Redbourn Primary School has been graded ‘Good’ in all areas in a recent inspection by Ofsted praises the school as a place where “pupils benefit from a broad and ambitious curriculum” and recognises that “pupils enjoy lessons and learning new facts” The two-form entry in the heart of Redbourn village was last inspected 30 months ago when the quality of education was graded as requires improvement but the latest report recognised that the reading curriculum has “improved significantly” since the last inspection and that phonics teaching helps children in Early Years get off to a strong start Inspectors also commented on the positive values developed by staff at the school polite and friendly” and “pupils and staff are supportive and show respect to each other” Three inspectors visited the school in March and evaluated five specific areas during their two-day inspection: quality of education “I am delighted the hard work from every single member of the school team has been reflected in this report,” said Emma Fenn who took over as the school’s headteacher three-and-a-half years ago “We are particularly proud of the fact that in addition to recognising that our pupils receive a good education inspectors saw how our pupils ‘are encouraged to be tolerant’ and ‘understand and celebrate each other’s differences.” Chair of governors Cara Brazier added: “The governors are pleased that parents in Redbourn and the surrounding villages have a school they can be proud of where children’s behaviour is recognised as good and where the learning taking place is preparing children for life “A positive culture and ethos of acceptance and tolerance has always been a strength at Redbourn and we’re thrilled that Ofsted have judged that the quality of education matches the same high standards.” outdoor Woodland classroom and spacious grounds Pupils also enjoy access to well-equipped classrooms two halls and a range of break-out areas for small groups to learn and play Children have the opportunity to attend a range of clubs and even have their own school newspaper which has featured in the pages of the St Albans Times You can help keep quality local journalism alive by making a one-off donation or set up a regular direct debit Any contributions will help ensure the long-term future of the St Albans Times ©2025 St Albans Times. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Website by Moxie You can help keep quality local journalism alive by making a one-off donation or set up a regular direct debit. Any contributions will help ensure the long-term future of the St Albans Times. There are elections for 10 seats on Hertfordshire County Council with by-elections being held in the Redbourn ward of St Albans City and District Council and the North South and West wards of Harpenden Town Council All of the County Council's 78 seats are up for election this year with all the results from around Herts appearing here Garrington Property Finders has identified Redbourn in Hertfordshire as the top spot to live in England and Wales Its 2025 Best Places to Live Index revealed that Redbourn known for its golf courses and historical roots saw property prices drop by 8.2% last year This picturesque village less than 30 miles from London topped the rankings for its blend of value A family home in Redbourn averages £767,501 reflecting a price dip that bolstered its standing in the value for money category.  Epsom in Surrey followed as the second-best place Whitburn in Tyne and Wear and Marple in Greater Manchester also ranked high each noted for their price stability amidst rising regional averages Alnwick stood out for value with homes costing an average of £327,246 benefiting from its historical charm including the castle used in the Harry Potter films The most expensive location on the list was St Albans in Hertfordshire driven by its appeal to commuters and quality schools The data also showed regional variations in property price changes areas like the North East experienced significant increases.  places like Penarth in Wales offered better value with lower-than-average price growth said: “The headline data suggests property prices are rising across England and Wales but scratch the surface and some areas are bucking this trend to become significantly better value “Our analysis has revealed several highly desirable parts of England and Wales where prices have either fallen “Some of the biggest savings are to be made in perennially popular prime locations which offer excellent amenities a high standard of living and now also improving value.” Hopper added: “With mortgage interest rates forecast to come down gradually during 2025 many would-be buyers and movers are likely to progress their plans in coming months keen to capitalise on the combination of lower borrowing costs and a highly competitive market in which buyers often hold the cards when it comes to negotiating the best price “Our team of experts across England and Wales is already seeing a surge in interest from buyers who’ve decided to kickstart their previously paused moving plans in 2025 our latest Best Places to Live guide can help you identify locations with the optimum blend of natural beauty quality of life and value for money.” towns and villages selected for our 2025 ranking score well in at least one category and you can use our interactive search tool to find places that offer more of the things that matter most to you.” It’s arguably fair to say that global politics have not been as precarious since the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union when the threat of mutually-assured destruction hung over our heads like the sword of Damocles But although the risk of direct conflict between the East and the West was limited by the recognition that any such conflict would likely involve the devastating use of nuclear weapons that isn’t to say that it wasn’t considered a possibility when US President Ronald Reagan and UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher indulged in frequent sabre-rattling with the USSR’s Yuri Andropov and TV shows like Threads [1984] offered a very dramatic account of the potential medical and environmental consequences of a nuclear war in Britain and you can understand why many people considered it wasn’t a question IF there was a Third World War Take the month of March 1983 in particular: both the USSR and USA were still carrying out nuclear tests Reagan described the Soviet Union as “the evil empire” in a speech in Florida and the USA’s Strategic Defense Initiative (“Star Wars”) was announced an emergency/war plan was provided to the sub-district of Redbourn as part of nationwide preparations to “save lives relieve suffering and help the millions of survivors in the event of a nuclear war” Although the estimated number of those people left alive after such a conflict might be optimistic there’s no denying the seriousness given to the situation with the creation of “plans to provide and maintain any services essential to the life of the community in the event of a hostile attack or any other drastic catastrophe” such as nuclear accidents The plan for Redbourn is likely to be very similar to others distributed across the county but a copy of this particular 66-page document is now in the archives of the St Albans Times which is why we have focused on that specific village Much of what it covers is somewhat self-explanatory: plans for refugees from the London area control and distribution of limited food supplies rescue operations by the emergency services the burial of the dead – possibly in mass graves and community advisers and sub-district staff are tasked with dealing with problems in relation to the maintenance of law and order St Albans City and District was to be considered a local network with five sub-districts: Harpenden the overall control of the operation is said to be in the hands of SADC chief executive Mr (Reg) Braddon based out of the magistrates court rooms in St Albans Reg Braddon enjoyed a career with GEC Cables and Equipment Limited before coming to St Albans in March 1976 during which time he was responsible for developing land off Chequer Street as the Maltings Shopping Centre The document goes on to name other members of staff working in the sub-district sanitation coordination Tessa Abbott and health officer Dr John Cuthbert with their full addresses and phone numbers included in the plans for reference in the Brooke Bond tea-packing factory which once occupied The Mill and eventually closed in 1994 The plans noted: “The nearby Common could provide a helicopter or light aircraft strip for communications casevac [the rapid and often unscheduled evacuation of casualties to medical facilities elsewhere] and air-freighting supplies Community posts were to be established at the village hall Gorhambury and Wimbushes in Potters Crouch the priority would be to communicate the emergency to local residents with means suggested including loud hailer CB radios and even despatch runners carrying cleft sticks as well as more conventional means should they still be available Other control centres across the district were detailed as the Town Hall in St Peter’s Street (now the Museum + Gallery) Harpenden’s council offices in Southdown Road (now the Harpenden Trust) and London Colney Secondary School in Alexander Road (which closed in 1984) The various headquarters were required to stock up with certain equipment and radiac instruments to monitor radiation levels Other equipment included tie-on casualty labels although the list was more comprehensive than just these items any inflammable material was to be disposed of curtains were to be dipped in flame resistant solution 14 and 21 days in pounds were included for between 1 and 90 people Because of concerns about a lack of communication with county and national authorities each sub-district was given specific duties to maintain for the interim local knowledge and knowledge of local conditions and resources is essential” These included responsibility for welfare services including billeting and emergency feeding centres and identifying the resources available for dealing with damaged buildings waste disposal and “other matters of importance to survival and the restoration of ordered living” Other tasks included assisting in the establishment of first aid posts and casualty collection points determining what general supplies were available and allocating and distributing these accordingly and manning of radio receiver – call sign ‘St Albans Sub-District B – on listening watch for national news broadcasts “The major problems are likely to result from disease and water pollution – ie eating/drinking from contaminated sources – hunger staff needed to research and document all locally available resources heavy plant machinery and food – “including hunters “There would be a period following a major attack estimated between two weeks and three months when communities would have to survive with no significant or effective support from District Control.” This meant maintenance of law and order could be a matter of major importance adding: “There have been recent examples of lawlessness in Western cities when public services (for example lighting) have been cut off for only a matter of hours.” Was this referring to the New York Blackout of 1977 which saw citywide looting and arson for its 25-hours duration Staff were warned about the potential dangers: “Local selfish survivors coupled with bands of desperate refugees could present an enormous threat to communities unless the communities are organised and strong.” It’s hard not to draw comparisons here with many of the post-apocalyptic dramas seen on films and television over the past decades which suggests a degree of prescience in the Redbourn plan The distribution of the public information booklet ‘Protect and Survive’ had taken place between 1974-1980 to advise citizens on how best to protect themselves in the event of a nuclear attack and the plan called on staff to visit residents to ensure they had received and understood this booklet especially as they could find themselves confined at home for at least 14 days A large section of the emergency/war plan document was taken up with compiling lists including sources of plastic sacks and sandbags buildings which could be used as communal shelters residents with first aid training or other medical skills Other sections included a list of welfare shelters which included St Mary’s Congregational House A selection of these locations would also be used as emergency feeding centres Both Herts County Showground and Redbourn Golf Course were mooted as possible sites for largescale transit camps to house refugees if cattle have been affected by radiation but are not dead they may be slaughtered at existing or new locally established premises The meat will be edible but NOT the offal or bones.” the River Ver was to be considered as a potential source albeit only after boiling or other treatment The plan then moved on to what actions were to be taken after any attack including supporting normal peace-time emergency services in the event of an invasion using conventional weapons local rescue teams and those who live in the damaged area were to be organised to mount a concerted effort to collect all obvious casualties get them under cover and give them whatever first aid help was available They were to continue until fall-out arrival was detected in which case they were then to take cover until radiation had decayed to a level that permitted movement It was stressed that there would be no district rubbish and waste disposal services for some weeks or months so sites must be selected where rubbish could be buried the grim task of burial of the dead received a section of its own Wherever possible bodies will be identified and the normal procedures carried out but there would also be sites identified for mass burial with individuals selected for a ‘dead collecting team’ the burial site was Westfield Road Cemetery in Harpenden with an emergency mortuary at Park Hall (now the town council offices) in Leyton Road mass burial sites were identified at Redbournbury Toxic Waste Site off Redbournbury Lane and derelict land north of Bylands House on Dunstable Road Environmental considerations also had to be taken into account including preventing any ‘organic pollutants’ gaining access to water supplies “The achievement of an environmentally acceptable disposal system depends on speed as corpses will become offensive in two to three days in hot weather and within a week or ten days advanced putrefaction will set in.” details were also included relating to debris clearance and the repair of roads with a map showing essential service routes across the county identified so that priority could be given to the clearance of these routes the M1 was considered to be of national importance with other routes designated to be of community importance instead There was no rousing conclusion to the document perhaps urging the community to come together in these dark days with a view of a brighter future the final part of the document merely explained the procedures for mobilisation to ensure all members of the control teams would be in a state of immediate operational readiness in the event of an attack although did note that their families would be allowed to join them where possible Any buildings listed in the Sub-District Plan which were not owned by HCC or SADC would be requisitioned by offices responsible for specific war-time functions at the district council The last section of the plan was a list of contacts for local organisations which reads like a who’s who of Redbourn community life in the early 1980s and included the names and addresses of people from a variety of bodies the ‘eighties passed without the predicted conflict between East and West with the advent of Perestroika at the end of the decade leading to glastnost and the fall of the Soviet Union Warfare between the end of the 1980s and today has been fought with conventional weapons with the threat of nuclear attack reserved for the history books But as tensions across the globe have escalated in recent years the idea that nuclear weapons might be used by either side has once again become viable Is there a new version of the Sub-District Plan sitting on the desks of council officials across the county Are they even now drawing up lists of resources and emergency measures in the event of any attack One of the most controversial housing developments included in St Albans’ draft Local Plan is now open for community engagement The Crown Estate is proposing to build up to 4,000 new homes on 975 acres of Green Belt between Redbourn Road and Hemel Hempstead Road The East Hemel site is allocated for development in SADC’s draft Local Plan which will set the planning policy for how areas like this should be designed and developed The East Hemel development will be the first phase of the wider Hemel Garden Communities (HGC) programme which aims to transform Hemel Hempstead by providing new community facilities new transport links and green spaces that support health wellbeing and a thriving natural environment as well as 10,000 new jobs for the surrounding area The proposals for East Hemel are at an early stage with a comprehensive programme of community engagement taking place over the next 15 months ahead of a formal planning application which was established by an Act of Parliament has a diverse £16bn portfolio which includes urban centres and rural holdings It says it wants to understand more about life in the area as well as the local community’s ideas and ambitions for East Hemel Head of strategic land at The Crown Estate Rob Chesworth said: “We are really excited by the opportunity at East Hemel green space and other community benefits for generations to come “The upcoming engagement events will be a great opportunity to better understand local residents and their communities We hope as many people as possible will take part and share their views to help create a place that can thrive both now and in the future.” But the proposals have not gone down well with Redbourn Parish Council Chairman David Mitchell said: “The Hemel Garden Community development would be a disaster for Redbourn but building an extension to Hemel that is nearly the size of Harpenden will destroy over 500 hectares of Green Belt in the area over 3000 are in Redbourn parish between Hemel and Redbourn village “That would see a loss of over 130 hectares of quality farmland between the two settlements “The infrastructure demands would be huge and the increase in traffic on already congested roads will cause major delays unless there is a revolution in public transport provisions “The Hemel Garden Community programme is arguably a social experiment that may or may not come off the surrounding countryside would be a building site for decades “ Add to that the proposed development sites in the draft Local Plan at West and East Redbourn and it’s clear that Redbourn would no longer be a rural village Redbourn Parish Council opposes extensive development on our surrounding Green Belt but it seems others are prepared to make Redbourn the sacrificial lamb.” The Crown Estate is holding a drop-in session in Redbourn Village Centenary Room on October 17 from 6-9pm offering local residents the opportunity to meet the Estate team One of the district’s leading independent brewers has started production of its award-winning beers and ales in its new and expanded home The team at Farr Brew have been busy transforming a disused barn at Great Revel End Farm after having to vacate their previous home in Wheathampstead these are the first photos showing inside the facility The new location boasts a much larger tap room It features a full bar offering wines and gins as well as their own products and rotating guest craft kegs The brewery operation itself can be watched through a special observation window and they are also offering comprehensive 90-minute brewery tours offering an in-depth look at the recipes and processes behind their beers There’s also a huge outdoor seating area offering stunning views over the local countryside Farr Brew have been operating as a professional commercial brewery for eight and a half years and owners Nick Farr and Matt Elvidge admitted they were nearing capacity at their Wheathampstead facility Nick explained: “This offers us more space and a bigger capacity for brewing so we can start selling our beers to other pubs again The attitude of our new landlord is a real sea change we’ve developed a friendship and close personal relationship.” This includes working with their landlord’s father on resurrecting a beer last tasted 300 years ago after he translated a local recipe using his knowledge and the Farr team’s brewing skills They will also be planting barley on the farm next year Other plans include planting a vineyard so they can produce their own wine while the landowner is busy establishing a glamping site and bee education centre as part of his vision to transform the land into a real visitor destination A new series of pictures have been created by church member Lesley Poulton for use during Lent at St Mary’s Church in Redbourn St Mary’s Church in Redbourn—a thriving and inclusive congregation of around 300 people—is offering a powerful Lenten experience this year through Journey to the Cross a visual and spiritual reflection based on artwork by church member and artist Lesley has created twelve images drawn from scenes in Holy Week using selected verses from Luke (chapters 22–23) and John (chapter 19) The series begins with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and moves through key moments in his betrayal Each image focuses on the people around Jesus—those who condemned him or simply watched—as he made his journey to the cross These are traditionally known as the Stations of the Cross but simply one person’s ‘take’ on 12 stages of Jesus’ journey towards his crucifixion.” “To have the opportunity to explore and portray some of the people who were part of Jesus’ journey towards the Cross I wanted to try to understand how the characters might have been feeling and thinking and my aim was to simply respond as a human being and in a way that would make sense to people today Ideas flowed and the media that I chose was charcoal and pastel – expressive and alterable using paint would have been too slow a process thinking that they would suit the physical building of St Mary’s better It was such a short time between Gethsemane and the crucifixion for so much to have taken place for Jesus His utter vulnerability came home in a new way – and the pictures themselves are vulnerable and unprotected So often he was left standing with his arms down at his side And those ‘oh so human’ disciples – Peter who could not face anyone having denied knowing Jesus so angry and disappointed in the Jesus he had followed In my picture Jesus is trying to ‘catch his eye’ And then there is Pilate – conflicted and in the middle of political considerations – and Barabbas who has got a reprieve And then the captions relating to the pictures have added greatly to the images and I am so grateful to the friend who gave these such thought and to the graphic designer who presented them so well and to another friend who spent time and energy in discovering ways to physically hang the pictures.” The images are on display in the north and south aisles of the church throughout Lent Visitors are invited to pause at each one and reflect—on what the image prompts in them: a thought helping viewers to engage with the themes and including this verse from Matthew 11: all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”Matthew 11.28–end Some visitors who have seen the display shared their responses: “I’d never known the story of Good Friday in this way.” “The vulnerability of his feet really struck me.” “Lesley’s work is thought provoking and has reminded me of the more human and vulnerable side of Jesus.” “This is the first time we’ve had something like this here although last summer we had a large-scale display of art made from recycled items from our Holiday Club The idea came from a totally different conversation about Stations of the Cross and knowing that we have artists in the congregation I wondered what might be possible I ran it past Lesley and David (who helped with the map and leaflet which accompanies it) and to my delight Lesley created the Journey to the Cross you can see now What has been done for this year has now led to conversations about something different bigger and involving the village for next year.” To find out more about Journey to the Cross at St Mary’s, visit their website here We’d love to hear how churches and communities across the Diocese are marking the season Please send us your stories and pictures via comms@stalbans.anglican.org we help inspire one another in our shared mission of living God’s love and invite others to discover what that looks like in practice 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fresche Solutions a global leader in IBM i modernization and transformation a UK-based provider of specialized IBM i Synon/CA 2E development and consulting services This strategic move reinforces Fresche’s commitment to customers and organizations invested in IBM mid-range solutions and expands its footprint to further support clients in the UK and Europe who require specialized Synon/CA 2E expertise This acquisition continues to enhance Fresche's portfolio and increase its capacity to meet the demand for Synon/CA 2E comprehensive services Redbourn’s renowned reputation in Synon/CA 2E consulting in the UK complements Fresche’s commitment to helping IBM i customers manage “We are thrilled to welcome the Redbourn team to Fresche," stated Joe Zarrehparvar "The combined expertise of our teams further strengthens our commitment to provide exceptional support to the IBM i community With Redbourn's deep knowledge in Synon/CA 2E and a shared passion for innovation we are well-positioned to address the evolving needs of our clients and partners worldwide This acquisition marks a significant milestone in Fresche's mission as the leading modernization and transformation partner for IBM i organizations.” "This partnership is the perfect fit for Redbourn Managing Director at Redbourn Business Systems "Fresche’s strong commitment to IBM i solutions and unmatched expertise in modernization give our clients additional options to grow and transform their operations we can deliver an even higher level of support for modernization and application and cloud services I am excited to embark on this new journey and join Fresche’s mission to lead modernization and transformation for IBM i organizations," Cast added expressed its enthusiasm for the addition of Redbourn to the Fresche organization "This acquisition reinforces our strategy to enhance Fresche’s global footprint and expand capabilities to serve the IBM i market better," said Fraser Preston "The transaction offers substantial momentum and synergies strengthening our commitment to invest in IBM i modernization capabilities that enhance Fresche’s solutions to provide a competitive edge." In addition to Redbourn’s office in the UK Fresche’s global reach spans offices in the US the companies remain committed to offering exceptional modernization and transformation services and application support that help organizations protect and advance their IBM i investments Media Contact:  Aneta Ranstoller VP, Marketing Fresche Solutions Inc. aneta.ranstoller@freschesolutions.com +1 800 361 6782  Steve CastManaging DirectorRedbourn Business Systemssteve.cast@redbourn.co.uk(01582) 794229 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6136fc3d-7b37-4322-8689-518d612a5a2d The website also provides an online forum via Commonplace where people can share their views Share to FacebookShare to LinkedinFly tips are cleared home repairs are booked and tenants are surveyed during Community Days run by St Albans City and District Council staff and contractors visit Council housing areas across the District several times a year to offer first-hand advice They have face-to-face talks with tenants to listen to any concerns they may have and carry out a range of activities arranging for any fly-tips or graffiti to be removed and noting exterior or interior repairs that are required The team are often supported by neighbourhood police teams who deal with enquiries about crime and antisocial behaviour Housing Repairs contractor Morgan Sindall Property Services also brings a truck and offers a bulky waste collection service that is free on the day to help tenants Chair of the Housing and Inclusion Committee attended the most recent Community Day at Lybury Lane and Down Edge Representatives of Morgan Sindall Property Services were out in force along with several Council housing officials Our Community Days are a very valuable engagement exercise as we get to meet the very people that we serve in the area they live in We can hear and see for ourselves if there are any issues that need to be resolved and arrange for those to be done that a recent repair she had asked for had been carried out satisfactorily and that she had no outstanding concerns come across one particularly unsightly fly-tip and have contacted our waste contractor Veolia to arrange its removal we are committed to maintaining our estates to the highest of standards to ensure our tenants can be proud of their neighbourhood Community Days help us do that and I urge tenants to come along to them when we are in their area to talk to our staff and contractors The next Community Day will take place around Hill Dyke Road with members of the Community Day team at Redbourn; below the Council’s Project and Tenant Liaison Manager Media Contact:  John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend Environment Agency Updated: 08:48 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 cloud will increase from off the North Sea to bring a few light showers during the day Some bright or sunny spells developing by late-afternoon Staying dry with some lengthy clear skies overnight Turning chilly with a touch of grass frost in places Largely dry with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells on Wednesday with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells throughout the period Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average If you want to make 2025 your year to take up – or improve – your running St Albans has a plethora of interesting running routes and clubs to help keep you motivated Here’s our pick of some of the best… These routes will take you away from traffic and pavements busy with pedestrians so you can soak up being in nature while running The combination has been proven to be a huge stress-buster Gorhambury Drive: Gorhambury Drive offers a peaceful running route minutes away from the bustling city centre part concrete path is accessible from Bluehouse Hill the route is approximately 2.5 miles passing the Roman Theatre and the ruins of the Old Gorhambury House built by Sir Nicholas Bacon in the 16th century and once visited by Queen Elizabeth I pheasants and horses for spectators while red kites soar overhead Be warned there is a steep hill to climb on the way up to the Houses so for a flatter route turn right at the bottom and head to the Redbourn Road You can run out and back on along Gorhambury Drive carefully cross the A414 to run into Appspond Lane and then loop back to Bluehouse Hill by turning on to Potterscrouch Lane Or follow Blunts Lane or Ragged Hall Lane to reach Chiswell Green and run around Greenwood Park From the exit of Bluehouse Hill at Gorhambury Drive road to run into Verulamium Park and on to the Alban Way you can carry on along footpaths parallel to the Redbourn Road to reach the Nickey Line or run across to the Harpenden Road So there are plenty of options to include Gorhambury Drive as part of a shorter to long run Please note the Drive offers a permissive footpath over private land and is only usually open between 8am and 6pm and may be closed at the owner’s discretion at any time. Check their website for more details and planned closures: gorhamburyestate.co.uk Nickey Line: This is an eight mile long converted railway line between Hemel Hempstead and Harpenden There are numerous access points along the way including off Redbourn High Street and off Luton Road and Hollybush Lane in Harpenden you can come off to loop Redbourn Common or follow permissive paths across fields to reach Rothamsted Park Be aware that the path involves some crossings of the B487 and A5183 It can get muddy and slippy in some places in the autumn and winter months as some sections are compacted dirt rather than concrete For a full history of the line and numerous suggested routes along it, visit: www.nickeyline.org Alban Way: This is another converted railway line of approximately between St Albans and Hatfield It is approximately six miles from the entrance off Cottonmill Lane in Sopwell St Albans to Hertford Road in Hatfield opposite the historic Hatfield House There are numerous points where you can access the line along the way including from Orient Close The section through Smallford has some beautifully decorated former platforms while an underpass beneath Cavendish Way has some colourful motivational art You can also come off the line at various exits to take in some of St Albans’ pretty parks on your run if you exit at Camp Road you can then run up to Clarence Park or from Hill End Lane follow Hixberry Lane to access routes around Highfield Park and Tyttenhanger Lea Valley Walk: This route follows the path of the River Lea from Leagrave to East London It’s 50 miles to run the whole thing but you can pick it up at numerous points in Hertfordshire for a picturesque You can join it from Harpenden at points including Ox Lane From there you can head North towards Luton on an undulating path passing the Luton Hoo estate and statues of famous local residents or head south towards Wheathampstead and then on to Brocket Hall Childwickbury and Batchwood Forest: Heartwood Forest can be found between Sandridge and Wheathampstead explore here including across the ancient Nomansland Common you’ll pass ancient trees and newly planted orchards It’s a beautiful sight throughout the seasons with bluebells filling the woods in April and autumn colours abundant from September to November you can exit at Sandridge High Street to pick up a footpath off House Lane that will then take you through Jersey Farm to Marshalswick You can then run across Oaklands College via North Drive off Sandpit Lane Another option is to exit Heartwood Forest at Ayres End Lane and then head down to the Harpenden Road You can then run along Childwick Green past Childwickbury House on a path surrounded by fields with views of Gorhambury House You can follow the path behind Batchwood Golf Course to exit onto Batchwood Drive or loop into Batchwood Forest and past the Hawkswick Lodge fruit farm to rejoin Harpenden Road and then head to Sandridgebury Lane to take you back into Heartwood Forest Bricket Wood and the Mundens: Paths through Bricket Wood Common can get muddy in the winter but are ripe for exploring if you have trail shoes follow School Lane through the woods and you’ll pass the quirky Bricket Picture House From School Lane you can also take paths into the Munden Estate and run through this scenic rural estate all the way to Watford There are also traffic-free trail routes here that will take you into Aldenham and Radlett you can also run along the pretty Riverside Walk then cross over Smug Oak Lane to pass the Moor Mill and into Frogmoor fishing lakes to come out on Park Street Lane If you want to improve your running speed this year then running intervals on the track (such as five times 1K with two minutes recovery) is a great way to do it The track in Verulamium Park was threatened with closure in 2023 due to lack of funding but has been saved by volunteers establishing the Abbey View Community Athletics Track charity. The track is now open to the public at certain times, please see the website for more information and to book an hourly slot: stalbanstrack.co.uk If you want to join in a group track session for company and the support of expert coaches, then the track is also home to clubs including St Albans Striders (stalbansstriders.com), St Albans AC (stalbansac.co.uk) and Athena Ladies Running Club (athenarunning.co.uk) All clubs offer members the chance to train on the track at certain times as well as doing numerous other social runs Joining a club is an excellent way to meet new people find new running routes and increase your fitness Another way to run with others on a marked out route is by joining in a parkrun These are timed 5K runs held every Saturday at 9am You just need to register on their website in advance for a barcode so you can be sent your 5K time afterwards it is not a race and you don’t have to be fast to join in You can walk all of it if you choose so you can join in as part of a Couch to 5K plan if you’re starting that in 2025 St Albans parkrun is held in Verulamium Park it loops around the football pitches before doing two hilly laps of the former golf course behind the track then heading back to the basketball courts to finish Jersey Farm parkrun loops around Jersey Farm Woodland Park in Sandridge Both routes get quite muddy in the winter so trail shoes are recommended There are numerous other parkruns in Hertfordshire including in Cassiobury Park and Leavesden Country Park in Watford and Gadebridge in Hemel. For more information visit parkrun.org.uk Lucy Waterlow is a journalist, marathon runner and British Athletics coach. She is the author of running books including The Ultimate Guide to parkrun: Everything you need to know about the friendliest 5K in the world, on sale now The proposed introduction of charges for free car parks in Redbourn and London Colney has been quietly shelved by SADC – for now Council leader Cllr Paul de Kort told the St Albans Times: “There is no current consultation planned for either of these two locations They were referenced in the February budget but not followed through at that time “Free car parks will always cost a council to maintain will tend to have limited spend on them (as this entirely funded by general Council Tax receipts) A future change in charging policy has always who stood as the Conservative Party’s Parliamentary candidate in Harpenden and Berkhamsted put parking charges at the top of his manifesto when campaigning for election He said in March: “With the cost of living crisis these are the wrong policies at the wrong time they will also make life harder for our hard pressed and make it as easy as possible for people to visit After hearing that the consultation would not be proceeding Nigel said: “This is excellent news for residents and businesses in Redbourn and indeed London Colney “I campaigned against these charges for free car parks and I’m pleased the council has seen sense – at least for now “I’m still receiving emails and letters about the council’s plan to charge for on-street parking – which both businesses and residents oppose “I await the results of the consultation in the coming weeks – and pray the council sees sense here too.” On the opposite side of the political spectrum the proposals also met with objections from Labour councillors in London Colney who condemned the plans for the Haseldine Road car park Cllrs Mike Hobday and Emma Turnbull insisted the charges would have had a negative impact on residents and businesses in the village as the free car park was part of the original design of London Colney They presented a petition signed by almost 700 people opposing the charges to SADC then it will be a tremendous relief for London Colney residents and businesses We’re grateful to the council leadership for listening to local residents and to our campaign against car parking charges.” Andrew Lee from Joii London Colney vets in Haseldine Road said: “We are thrilled to hear that the local council has decided not to implement parking charges in the car park on Haseldine Road We strongly feel that this decision is beneficial not only for our vet practice but for all local businesses As a new addition to the community since June 2023 Free and plentiful parking encourages the use of the local facilities supporting local businesses and ensuring the vibrancy of our community We are committed to fostering a welcoming environment and believe that maintaining free parking is crucial in helping local trade thrive We appreciate the local councils’ support in making this positive outcome possible.” A QUAINT village in the south of England has been named the best place to live in England and Wales Redbourn, Hertfordshire, has been given the 2025 title by Garrington Property Finders, which creates an annual report, analysing 1,447 cities, towns and villages with more than 5,000 residents The locations are judged on five key criteria Located just 30 miles from central London, the charming village has a population of just 6,913 people, and dates back to Roman times Its Parish church St Mary's was built in the 12th century and an Iron Age Hill Fort is located to the south-west of the village The picture-postcard village was also the location of one of the first cricket matches ever played back in 1666 The nearest train station is located three miles away, and can get you into Luton in 10 minutes and London St Pancras in 45 minutes. The area has a generous selection of Outstanding rated schools, including Roundwood Park School and Sir John Lawes school. However, the average house price in the village is £767,501, way above the national average. one of the world's most famous horse races Epsom ranks consistently high on the table and took the third place spot on Garrington's 2024 table The town also boasts a vibrant high street featuring dozens of quaint cafes and independent shops The area has an abundance of highly rated schools and high paying jobs which have allowed it to climb up the table Trains to central London take around 40 minutes whilst Guilford can be reached by rail in 30 minutes The average house price in the area is a whopping £790,983 Third place on this year's list goes to the village of Whitburn The North East gem has stunning sandy beaches and is in easy reach of both Newcastle and Sunderland Seals and dolphins can be spotted along the coastline whilst rare birds circle around its National Trust park with stunning period buildings dating back to the 17th century And with average house prices sitting at £328,999 this is by far the cheapest area to live in the top three