EVENT REPORTS
2024/23
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Food and Farming Day for Primary School Children at the Hertfordshire Showground -
Organised by the Hertfordshire Agricultural Society who have been running the County Show for 136 years. The event targeted year 6 Primary School Children (10 & 11 yr olds) with one Harpenden school, Manland Primary in attendance alongside 1000+ pupils from Hertfordshire Primary Schools.
The focus of the day was to promote the original ‘Field to Fork’ story. However, we aim to ‘flip’ the story and start with food and work backwards, showcasing all the different foods within the ‘Eat Well Plate’ of Fruit & Vegetables; Potatoes, Bread and other Carbohydrates; Beans, Fish, Meat and other Proteins; Dairy and alternatives and Oils.
All exhibits offered an interactive experience. 2 local foodies; (below) Theo Michaels (chef, TV presenter and award-winning author) and Katharine Tate AKA The Food Teacher (teacher, Registered Nutritional Therapist and award-winning author) were both involved in the day. Katharine explained, 'The day was fantastic talking with the pupils about where our food comes from. My session was supported by itsu so I talked about Asian food and climate differences around the world with seaweed, prawn cracker and rice cake food tastings, which the children loved. A memorable day for all the children."
In addition to the marquees there was machinery, livestock and various demonstrations. The school children and teachers moved around the various exhibits with additional stewards available who will have farming knowledge that could answer questions or give a more in-depth commentary on a certain area.
Next year the event will take place on Tuesday 2nd July for any local schools that might be interested.
Please see a link for Herts County Council
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7083004576844402688
SUNDAY APRIL 28TH EASTERN REGION WOMEN'S FOOTBALL LEAGUE NORTH DIVISION.
HARPENDEN TOWN WOMEN 3 MULBARTON WANDERERS FC LADIES 0 HT 1-0.
Harpenden Town Women finished their season in style with a 3-0 home victory over Mulbarton Rovers Ladies who two weeks previously had beaten the Harps 4-2 so the Harps finally got the upper hand this week with their win, this victory now puts them back on top of the table on 43 points with Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers Women on 40 points but they have got two matches to play.
The home team's keeper Jasmine Hughes made a good block when the visitors Leah Brown made a good run into the box down the right whilst for the hosts saw Sophia Amanor have a shot blocked by a good stop from Jody Todd and Erin Shacklock following up put the loose ball over the bar. Rebecca McShane also went close with a firm drive and then Belle Shannon(my favourite) saw one of her thunderbolts whizz past the near upright with Jody Todd just a spectator. Natalie Cloy set up Sophia Amanor whose effort was blocked by Lucy Lincoln whilst Iva Hrisimova free kick was punched clear by a good save by Jody Todd and then Jaime Curtain saw her shot pushed out by Todd and her follow up effort went just wide of Todd's right hand post. Rebecca McShane also shot wide with a neat low drive and then just before the break saw the Harps take the lead when Jaime Curtain made a surging run down the right wing whereupon she crossed the ball into the box where Rebecca McShane saw her fierce low shot pushed away by good save from Jody Todd but as the ball ran loose SOPHIA AMANOR was first to it and struck the ball low into the far left corner despite the attentions of Lucy Lincoln the Mulbarton number three to give Harpenden a 1-0 lead. Natalie Cloy and Rebecca Dowdall kept the Mulbarton main scorer Rebekah Lake(20 goals this season so far) at bay along with their other main threat Rachel Jermy.
Sophia Amanor then found Rebecca McShane but her firm low strike went just wide of the near post and then Jaime Curtain put over a brilliant cross from the right which saw Jody Todd come rushing out of her goal to gather the ball cleanly at her near post for a great cut out to stop it reaching Amanor.
In the second half both Sophia Amanor and Belle Shannon both went close before the Harps Ladies finally got a second goal when Rebecca McShane played the ball through for SOPHIA AMANOR to latch onto the ball and hold off the challenge of a defender whereupon she struck the ball first time and drilled it low into the bottom right corner to take her tally to 50 for the season. Belle Shannon hit one of her long range efforts which nearly crept in at the far upright but Jody Todd pulled off a good save low down to keep the score at 2-0. Natalie Cloy cutting into the box saw her well placed effort cleared off the line at the last moment by Lucy Lincoln and then Sophia Amanor saw her drive well saved by Todd. The visitors though tried to hit back and Poppy Loveland went close with a free kick that went just wide of Jasmine Hughes far upright whilst Rachel Jermy made a few dangerous runs towards the Harps box but Rebecca Dowdall was on hand to block these. Heading into the last fifteen minutes of the match saw the Harps Ladies secure the victory with a third goal when a long kick up field from Jasmine Hughes saw goal machine SOPHIA AMANOR break clear whereupon she drilled the ball low past Jody Todd from twelve yards to complete her hat-trick and make the final score 3-0 and take her goal tally to 51 for the season. This is an individual record for any player that has played for Harpenden Town Football Club, well done Sophia.
For Mulbarton saw Poppy Loveland and Rebekah Lake both have shots which were well struck but Jasmine Hughes was equal to them and pull off a couple of excellent saves low down to her right whilst for the Harps saw Sophia Amanor set up Lucie Kirby twice but her efforts were both blocked by Lucy Lincoln and Leah Brown respectively and so that is how it finished for the Harpenden Ladies a 3-0 win and top of the table on 43 points but we now we have to wait a few weeks to see if we get promotion. The players of the match for Harpenden were their central defender and captain Rebecca Dowdall and midfielder Natalie Cloy with Rachel Jermy picking up the Mulbarton title of player of the match.
I would like to thank Hayley Ayres for all the photos and videos she has sent me from every match and also to keep me updated with the team news and information from the matches I could not attend, thank you Hayley. Also a big thank you to Michelle Chandler who puts up with me when she takes me to away games, thank you Michelle. Plus to all the players as I have really enjoyed this season, thank you all. Do not worry Rebecca McShane I have not forgotten you, thank you for the lifts home from the home matches, thank you.
Squad: Jasmine Hughes, Kacee Warren, Erin Shacklock, Iva Hrisimova, Rebecca Dowdall, Chloe Dinsey, Rebecca McShane, Belle Shannon, Sophia Amanor, Natalie Cloy, Jaime Curtain, Reese Ayres, Melody Jones, Lucie Kirby(all played).
Terry Edwards.
The Harpenden Town Men are in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division Leagueplay-offs and they are at home this Wednesday in the semi-final against Leverstock Green, KO 7-45pm, so get on down there and CHEER THEM ON. Come on you HARPS.
Richard Nichols delivering the Chair’s statement
‘Time running out for finalising Local Plan’, says councillor
Without the submission, in an acceptable form of a local plan for St Albans City and District before the middle of next year, protection of key areas of the Green Belt against housing development might well be lost. The warning came from District and County Councillor Paul de Kort, addressing a public meeting last week hosted by the Harpenden Society at the town’s Katherine Warington School.
Cllr de Kort pointed out that although a recent statement by Secretary of State Michael Gove had indicated a move away from mandatory to ‘advisory’ house building targets, it was clear that the requirement for SADC to sanction the building of just over 15,000 new homes between now and 2041, would not necessarily be eased. And, in answer to a question from the audience, he acknowledged that the outcome of the General Election later this year added a further element of uncertainty.
Although the council was keen to make maximum use of so-called ‘brownfield’ sites in the District, surveys had shown that they could accommodate only around 900 dwellings. It meant that land had therefore to be made available elsewhere for building about 11,000 more homes, which implied sacrificing Green Belt.
In an ARUP group survey commissioned last year by SADC, the practicality and extent of some Green Belt development applications was questioned. Cllr de Kort cited the L&G group’s wish to build around 550 homes on Green Belt land north of Bloomfield Road, Harpenden. It contrasted starkly with the figure of just 293 homes calculated by ARUP and influenced especially by the distance of the site from the town centre and consequent transport implications.
Paul de Kort commented: “Putting together a local plan is a complex activity for any local authority. The particular circumstances of St Albans District mutiply the challenge. I hope my presentation and responses to the audience's questions provided more clarity on the local context, the progress made to date and what remaining uncertainties there are to be resolved. Very recent ministerial statements appear to allow for greater consideration of specific local pressures and I welcomed that during the evening. It is something that we have been demanding for a long time."
A record breaking attendance of over 140 including many non members of the Harpenden Society were present filling the school hall for almost two hours. The full slide presentation can be seen on the Harpenden Society web site. www.harpendensociety.org
Feb 1st. HARPENDEN RAILWAY STATION EASTERN CAR PARK PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT.
New Homes; New Plaza. New Multi Storey Car Park, wider entrance road; New Biking set up.
As seen at the EMC exhibition by Solum, in association with Network Rail and Kier Construction
There would be two residential blocks of 50 eco friendly apartments, ( some affordable) each with their own parking. These being on a ‘brownfield site’ so no loss of greenbelt.
A Station Plaza for passenger drop off and collection. Ticket machines.
A multi storey car park for 450 vehicles, with some EV charge points
Dedicated, safer waking and cycling connection
Simplified vehicular access
Go to the Solum web site to give your views.
