an original and radical reimagining of Shakespeare’s most famous play.

Songs of Shakespeare 8th & 9th April 8pm St Saviour’s Church, St Albans Join local Baritone Julian Godlee and his cellist brother Rickman for an evening inspired by the poetry and songs of the great bard.

The Tempest 16th April 8pm Maltings Arts Theatre A magical blend of traditional music and storytelling of The Tempest. The beautiful sounds of melodeon, harp, whistle and fiddle intertwine, while the two storytellers keep you spellbound.

Merry Regiment of Women

by Rae Shirley 22nd & 29th April 8pm Maltings Arts Theatre Performed by Breakaway Theatre Company.

Lady Macbeth is angry with Shakespeare; she’s fed up with women not having any decent roles and she’s going to do something about it. She can’t do it alone, so she calls a meeting of the female characters she can find – Desdemona, Cleopatra, Kate the ‘Shrew’, Juliet and her Nurse (“See, Shakespeare doesn’t even give her a real name!”). Together they will make him see the error of his ways. and they are not short of ideas and opinions, which they are only too happy to voice! Things get more chaotic when the meeting is gatecrashed by some of those pesky male characters.

Street Theatre Extravaganza 23rd April Various locations around St Albans On the 400th anniversary of his death, OVO takes to the streets to perform some of the Bard’s most famous scenes and speeches. From Henry V and Hamlet to the bawdy humour of Tweflth Night, the passion of Romeo and Juliet, and more. Come and enjoy the words, the language, the tragedy, and the comedy that is Shakespeare’s fantastic legacy to us all.

Shakespeare Unmasked 9th April 4pm Maltings Arts Theatre A mask workshop for ages 8+ with Trestle Arts.

A fun introduction to Shakespeare using Trestle’s Half Masks. From the fairies in A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the witches in Macbeth, become one of the Rarely Performed characters and take a playful approach to the 30th April 8pm language. No need to know the plays to take part!

Maltings Arts Theatre Shakespeare the Poet Think you know your Shakespeare? Can you tell you 15th April 8pm Philario from your Philemon? In which play does Maltings Arts Theatre Cupid appear? Test your knowledge with OVO’s Ver Poets have devised a series of readings and finest actors and raconteurs as they lead you in a commentaries on Shakespeare's major poetical journey of discovery. works including some that are little known. Raunchy, Maltings Arts Theatre, St Allbans mystical, cynical, lyrical, satirical, quizzical, the www.maltingsartstheatre.co.uk poems contain mysteries that 400 years of intense www.stalbansshakespeare.co.uk scholarship have failed to crack. Come and discover 8a different side to Shakespeare.

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NOW at The Alban Arena The Magic of Motown 1st April 7.30pm Join the party as this show celebrates its 10th birthday by honouring the 50th anniversary of chart -topping single Reach Out I’ll Be There as well as more than 36 other classics.

Mash It Up!: Reggie ‘N’ Bollie & More 2nd April 12 noon X-Factor runners up will be joined on stage by Rough Copy, Andy Abraham and Gabz all mashed together in a show, by DJ Michael Andre.

Chas & Dave 2nd April 7.30pm Celebrating their 50th Anniversary by recording their first original album in 27 years, a mixture of vintage rock & roll songs and new renditions of their rockney classics.

Mission Impudseyble 4th April 3pm & 6.30pm 5th April 1.30pm & 4.30pm Britain’s newest secret agent is off the leash….and ready for action! A new interactive spy adventure suitable for the whole family.

Gordon Buchanan 7th April 7.30pm Highly acclaimed wildlife cameraman and presenter of The Polar Bear Family and Me hosts an evening of exciting personal recollections, and lets you into his world of weird, wild and wonderful wildlife.

Liza Pullman Sings Hollywood 9th April 7.30pm A musical journey celebrating the golden age of Hollywood and beyond. From As Time Goes By to Moon River, through Hitchcock, the romantic comedy and even the American western.

Mister Maker 11th April 1pm Join your ultimate arts and craft hero for his first ever live theatre tour!

Chris & Pui 13th April 11am & 2pm CBeebies’ favourite double act is coming to town!

Film: Hail, Caeser! Cert 12A 13th & 14th April 7.30pm £7, concs & matinees £5 A Hollywood fixer in the 1950s works to keep the studio’s stars in line.

Richard Herring 15th April 8pm He is now settled down with a wife and baby. So does responsibility come with its own terrors? Is there any system that will guarantee us eternal bliss or is life just a vale of tears and our only option is to laugh in its face?

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Shalamar 16th April 7.30pm Performing live with classics such as A Night to Remember, I Can Make You Feel Good, Friends and I Owe You One. Sean Lock 18th April 8pm Every three years this comedian writes and tours with a new stand-up show. Come and see what he’s blithering on about this time. Ages 15+ Tap Factory 19th April 7.30pm Dazzling dance spectacular and cirque experience with the world’s best Tap Dancers and international musicians, blending the art of dance, percussion, comedy, and cirque acrobatics.

Russell Kane 20th April 8pm Famed for his critically acclaimed tours Russell has been performing sell-out shows across the globe and he’s now back with a new show!

A Touch of Class 22nd April 8.15pm Strictly Come Dancing favourites Ian and Natalie perform a dance showcase spectacular designed to dazzle and wow you.

Swan Lake 23rd April 2.30pm Vienna Festival Ballet Music by Tchaikovsky. One of the best known love stories, with lavish costumes, stunning scenery, international stars, and the glorious music from Tchaikovsky make this a show not to be missed.

Fiddler on the Roof 26th - 30th April 7.45pm & Sat Matinee 2.30pm Presented by St Albans Musical Theatre Company Based on Sholem Aleichem stories by special permission of Arnold Perl. www.alban-arena.co.uk 01727 844488

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NOW at the Local Theatres Weston Auditorium

Abbey Theatre

Interlopers by Permindar Kaur until 7th May A new body of work by this highly regarded British artist, including a dramatic new installation spanning the glass front of the Gallery space. Black, faceless teddies have been released, climbing, travelling, exploring and perhaps considering escape.

Combining the innocence of cuddly toys with an underlying threat or vulnerability. Free Art and Design Gallery College Lane Campus, St Albans

Our House by Tim Firth 7th - 9th April 7.30pm 9th April 2.30pm St Albans Youth Music Theatre present a fun and energetic musical based on hits by Madness, in which hero Joe faces a simple matter of wrong versus right: stay and face the music, or run away.

Shhh! Family Dance Workshop 2nd April 12.30pm - 1.30pm Take to the stage in a one-hour family dance workshop before the afternoon performance – no experience necessary!

Join members of the cast for a fun interactive dance session that will get all the family moving, £3.

Shhh!

2nd April 4pm A feel-good show for all the family. This is a magical and entertaining tale of libraries, literature and love, where books come to life and the community comes together. C-12 Dance Theatre present this exciting contemporary dance production perfect for bookworms and dance fans alike.

Adult £10, concs £7 & £5.

Weston Auditorium de Havilland Campus, Hatfield AL10 9EU 01707 281127 www.herts.ac.uk/artsandgalleries

by Jez Butterworth

Hawthorne Theatre The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 6th - 8th April 6.30pm & 7th April 2pm Presented by Splitz. When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy and her dog Toto are whisked away in their house to the Wonderful Land of Oz. Adult £14, concs £9 16th April 7.45pm Clare Hammond – Piano Welwyn Garden Concert Club presents the fifth of six Chamber Music Concerts.

Adult £17, concs £5 Fame: The Musical 29th & 30th April 7.30pm & 30th April 2.30pm RARE Productions, the UK’s largest youth musical theatre company present this popular musical show.

Hawthorne Theatre, Campus West, WGC AL8 6BX www.hawthornetheatre.co.uk 16

Parlour Song 22nd & 23rd & 26th - 30th April 8pm 24th April 2.30pm Hertfordshire-born playwright Jez Butterworth creates a world of paranoia set in a housing estate near St Albans. While Joy finds diversion in a loveless affair, her husband, the demolitions expert Ned, wants to know why his possessions keep disappearing. And what’s the weird next-door neighbour Dale got to do with anything?

Abbey Theatre, St Albans 01727 857861 www.abbeytheatre.org.uk

Trestle Arts Base With a Little Bit of Luck 25th April 7.30pm presented by Paines Plough and Latitude Festival Nadia is swept up in one hot summer’s night of love that promises endless possibilities. Drinking, dancing, hope, ambition, lust, greed...and decisions that will determine the rest of her life.

Rhythmically underscored by a live mix of old school UK Garage, award-winning writer Sabrina Mahfouz explores the legacy of a cultural movement that defined the hopes of a generation. adult £12, £10 Trestle Arts Base, St Albans AL4 0JQ 01727 850950 www.trestle.org.uk

Redbourn Players The Secret Tent by Elizabeth Addyman 28th - 30th April 7.30pm It opens on a happy domestic scene, Chris Martyn is preparing to attend an old boys’ reunion and his wife Ruth is visiting the cinema with her friend while her mother-in-law baby-sits. When Ruth fails to return home, the police are called and Chris has the traumatic experience of having to identify his murdered wife. This play is renowned for its intense atmosphere; we defy you to guess the conclusion!

Adult £9, concs £7 Redbourn Village Hall 01582 622667 www.redbournvillage.org.uk

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Birds & Bees

Getting a Buzz out of Bees Action to help reverse the decline of bees and other pollinators is being undertaken in the St Albans District. The insects are vital to agriculture, wildlife and the natural environment, but the numbers have decreased sharply in recent years.

Through pollination, they help plants and crops reproduce to ensure the food supply is maintained.

The decline is the result of a number of factors including disease, loss of habitat, harmful chemicals such as pesticides and a reduction in wildflowers.

St Albans City and District Council has launched a number of low-cost initiatives to help boost bee numbers including the creation of meadow areas for bees to nest in parks and green spaces.

They have also promoted green areas in new developments along with the planting of beefriendly trees and shrubs.

Trees with flowers that are attractive to pollinators are also being planted in public spaces and the use of chemicals and pesticides on Council land has been reduced.

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Association, are being encouraged to assess pollinator decline so it can be monitored.

Attempts to educate young people about the issues have included a Best Pollinator Friendly Garden prize in the annual Schools In Bloom competition.

Herts Spring Convention 2nd April 12.30pm - 5pm Christchurch, 110 Parkway, WGC AL8 6HN An event not to be missed with interesting talks and a variety of stalls from hive construction demonstrations to honey competitions and more.

Talks Interesting Times at the BBKA (British BeeKeepers Association) by Doug Brown East Anglian Research Student Programme

by Wally Thrale, Bedfordshire Bee Keeping Association Bees in the City an on-going study looking at the effects of urbanisation of honeybee health and behaviour by Liz Samuelson www.hertsbees.blogspot.co.uk

Bee Coffee Morning 19th April Chenies Manor, Bucks Enjoy a talk with the founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, followed by a tour of the Physic Garden, £8.

01494 762888 www.cheniesmanorhouse.co.uk

means climbing around in the tree tops. This is a great time to bring your binoculars for a closer look.

The Grey Herons have Herons don’t always have it easy, harsh winters staked out their nests and cause frozen lakes, meaning they can’t find fish, and are starting to lay eggs. For so they often take them from garden ponds. Many of protection, Herons breed in their waterways are polluted and this can lead to groups known as ‘Heronries’, starvation as well. Although the fully grown Heron where multiple nests are built only has to fear humans and foxes, the juveniles are in the same trees, and chicks at a high risk of being predated while they are still hatch around the same time. vulnerable. It is estimated that only a third survive A nest can be seen in the into their second year. In contrast, the oldest living middle of Verulamium Park, Heron was 25 years old! where you can watch the whole spectacle unfold by The Heron is a fascinating bird who deserves to be standing on the side of the lake near the ‘Fighting protected, and while the RSPB will not, as in Cocks Inn’ and looking across to the aptly named previous years, be in the Park this year, they urge ‘Heron Island.’ you to go and enjoy the show, and if you feel like it, Once eggs are laid, Heron parents take turns to sit get in touch to let them know how the group is on the nest and incubate the eggs. Then after 3-4 getting on! weeks the punky-haired youngsters start to hatch,

by Debs Allbrook, RSPB Rye Meads and it’s not long before they start ‘branching’ which photo by Debs Allbrook www.RSPB.org.uk

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NOW at Shuttleworth

NOW at RAF London The Spitfire Experience

Classic Motor Show 3rd April Hundreds of pre and post war era classic vehicles as well as iconic cars of the 80s will be on display for the 5th Classic Rally and Autojumble. Judges will be looking for class winners and ‘Car of the Show’.

There will be a live arena featuring motoring heritage from the 1940s - 1980s as well as a selection of trade and Autojumble stands and craft stalls.

The Model Club will be putting on two flying displays and will be on hand to chat about their hobby.

Come and meet ‘OSCAR’, Bedfordshire’s simulator safety car!

Adult £20, concs £17.50, child free Tickets include The Collection and The Swiss Garden ‘Design Your Garden’ Workshop 9th April Learn the basics of garden design and pick up expert tips from RHS and Chelsea Flower Show award winning garden designer Philippa Pearson. Using the Swiss Garden as a base for looking at garden layout and landscape design, the workshop will include practical sessions and lunch.

Please book as spaces are limited, for ages 16+ National Garden Scheme Open Day 24th April 9.30am - 5pm The Swiss Garden will be open as part of the National Garden Scheme Open Day with a colourful plant fair.

Adult £8, concs £7, child free The Shuttleworth Collection Beds SG18 9EP 01767 627 927 www.shuttleworth.org

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16th, 23rd, 24th & 30th April 7th, 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st & 28th May 11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm Climb inside the Spitfire MK16 and take the pilot’s seat, learn about the aircraft and see what it would have been like to fly this amazing plane. This is a once in a lifetime experience, please take note of access restrictions before buying your tickets: You must be physically fit to climb a small number of steps to get into the cockpit, wear trousers and flat shoes with good grip.

You can take photos once inside the cockpit, but please only bring a camera that can be put into a pocket or one with a strap.

This new experience is led by our team of volunteers. £22.50 RAF Museum London NW9 5LL 020 8205 2266 www.rafmuseum.org.uk

Herts Motorcycle Run and Show 1st May This year’s 60 mile Motorcycle Run starts at the Herts Police HQ, Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City and finishes at the Motorcycle Show, North Weald Airfield, Epping, Essex CM16 6AA home of Herts Air Ambulance.

The event opens at 9am and the Run leaves at 10.30am.

The Show will include trade stands from various motorcycle dealers, activities and the opportunity to try out the latest demo bikes.

The Herts Air Ambulance helicopter will be present subject to operations, for people to see and meet the crew.

Please note ‘L’ plate riders can’t take part due to the route being on motorways.

Min age: 18 years, rider only £10, rider + pillion £15 To register and for more information please visit www.hertsairambulance.uk.com

Five Miles to Fabulous 2nd April & 7th May Both from Morrisons, Hatfield Road at 9.30am, meeting by the cycle stands. These are easypaced, women-only rides. The leader selects the route based on weather, group preference and any interesting themes or events on the day of the ride. You will cycle for a bit, have a coffee stop and ride back. In spite of the ride name, it’s often more than five miles, usually nearer ten!

Saturday Saunters 9th April to Redbourn 4th June to Shenley Both meeting at Morrisons cafĂŠ at 9.30am, these are morning rides covering about 20 miles at a relatively easy pace, about 10mph and include a coffee stop. More information about these and longer, faster rides on Sundays and Wednesdays can be found at www.southhertsctc.org.uk

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NOW at the Cathedral More to Explore Tours Join our knowledgeable Cathedral Guides for a fascinating tour which reveals some of the building’s hidden gems and little known secrets.

Queen Eleanor: She of the Crosses 3rd April 3pm Free Women in the Abbey 1st May 3pm Free Lecture: God, the Big Bang and Stephen Hawking 6th April 7.30pm Canon Scientist, the Revd Prof David Wilkinson, will describe current models of the origin of the universe and reflect on the theological questions which will naturally arise. £6

Family Discovery Morning Cosmic Costumes - 1700 years of fashion!

7th April 10am - 12.30pm Learn about clothes and fashion since the time of St Alban. See what it’s like to wear the clothes of a Saxon, a Tudor, or even a Roman soldier, for ages 3 - 11. Arrive before 11.30am to complete all activities. Meet in the North Transept. Free The Sixteen Pilgrimage 2016: The Deer’s Cry 9th April 7.30pm, pre-concert talk 7pm Music by Byrd , Arvo Pärt and Tallis Conductor: Harry Christophers £30, £25, £12, concs half price Exhibition: Revelation Threads 19th April - 5th June Spectacular display of textile art created by artist Jacqui Parkinson, showing images from the book of Revelation. Raising issues of life and faith, good and evil, death and judgement, resurrection and a

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new Heaven and a new Earth, it has been designed as a set of fourteen panels which will be on display around Cathedral.

Lunchtime Organ Recital 20th April 12.30pm Jonathan Vaughn, Assistant Organist, Wells Cathedral. Free, retiring collection in aid of Cathedral music funds Tower Tours 30th April & 28th May 10am, 11.30am, 1pm, 2.30pm Taking you to the top of the Norman Bell Tower, North Transept Gallery, ringing and bell chambers, and out onto the tower roof. £8, please book.

Classical Greats 30th April 7.30pm St Albans Choral Society Haydn - Te Deum in C, Hob Xlllc: 2 Mozart - Ave verum corpus, K618 Mozart - Symphony No 40 in G minor, K550 Beethoven - Mass in C, Op 86 with Orchestra Nova George Vass (conductor); Daisy Brown (soprano); Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo soprano); Ben Alden (tenor); Michael Bundy (baritone) £25 - £12, child £5 Become an Official Explorer of the Cathedral Whenever you visit, with our Children’s Explorer Guide you can find out more about Saint Alban, follow a fun trail around the Cathedral and learn fascinating facts as you go. £1

01727 890290 www.stalbanscathedral.org

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April ’appenings!

Kimpton May Festival 29th April - 2nd May ‘Animal Magic’ is the theme of this year’s Festival with four days of fun filled events including an Art Show, Junior Disco, Wine Tasting, Procession, Arena Events, Craft Fair, Quiz, Music Night and much more….

Kimpton SG4 8RB www.kimptonmayfestival.co.uk

Real Tennis Hatfield House 14th April 6.30pm Watch some top level Real Tennis players in action and then have a go at the original Racquet sport yourself!

Before the match the two Hatfield professionals, Jon Dawes and James Law will take any spectators new to Real Tennis onto the court to explain the rules and give a brief talk on what it’s all about. At 7pm they will go head to head in an exhibition match.

After the match Jon and James will give anyone who wants to play a chance to hit some balls with them on court. £20 01707 273391 / hhtc@gotadsl.co.uk www.hatfield-house.co.uk

The Railway Children 12th April 11am & 2pm Image Musical Theatre returns with this wonderful adaptation of E Nesbit's classic.

Giving the audience a chance to join in and up to 10 children the opportunity to perform on stage, this show is family entertainment at its best. Learn the songs and actions before you arrive via the website and immerse yourself in the rhythm of the Railway.

For ages 5+ The Radlett Centre Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL www.radlettcentre.co.uk

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Knebworth House East of England Food Festival 16th & 17th April 10am - 5pm A celebration of all that’s good to eat and drink.

Adult £9.50, family £34, includes entrance to the Gardens and Park.

Afternoon Tea in Knebworth Barn 17th April 2pm Enjoy a delicious traditional Sunday afternoon tea.

Adult £26, child £20 (up to 13 years), includes admission to the Gardens and Park 01438 813825 Hertfordshire Garden Show 30th April - 2nd May A wide variety of exhibitors, including some of the best nurseries and specialists from across the region.

Talk to the growers and choose from a huge range of quality plants. It’s a great way to get your garden ready for the new season, with plenty of fresh ideas for inspiration. Entrance to the Show is included in the Knebworth Park and Gardens admission price. www.knebworthhouse.com

Save the Bluebells The Woodland Trust has kick-started a new campaign at Heartwood Forest, Sandridge to help prevent the delicate bluebell, an ancient woodland plant and a much-loved sign of spring, from being trampled by visitors, as less and less of them are coming into bloom. The Woodland Trust wants to raise awareness of this issue, in the hope that people will keep to the paths when visiting their local woods and green spaces. Find out how you can help on 12th & 24th April at Heartwood. www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/heartwood

St Albans Electric Bike Tours

Kinsbourne Common Fete 23rd April 12 noon - 3pm Celebrating St George's Day Jointly organised by St Mary's Church & 9th Harpenden Scout Group BBQ - Afternoon Tea - Cakes - Plants Bottle Tombola - Crockery Smash Raffle - Art & Craft Demonstrations Pioneering - Marshmallow Toasting Face Painting - Bouncy Castle Jam Jars - Beat The Goalie - Lucky Dip - Sand Art Biscuit Decorating - Chocolate Game & Much More!

Kinsbourne Common, Harpenden Next to St Marys Church

3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th April 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th May 10.30am - 2.45pm Cycling with tea and cake!

The electric bike is a great way to explore the great outdoors.

The rides start from Mill Green Mill, Hatfield and visit many locations including Verulamium Park, Gorhambury and Wheathampstead, before returning along Ayot Greenway to the Mill. £40 per person, £60 per couple includes cream teas Mill Green Mill, Hatfield, AL9 5PD www.electricbiketours.co.uk

St George's Festival 23rd & 24th April 10am - 6pm Witness gallant St George taking on his arch nemesis in England's most legendary battle.

Discover the man behind the myth as you immerse yourself in the story of England at the biggest St George's Day celebration in the country. Cheer for the Victorian teams in the gymkhana display; gasp as the lances shatter in the medieval joust; marvel as feathers fly in the Edwardian falconry; experience the highs and lows of life in wartime Britain; and chortle at the cheeky jester. Plunge yourself into the sights, smells and sounds of this historical extravaganza.

Wrest Park, Silsoe, Luton MK45 4HR www.english-heritage.org.uk

Chiltern Open Air Museum Women’s Suffrage Movement 16th & 17th April Pummeling policemen and fighting, quite literally for the Vote! In the early 20th century Newland Park, a Georgian style house set in the 550 acre estate next to the Museum site, was a refuge for suffragettes.

Now, following last year’s hit film ‘Suffragette’, you can learn about these brave women and see them in action. Watch physical demonstrations showing how a team of Edwardian ladies were able to protect the leaders of the Women’s Suffrage Movement from arrest, armed with only determination, cunning and training in the martial art of Jiu-Jitsu.

Springtime Lambs 23rd & 24th April Come and meet the spring lambs and explore the traditional Chilterns farm and lambing fold, learn about the lambing traditions of the Victorian Chilterns and take part in fun family craft activities.

Chiltern Open Air Museum, Chalfont St Giles www.coam.org.uk/whats-on

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Pear and Ginger Tiramisu Trifle I’ve long said that the best home cooking needn’t be complicated. Often the tastiest recipes are just simple twists on much-loved classics. This recipe, created by food writer and blogger Ren Behan, meets all of these criteria. Easy to prepare, it looks great and tastes wonderful. It also misses photo: Ren Behan out the coffee which is a bonus for anyone who has to avoid caffeine.

Makes 4-6 glasses or one medium-sized trifle bowl

before

after

3 large free-range eggs, yolks and whites separated 100g caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract 250g tub Mascarpone 2 very ripe pears 250ml sherry ½ packet Ginger Snap Biscuits or Ginger Cake 100g grated dark or white chocolate for sprinkling dusting of cocoa powder (optional) The ingredients combine better at room temperature Whisk the egg yolks, caster sugar and vanilla together in a bowl with an electric whisk for around 5 minutes until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Add the tub of Mascarpone and mix until smooth.

In another bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. With a metal spoon, fold the egg whites into your egg and Mascarpone mixture.

Have a large trifle bowl or six small glasses ready.

Peel, core and finely slice the pears.

Pour the sherry into a small bowl, dip in six ginger biscuits and then place one in each glass, or lay them flat across the bowl, working quickly so that the biscuits don’t get too soggy.

Add a few slices of pear on top of the biscuits. Next, spoon some of the creamy mixture into your glasses/ bowl. Repeat the layers until all the mixture is used up.

Cover with clingfilm and refrigerate, preferably overnight. Just before eating, sprinkle with the grated chocolate, dust with cocoa powder and serve.

Nick Coffer

Hear Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen on BBC Three Counties Radio on Sunday mornings at 11am, and weekdays at midday join him to hear local guests with great stories to tell, and music for your early afternoon.

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Easter Cookery Course 6th & 7th April 10am - 5pm Join us at The Stables Restaurant where Head Chef Martin West will take you on a journey under the sea to discover the tricks of preparing delicious seafood that will wow your dinner guests.

Learn how to prepare, cook and serve lobster, discover the fine techniques behind filleting a whole fish and find out how to shuck oysters properly and safely.

To finish, taste what you’ve made with a carefully selected glass of wine. £35 per person, includes all ingredients To book your place call 01727 737357 The Stables Restaurant Oaklands College St Albans Campus, Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL4 0JA www.oaklands.ac.uk

Oven Wizards come to St Albans Local outdoor and sports enthusiast, Keith Graham is all set to clean up in St Albans and surrounding areas Keith is launching his own Oven Cleaning Business as part of the Oven Wizards Franchise. Keith has lived and worked in the area all his working life, and believes there is a strong demand for his services.

Keith says “I was looking for a business idea that I would enjoy, that would provide a great service to local people. I came across the idea of an oven cleaning business and when I started to research the market, I soon realised that becoming an Oven Call Today to have your Wizard offered me a great opportunity, particularly Oven, Hob, Extractor or Aga with the support of a successful National Franchise Brand”.

Professionally Cleaned Mark Abbott, owner of Oven Wizards said “From the first time we met Keith we knew he would make a great success of running an Oven Wizards Franchise, particularly because of his great passion for friendly call Keith Graham customer service.”

01923 352726 Mark went on to explain “There is a growing demand from people who want to have their ovens 07903 443375 professionally cleaned because it’s probably the www.ovenwizards.com hardest and most hated job in most households “.

“A recent survey indicated that oven cleaning is one of the most hated chores in the home. Considering there are over 26 million households in the UK and most has at least one oven and a hob, the growing domestic cleaning market provides unlimited opportunities to delight our customers”.

Oven Wizards have provided Keith with comprehensive training which will enable him to professionally clean all sorts of makes and models of ovens.

You can contact Keith on 01923 352726 or 07903 443375 or visit www.ovenwizards.com

Handy Tips Combat cooking fumes: mix 3 tbsp of white vinegar and 1 cup of water, and boil for several minutes, vinegar is acidic and odours are alkaline, so the former will neutralise the latter.

Flexible vacuum: suck up hard-to-reach gunk under your fridge by inserting an empty paper towel roll into the end of your vacuum and bend or flatten it, to reach those tricky areas.

Reopening envelopes: If you seal an envelope too soon, put it in the freezer for an hour and it will unseal easily.

Getting rid of ants: put small piles of polenta where you see ants, they’ll gobble it up, return ‘home’ and won’t be able to digest it.

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Do Something for Charity Muddy Mucker 10th April Chiswell Green St Albans Sign up and test your strength, stamina and team work in a gruelling five mile muddy obstacle challenge in aid of Rennie Grove Hospice.

Registration is £30, with a minimum sponsorship of £50 or £65 without raising sponsorship. Your entry fee includes a T-shirt and water en-route. Team entries are encouraged and it promises to be tough, but great fun! www.renniegrove.org/muddymucker

Bubble Rush 17th April This exciting, familyfriendly event is coming to Gadebridge Park, Hemel Hempstead. Organised by The Hospice of St Francis and open to all the family you can run, walk, crawl or dance your way through Bubble Stations as you are blasted by cannons blowing out crazycoloured Bubbles, covering you in safe, frothy, foam. There are no age restrictions and the 5km route is child friendly. www.stfrancis.org.uk/bubblerush

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UK registered charity no 297489

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Shakespeare or Musicals?

On 23rd April we remember Shakespeare on the 400th anniversary of his death and what better way to celebrate by performing one of his best loved plays, ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’ with Stagecoach Harpenden.

To add to the excitement we’re doing an open air performance at Sir John Lawes School. Imagine the fun you could be having each Saturday preparing for one of Shakespeare's classics! We are looking for lovers, mechanicals and fairies; it could be you!

Following on from the end of term fun, we have our first summer holiday workshop in Harpenden to look forward to at the end of July. Although schools are 'out for summer', we will be diving back into the education system by exploring the musical giants that are 'High School Musical', 'Glee', 'Fame', 'Grease', 'Matilda', 'St Trinians' and more!

Call Principal, Liz, to book your place for either next term's Shakespeare fun, or the summer holiday workshop now!

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Plus it’s all go at Stagecoach St Albans too!

Our Stage 3s (12-18 year olds) will be doing a showcase of the hit musical, ‘Legally Blonde’.

This famous musical was recently brought back to life in the West End, with Sheridan Smith as Elle and it is sure to be a hit with our talented students.

In our Early Stages classes (4-7 year olds), it’s Presentation term and we are heading down to the farmyard in ‘Little Red Hen’!

So book your place now to make new friends and be part of the fun! You never know, you might just become the next budding star of Stagecoach Theatre Arts.

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A New Educational Partnership Four local schools, Fleetville Infants and Junior Schools, Mandeville Primary School and Chaulden Junior School, have come together in a new educational partnership to create Spiral Partnership Trust.

Spiral Partnership Trust is a community of schools working together to make a positive difference to children’s lives. The four schools, which are all judged to be good and outstanding

by Ofsted, will each retain their own head teacher, governing body and distinctive individual character whilst working closely together to innovate, inspire and share good practice.

Executive head teachers Amanda Godfrey and Androulla Peek have a long history of working together to share good practice and are looking forward to the new opportunities the schools can

32

offer staff, parents and children as a result of this partnership. The schools are supported by a Board of Directors with an array of skills and expertise to add value and support the commitment to working in collaboration to provide the best possible quality education to children.

In a rapidly changing educational landscape schools are being encouraged to create partnerships to provide additional resilience, capacity and to embrace educational challenge. The Trust aims to grow and to extend support to a small number of other schools and academies in the region that will benefit from, and contribute to, its ethos and experience.

To find out more about Spiral Partnership Trust please visit www.spiral.herts.sch.uk

Play in the Parks Free sessons for 3 -12 year olds, providing children with the opportunity to play in a safe and stimulating environment, just turn up! Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

4th & 11th April 2.45pm - 4.45pm Cunningham Hill Open Space AL1 5TL 5th & 12th April 9.15am - 11.15am Toulmin Drive, at the Football Pitches AL3 6DX 6th & 13th April 12 noon - 2pm Marshalswick, at Sherwood Ave AL4 9QL 7th & 14th April 9.15am - 11.15am Clarence Park, at the Bandstand AL1 4NF 8th & 15th April 9.15am - 11.15am Chiswell Green at Green Wood Park AL2 3HW www.activestalbans.com

Horrid Henry Storybook Making 7th April 3pm - 4.30pm What has Horrid Henry been up to now?

You decide! Create a storybook to take home. Ages 5 11, ÂŁ3 per family, please book at the library or by calling 01707 281533.

Harpenden Library, High Street www.libraries.hertscc.gov.uk

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Greens House and Gardens Having serviced the local area for many years, the GHG family team have built up a steady gardening round, and are adding to their route rapidly. Some customers prefer a bi weekly lawn cutting programme and this too can be accommodated. Their customers return every year, and soon it will be ‘that time of year’ again when the grass starts growing and GHG are now taking bookings for customers who wish to be added to the grass cutting list.

Whether it’s assistance with weeding, planting, lawn care, jet washing, fencing, landscaping, shed bases, paving, or gutter maintenance, GHG can help.

Greens House and Gardens is a local company that provides a reliable service for the maintenance and management of your garden.

Whether it be a weekly lawn cut, or total garden makeover, Greens House and Gardens can make an impact!

They are now installers for fabulous Tuin summerhouses and sheds and home offices, and can provide everything from the base construction, erection and even the electrics!

Just call Roger on 07949 969446 or 01582 400408 and they will be happy to pop round to give you a free estimate for your garden needs.

GREENSHOUSE & GARDENS Fencing, Supply and Installation Gutter Clearance and Repair Power Washing Summerhouse and Shed Bases Sheds and Summerhouses Supplied and Erected Decking Landscaping Gardening, Tree, Hedge and Plant Care Property Maintenance Qualified Electrician Fully Insured

Call Roger 07949 969446 or 01582 400408

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35

Photograph Wildlife for a Day

Justin Leon Garden Maintenance All Aspects of Gardening Undertaken

Including Decking Overhaul Patio Washing & Repair Also offering Painting and Decorating

07789 961233

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Professional wildlife photographer, Tom Mason is offering a day of wildlife and nature photography at Rye Meads Nature Reserve. He knows the reserve like the back of his hand and will be an excellent guide as you walk around.

He’ll be focusing on the key skills needed to help you improve your photography, and will answer all your questions. Just bring your camera and lunch and enjoy a great day out.

Tom hopes to offer courses in St Albans in the future so watch this space.

Photography Workshop 10th April 10am - 3pm RSPB members £30 Non members £40 Please book as spaces are limited 01992 708381 or debs.allbrook@rspb.org.uk To see more of Toms’ work visit www.tommasonphoto.com Rye Meads Nature Reserve Stanstead Abbotts SG12 8JS www.rspb.org.uk/ryemeads

Fircroft Tree Surgery Ltd Noke Lane, St Albans, Herts AL2 3NY

BUY YOUR FIRELOGS NOW!

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

For ALL Aspects of Professional Tree Surgery PLEASE CALL 01923 682201 or visit www.fircrofttreesurgeryltd.co.uk

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NOW for some Music Don Giovanni 20th April 7.30pm The compelling tale of one man's rampage through the hearts and minds of every woman he meets, taking no prisoners, and living every day as though it was his last, until finally he is confronted with the terrifying consequences of his own debauchery.

Sung in Italian with English subtitles and piano accompaniment.

Heritage Opera return to Hatfield House after their sell-out production of Madame Butterfly last Summer. The Coach House Restaurant will be open until the start of the performance.

Adult £30 / £28, concs £15 The Old Palace, Hatfield House 0161 402 3272 www.heritageopera.co.uk www.hatfield-house.co.uk

Shakespeare: If Music be the Food of Love 23rd April 8pm Music Makers Choir presents a concert of beautiful music ranging from Shakespeare’s lifetime (Tallis, Byrd, Gibbons) to more recent musical settings of his songs and sonnets by Vaughan Williams and George Shearing. Adult £10, concs £6 Our Lady Of Lourdes Church Rothamstead Ave, Harpenden 07834 484989

Shakespeare’s World in Concert 23rd April 7.30pm Celebrate Shakespeare in Song with Harpenden Choral Society’s special concert marking the 400th anniversary of the Bards’ death, featuring settings of songs from the plays and Shakespeare’s contemporaries and other music inspired by his work.

From the compelling intricacies of Elizabethan madrigals to Bernstein’s lyrical re-imagining of Romeo and Juliet - West Side Story, and selections from Verdi’s magnificent operatic version of Macbeth, this concert celebrates the musical variety and influence of Shakespeare’s world. Conducted by Musical Director John Andrews, with piano accompaniment by Vivien Powles and solos by soprano Charmian Bedford and lutenist Lynda Sayce.

Adult £15, child / student £5.

01582 419379 tickets@harpendenchoralsociety.org St Nicholas Church, Harpenden

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Shakespeare Songs and Sonnets 23rd & 24th April 10.30am - 2.30pm Step into Arcadia, a galaxy of blossom, breeze and poetry, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the end of Shakespeare's life. Stroll through the lawns and the meadows as Tudor singers find harmony with songbirds to delight you. Be spellbound by actors and poets who will recite the Bard's sonnets to you as you explore the West Gardens of Hatfield House. £10, with admission to the Park and West Garden.

West Garden, Hatfield House www.hatfield-house.co.uk Woodwind Extravaganza 24th April 10am - 4pm Does your child play a woodwind instrument? If so why not come along to a fun-packed playing day.

For ages 7-13, suitable for flute, recorder, oboe, clarinet, saxophone and bassoon players of Grade 1 and above. The day will include full wind band sessions, improvisation and tips. Please book £20. j.lodge@beechwoodpark.herts.sch.uk Beechwood Park School, Markyate AL3 8AP

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NOW for a Walk Or Two Hertfordshire Walking Festival Hertfordshire Year of Walking is set to culminate in an exciting and diverse Walking Festival for the month of May showcasing the best Hertfordshire has to offer from nature trails, singing jaunts, pub history walks, bird walks and more. www.hertsdirect.org/walking

50 Things Walks 3rd April & 1st May 2pm - 3pm Grab your wellies and join the Rangers for a family walk. Complete some of the '50 things to do before you're 11 ¾’ on the way and collect stickers and scrapbooks when you get back. Free.

Dunstable Downs www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Ashridge Walks Signs of Spring 12th April 2.30pm - 4.30pm Join knowledgeable volunteers for a gentle stroll near the visitor centre looking at Ashridge’s huge variety of plants and trees. £3, no need to book.

Clipper Down Walk 28th April 5pm - 7pm Explore Clipper Down’s medieval and pre-historic archaeology with regional expert Gary Marshall. Adult £8, child £5, booking essential.

Dawn Chorus Walk 30th April 5am - 7am Experience early morning bird song with Rangers who will be able to help identify them, bring binoculars. Adult £15, child £10, includes breakfast, booking essential.

Ashridge, Ringshall, Herts HP4 1LT 01442 851227 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge-estate

Dawn Chorus & Breakfast Walk 24th April 5am prompt Meet at YWAM, off Ambrose Lane, Harpenden.

A three mile walk around Westfield Woods and the Nickey Line, where you will hear and see local birds, finishing with breakfast in the YWAM café at 8am.

Cost £6, book by 17th April on 01582 765443 / 01582 763560.

A Walk in Barn Owl Country 24th April 10am - 12 noon Great Green, Pirton, Herts Join local volunteers to find out about the secret life of barn owls and why this area of outstanding natural beauty is perfect for them to raise their young. They fly mostly at dawn and dusk but you may get a chance to see one during the day. www.hertsdirect.org/walking

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Historic People and Places Brought to Life!

Fully qualified guides have been showing people around our City and District for 50 years. Join us on any one of the 16 walks and hear about the fascinating yesteryears from the Romans to Victorians. Walk well known and lesser known places.

You will be surprised by the many tales about people who have built, lived and worked here for 1000 years.

Walks for April & May Meet at the front of the Old Town Hall unless otherwise stated Buy tickets from the guide on the day or from the Tourist Information Centre - moving to the Alban Arena on 4th April.

Walks last about one and a half hours. Adult £4, child £2 (5-15 years) Visit our website for full details of our walks and other information Fishpool Street - Rags and Riches 2nd, 16th, 30th April & 14th, 28th May @ 2.30pm Historic St Albans - A City Revealed 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th April & 1st, 2nd, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, 30th May @ 11am There’s More to the Tudors than Henry VIII 3rd April & 2nd, 22nd May @ 2.30pm Discover Redbourn 3rd April @ 2.30pm Meet in the car park on the Common by the cricket pavilion A Roman City Revealed 9th, 23rd April & 7th, 21st May @ 2.30pm Meet outside Verulamium Museum Aristocrats, Paupers and Philanthropists 10th April @ 2.30pm Coaching Inns 17th April & 8th May @ 2.30pm A Monastery Revealed 24th April & 30th May @ 2.30pm Discover Wheathampstead 24th April @ 2.30pm Meet in the public car park at the rear of The Bull Victorian St Albans 1st May @ 2.30pm Discover Harpenden 8th May @ 2.30pm Meet at the War Memorial on the Green Medieval Lives 15th May @ 2.30pm Family Walk 24th May @ 11am Historic Pubs of St Albans 29th May @ 2.30pm

Tourist Information Centre 01727 864511 www.stalbanstourguides.co.uk

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What’s on in April 42

1st The Magic of Motown see page 14 2nd Chas & Dave see page 14 Soroptimist Women's Group Quiz Night Homewood Road Church Hall, 07884 185925, fish & chip supper, in aid of International Peace Initiatives, 7.15pm, adult £12.50, child £8 www.sigbi.org/st-albans An Evening with Ian Waite & Camilla Dallerup Campus West, Welwyn Garden City, 8pm, adult £26, concs £23 2nd & 3rd Bricktraders Inn The Park, Verulamium Park, buy, sell, trade & create with Lego, 10am - 5pm www.bricktraders.co.uk 3rd Classic Motor Show see page 20 4th, 5th & 7th Holiday Workshops Tring Natural History Museum HP23 6AP activities for ages 5+ www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/tring 4th - 15th St Albans City Football Camps see page 31 6th & 7th Easter Cookery Course see page 26 6th - 8th The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Campus West, Welwyn Garden City, £14, concs £9 7th Horrid Henry Storybook Making see page 33 The Three Degrees Harpenden Public Halls, 01582 765464 7th - 9th Our House see page 16 8th Herts WI Fashion Show Wheathampstead Memorial Hall, 7pm 10th Muddy Mucker see page 28 Wildlife Photography Workshop see page 36 12th & 24th Save the Bluebells see page 24 13th Forgeries St Albans, Harpenden & District Philatelic Society, St Mary's Church, Childwickbury, 01582 762284, 8pm 14th Real Tennis see page 24 His Way! Harpenden Public Halls, 01582 765464, The Frank Sinatra Story 16th Shalamar see page 14 Volunteer Open Day Shaw’s Corner, recruiting volunteers, 10am - 2pm, book on 01438 820307 sue.morgan@nationaltrust.org.uk

Clare Hammond - Piano see page 16 16th & 17th East of England Food Festival see page 24 17th Bubble Rush see page 28 Afternoon Tea in Knebworth Barn see page 24 19th Bee Coffee Morning see page 18 19th Adult Art Classes Sandridge, summer term of Start Art, (11 weeks daytime) all abilities, learn, improve & enjoy, 07845 663633 20th Don Giovanni - Mozart see page 38 Messy Welly Club: Chicks & Nests outdoor play for under 5’s, Rye Meads Nature Reserve, Stanstead Abbotts SG12 8JS 01992 708381, 10.30 - 11.30am www.rspb.org.uk/ryemeads 23rd Kinsbourne Common Fete see page 25 Annual Fair for Plant Heritage Luton Hoo Walled Garden www.lutonhooestate.co.uk Street Theatre Extravaganza see page 8 23rd & 24th Shakespeare Songs & Sonnets see page 38 St Georges Festival see page 25 24th Songbook Collective Bedford Esquires, 7.30pm with the members of the Paul Weller Band, £16 in advance www.seetickets.com 25th With a Little Bit of Luck see page 16 28th Winter Journey Tring Natural History Museum HP23 6AP learn about Captain Scott's fateful last expedition, 7pm - 8pm, £4.50, booking required, suitable for adults www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/tring 29th The Simon & Garfunkel Story Harpenden Public Halls, 01582 765464 29th April - 2nd May Kimpton May Festival see page 24 30th Classical Greats see page 22 Archaeology Apprentices Verulamium Museum, 01727 751810, come & sort out our finds trays & reconstruct broken objects free, ages 5 - 11, 2.30pm - 4.30pm, children must be accompanied by an adult 30th April - 2nd May Hertfordshire Garden Show see page 24 30th April - 1st July Exhibition: Hertfordshire Heroines Hertford Museum www.hertshiddenheroines.org.uk ]

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What’s on in May 44

1st Herts Motorcycle Run & Show see page 20 Beltane Summer Festival Celtic Harmony Camp, Hertford SG13 8NY live music, fire breathing, bushcraft & owl displays, 10am - 5pm, £10, under 2s free Mad Hatters May Day Festval The Shuttleworth Collection, Beds SG18 9EP www.shuttleworth.org 2nd May Day Celebrations British Schools Museum Hitchin, maypole dancing & more, 10.30am 12.30pm, free www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk 5th - 8th Living Crafts Hatfield House, 10am - 5pm, adult £8, concs £7 / £3.50 www.hatfield-house.co.uk 7th Roy G Hemmings ‘The Sound of Philadelphia’ Harpenden Public Halls, 01582 767525, with original Drifters band member, 7.30pm, £15 8th Songs of Praise with Pam Rhodes St John’s Church, Harpenden, 6.30pm Brahms Piano Concerto Weston Auditorium, de Havilland Campus, 01707 281127, De Havilland Philharmonic Orchestra, adult £20, concs £6 - £15, 7.30pm www.herts.ac.uk 9th Adult Art Classes Sandridge, summer term of Start Art, (9 weeks daytime) all abilities, learn, improve & enjoy, 07845 663633 Chamber Music Festival Launch Concert Hatfield House, 7.30pm, £15 - £35 www.hatfieldhousemusicfestival.org.uk 11th Study Day at Luton Hoo Walled Garden www.lutonhooestate.co.uk 12th The Icicle Works Harpenden Public Halls, 01582 767525, 7.30pm, £17.50 Somewhere in England Roe Hill Hall, Briar’s Lane, Hatfield, wartime story of the arrival of American GIs in East Anglia, adult £7, concs £5, 7.30pm www.herts.ac.uk/ artsandgalleries Talk: Behind the Scenes at the Museum British Schools Museum, Hitchin, 01462 420144, 7pm, £5 13th Movie Night: Spartacus Verulamium Museum, 01727 751810, please book, £5, 7pm 13th - 15th & 17th - 21st Twelfth Night Abbey Theatre, 01727 857861

14th Elgar Symphony No.2 Workshop St Saviour's Church, Sandpit Lane, St Albans Symphony Orchestra, 7.30pm Christian O’Connell Harpenden Public Halls, 01582 767525, follow his journey from teenage mixtape maker to award winning DJ, 8pm, £15 The Auld Alliance St Peter’s Church, 01582 763774, Carillon Chamber Choir, Scottish & French music, 7.30pm, adult £14, concs £13 / £5 14th World Food Festival outside The Howard Centre, WGC, AL8 6HA live music, entertainment, fine food, craft stalls & cooking demos, 11am - 4pm 14th & 15th Aeromodellers Weekend The Shuttleworth Collection SG18 9EP www.shuttleworth.org 15th Keech 10k Trail see page 28 Mayors City Sprint Marathon Westminster Lodge St Albans www.renniegrove.org 18th Messy Welly Club: Bugs & Beetles Rye Meads Nature Reserve, Stanstead Abbotts SG12 8JS 01992 708381, outdoor play for under 5’s, 10.30 - 11.30am www.rspb.org.uk/ryemeads 19th Mike Hodge Golf Day Aldwickbury Park Golf Club Harpenden, in aid of Rennie Grove, 01582 760244 21st Markyate Plant Sale 64 High Street, Markyate, AL3 8HZ, in aid of The Hospice of St Francis, 10am 22nd Wheathampstead 10K www.wheathampstead10k.co.uk 26th Specimen Stories Tour Tring Natural History Museum HP23 6AP learn about Walter Rothschild & hear the amazing stories behind the specimens, for adults, 7pm - 8pm, £4.50, please book Buddy Holly & The Cricketers Harpenden Public Halls, 01582 767525, 7.30pm, £18.50, concs £17 28th & 29th American Air Show IWM Duxford CB22 4QR story of American & British collaboration over 100 years, 8am - 6pm www.iwm.org.uk Herts County Show The Showground, Redbourn 31st Viking Invaders Verulamium Museum, 01727 751810, holiday activities for 6 - 11 years, £6 please book, 10.30am - 12.30pm & 2pm - 4pm

We are all aware of the growing problems of obesity, yet most towns tempt us with an assortment of fast food outlets.

As we walk around the supermarkets, we are faced with aisles of various foods; some healthy, some not so healthy and others just completely unwise.

So then, how do we know which foods to choose?

Even if we do know, can we resist these foods, which to many of us, seem so much tastier and convenient than the healthier options?

Do we understand the harmful effects of fast food, convenience food, food additives and different methods of cooking? If healthy food interests us, we may have taken time out to research the topic.

If, however, healthy foods are not our priority, then we may be lacking the vital knowledge that could potentially prolong or even save our lives. Yes, that really is how profound the effect of eating a healthy diet can be, we are actually talking about the possibility of adding years to our lives.

If our GP told us that we have a life threatening disease, we would hope for treatment or even a cure. As we know, sometimes this is possible and sometimes it is not. Taking control of your health, by making careful choices about what you eat could prevent or at very least, greatly improve the outcome of such a situation. Optimising our nutrition not only offers us more chance of avoiding illness, but also increasing energy, experiencing better cognitive function, improving our memory and increasing our sense of wellbeing.

A healthy diet can help prevent or improve the outcome of a long list of common and growing health issues such as: heart disease, strokes, diabetes, high blood pressure and even cancer.

Ideally, our food would come from organic natural produce, however, this is not always possible for all of us to achieve, possibly for financial reasons or organic produce may not be easily obtainable in some circumstances.

At Vision Weight Consultancy, we offer advice on nutrition, helping clients move towards a healthier lifestyle and ensuring that they are able to make healthy choices.

Our weight loss programmes are tailored to the needs of each individual, taking into account age, any existing health issues that may need addressing, or commitments that make healthy eating a challenge. Clients as young as 17, have reported having more confidence and improved grades, after successfully losing weight in just 6

Optimising your nutritional intake now really could change your life

sessions.

We also offer Holistic Nutritional Therapy, which has proved successful in overcoming health issues and in the cases of clients who have food allergies, we work with them to find alternative recipes and ideas in order that their diet remains varied, nutritious and healthy.

We shouldn’t be afraid to get some of our nutrition from good quality supplements; it is widely known that nutrients can be affected by the way food is grown, manufactured and stored. It requires a wide variety of foods and a lot of vegetables in order to get the nutrition we need and the truth is, most of us fall short of reaching the ideal.

Supplements however should not be taken blindly and without review. It is important to get advice before embarking on supplementation, because requirements vary greatly depending on age, lifestyle and health. Also, many nutrients are synergistic, working together with others in order that they can be used by the body and some nutrients are toxic if taken in high doses, so advice here is vital.

Here at Vision, we have helped clients experience great improvements in their health with the use of suitable supplements; they have reported an increase in energy, wellbeing, the condition of their hair and one client was amazed and delighted how much stronger her nails grew without breaking!

We really are what we eat, so why wait to be told you have high blood pressure, are prediabetic, or worse? Optimising your nutritional intake now really could change your life.

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Index of Businesses

Accountant TaxAssist Accountants

Education 23 Kumon

Adult Art Classes Start Art!

Electricians 21 Alban Electrical Services Sol Projects Ltd

Aerial Installations & Repairs Concorde Aerials

19 19 & 47

17 Fencing Verulam Fencing

Basement Conversions St Albans Basement

43 Football Camps 40 St Albans City Youth FC

Bicycle Repairs Cycletech Hertfordshire Building Services Brockhall Building Services Carpentry / Joinery Chris Smyth Charity Traid Childrens Nursery Redbourn House Day Nursery

17

31

Recruitment Spiral Partnership

32

6

Gas K25

Hearing Services Hearing Healthcare Practice Insurance NFU Mutual

Oven Cleaning Ovenmaster Oven Wizards

EFFECTIVE Low

36 34 37 36 3 35

Security Maximum Security Systems

19

Shutters The Harpenden Shutter Company

10

15

Slimming Vision Weight Consultancy

45

23

Soft Furnishings Sue Smyth

10

39

Tree Surgeons Fircroft Tree Surgery Ltd

37

TV Repairs JB TV Services

17

Windows & Doors AA Window Repairs Cloudy2Clear Kings Windows Sash Restorations Ltd

11 12 10 11

5 4 26 27

30 Painters & Decorators CB Decorators Gary Rackley 15 M & M Decorating

Domestic Appliance Repairs Leigh Hibon

23

Roofing K & D Flat Roofing

9

Dance & Drama Stagecoach

37

Property Maintenance The 50plus

7 Gardening / Landscaping Garden Life Landscapes Greenshouse & Gardens 11 John Brodie Gardens Justin Leon Lanwarne Landscapes 28 Supagrass

Organ Theatre 40 St Albans Organ Theatre

Conservatory Roof Solutions Nu-Look

15 & 47

5 5

29 29 27 29

Complementary Health Perfectly You

6

Removals Akers Koplex Removers Ltd

Glassware Repairs 43 Chipped Glassware

Cleaning Daily Poppins Domestique Mobile Maid Murray’s Cleaning Services

Plumber DJ&M Plumbing Services Ltd

Garden Centre 35 21 Burston Garden Centre Townsend Nursery back cover

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Chiropodist Kathy Witchard

Plasterer A. Merson Plastering

Pond Maintenance Women With Waders

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7 Financial Management AMR Financial Management

Beauty Skin & Tonic Templespa

ADVERTISING

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

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DJ&M PLUMBING SERVICES LTD ●

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Electric and Power Showers 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 07830 159010 info@djmplumbing.co.uk

01727 764217 www.djmplumbing.co.uk

To Advertise: 07983 588291 jane@theNOWmagazines.com

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Stockists of the COBRA Range of Garden Machinery Quality with Economy

COM40C 16” Petrol Push Mower £160

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CORM46PC 18” Self Propelled, Rear Roller, Petrol Mower £350

Townsend Lane Harpenden AL5 2RH 01582 713083 info@townsendnursery.com