WATFORD

Intu Watford is holding a series of events for children as hundreds of trick-or-treaters are expected to descend on the shopper centre this Halloween. As part of a series of free events being run to keep children entertained during the half term holidays, children will be able to make something such as a carved pumpkin or magic potion, at different workshops taking place every day of the week, ending with intu’s big trick or treat on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30. The trick or treat event is being hosted by intu Watford in partnership with lots of its top shops and restaurants who will display pumpkin stickers in their windows to show they are taking part. Special buckets will be available for trick or treaters to collect from the event desk in return for a voluntary donation to the Watford based charity Home-Start. Activities are free, with no booking required and are open to all ages, but are particularly suitable for children in pre-school and early years.

Hertfordshire County Council Youth Connexions has announced the launch of a new youth project based at the Woodside Community Church of the Nazarene, with support from Watford Community Housing Trust. The project, aimed at young people in Years 8 and 9, was launched in September and runs every Friday from 3pm to 5pm during term time. Young people have the opportunity to take part in a range of personal and social development opportunities including sports and team games, arts & crafts, cooking, opportunities to gain accreditations, discussions and workshops, get information, make new friends, chill out and find out about volunteering opportunities.

The Holywell Community Group held a bulb-planting event with the support of local residents after it won £1,500 from Watford Community Housing Trust’s grounds maintenance contractor Glendale Services. As part of the firm’s 25th anniversary celebrations, each of the trust’s community areas was entered into a prize draw to win funding to help make upgrades to green spaces. Following the draw, the event took place on Saturday October 1 at West Watford Free Church, Tolpits Lane, with refreshments being served to volunteers.

The Friends of St. Paul’s Church, Langleybury, have arranged a talk by Sarah Priestley on “A History of Cassiobury” to be held on November 1. There is no charge for the event, although donations will be welcome. The talk begins at 7.30pm.

New volunteers are needed to support bereaved families. The Coroners Courts Support Service (CCSS) is a voluntary organisation that supports bereaved families and witnesses attending an inquest. Attending an inquest can be a very difficult and distressing experience for both bereaved families and witnesses. The volunteers support the family and other witnesses attending the courts and liaise with other parties appearing before the court to ensure their understanding of its role and the procedures. Volunteers are needed for the service at Hatfield and anyone interested in volunteering for the CCSS should apply for an application pack by sending an email to info@ccsupport.org.uk or to have an informal chat about the role, call co-ordinator Rob Skinner on 07496 613634.

Watford Camera Club’s annual photographic exhibition will be displayed at the Upper Gallery within the intu Centre Watford. Councillor Darren Walford of Watford Borough Council will open the event at 1pm on October 24. The exhibition will showcase the diverse works of members across all genres of photography including portraiture, landscape, nature, street and artistic both in printed and in digital image form.

THREE RIVERS

A church in Croxley Green is asking for donations for its Christmas market. All Saints’ Church, The Green, is asking residents for donations of bottles, chocolate, children’s toys and games, toiletries and cakes and plants. No date has been finalised, but the event will have a mix of stalls serving hot food and mulled wine.

An orchestra is holding a concert to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Watford Workshop Orchestra will be performing at All Saints’ Church, The Green in Croxley Green on December 4. The free concert will start at 3pm and it is an informal performance of the music the orchestra has been rehearsing this term. Refreshments will also be available on the day.

A TV show host will be the special guest at a breakfast for women. J John, presenter of Facing the Canon and founder of the Philo Trust charity, will speak at a breakfast for women at Christ Church, in Chorleywood, on November 19. The breakfast is free but places should be booked by November 17. For more information call 01923 282149 or email office@cccw.org.uk.

A drop-in session will be held to give residents of Croxley Green a chance to have their say on new development plans. Watford Borough Council and Watford Community Housing Trust will be holding the event to discuss the plans for 36 new homes in Croxley Green. The session will be held at the Holywell Community Centre between 3.30pm and 6pm, followed by a public meeting between 7pm and 9pm which will include a presentation on the proposed plans. For more information contact Lorraine Ford on 01923 209027 or Lorraine.ford@wcht.org.uk.

A Christmas post box will open in a church in Croxley Green. The post box, for Croxley Green addresses only, is at the back of All Saints’ Church, The Green. It will be in use from November 27 to December 11. The suggested contribution for each card is 10p and all donations go to Crisis, a charity for homeless people. The church is also asking for volunteers to deliver the cards. If you are interested you can sign a register at the back of the church.

BUSHEY

There will be a pumpkin hunt at Bushey Rose Garden, in High Street, Bushey on October 24. The hunt will run from 12pm to 2pm and fancy dress is optional. There will be prizes for all and first, second and third for best dressed. The hunt costs £1 per hunt.

Bushey and Oxhey Round Table is urging young men aged 16-30 to join the Anthony Nolan stem cell donor register. Anthony Nolan matches incredible individuals willing to donate their blood stem cells or bone marrow to people with blood cancer and blood disorders who desperately need lifesaving transplants. For those interested in finding out more about Anthony Nolan and Round Table, please go to anthonyNolan.roundtable.co.uk.

There will be a charity quiz night on November 24 at Bushey House Beaumont Care Home to commemorate World Premature Day HertsPrems have been offered an opportunity to raise awareness of Premature Labour, curtesy of Barchester’s Charitable Foundation. Bookings will be taken for teams of six. Entry is £5 which will include a Ploughman’s Supper. All funds raised will be donated to Barchester’s Charitable Foundation and the HertsPrems chosen Premature Baby Unit.

There will be an adults Halloween party at The Royal Oak, in Bushey. The price is £5 per person which includes a first drink. There will be live music from Ruby and the Wolfmen. The party will be held on October 29 from 8pm to midnight. To buy your ticket call 02089502865.

With over a hundred flagship parks in the county, there is so much more to see in Hertfordshire. Nine districts from across the county are working together to create an innovative new web application – ParksHerts – that will help people get the most out of the outdoors, but they want everyone’s views. The team want to know what’s important to people when deciding to visit a park. The web application currently being developed will be compatible with all mobile devices and aims to help find the perfect park. It can tailor searches based on who’s going and what they want to do.

LANGLEYS

The Autumn Fair takes place at All Saints Church, Kings Langley on October 29 between 9.30am and 1pm. Highlights of the fair include a host of stalls selling a variety of gifts and accessories. Refreshments and children activities are also on offer. Entry is free.

On October 23, from 3pm, head down to the Henderson Hall in Abbots Langley to watch ‘The 33’, a true story based on the Chilean mining catastrophe in 2010, starring Antonio Banderas, as part of the FilmHub season.

Hertfordshire rock band DeLorean play at the Kings Langley Services club in October 22. A 2 hour set playing classics from Bon Jovi, Queen, and Van Halen, and more, it should be a fantastic evening.

There will be a fireworks display on Friday November 4 at the Manor House Playing Fields. The event has been organised by the Lions Club of Watford. With fireworks, music, and rides for the children to enjoy, it is sure to be a great spectacle. Gates open at 6.30pm with the fireworks starting at 7.30pm. The display is staged by Whizzz Bang Fireworks.