Public Meeting 16th May at 7.30pm doors open at 7.00pm Katherine Warington School

 

To book a place click here.

 

Will Climate Change affect the future of your food?

The Harpenden Society are more than aware of the issues affecting everyday life in Harpenden. And what could be more than important than feeding your family with nourishing food from reliable sources.

With seasonal weather changes across the globe and changes to farming practices the agricultural food chain is under pressure to keep delivering the produce we all need. It’s a complex area requiring explanations.

We have engaged James Clarke from Rothamsted Research and Katharine Tate, Harpenden’s Food Teacher to explain what the future has in store. Firstly from James Clarke:

Can we farm sustainably?

Global food production will need to double by 2050 if everyone on the planet is to have an adequate diet. In principle, we have the technical ability to deliver this vast amount of food. The catch, however, is that if we are to safeguard Earth, we need to radically change the way the that we farm. Farming depends on natural processes, so ignoring them is not an option. To use less land and fewer resources, we will need to growers to be more precise, less dependent on chemicals and more in tune with nature if we want to ensure bountiful harvests for years to come.

Rothamsted Research in Harpenden is at the forefront of the scientific revolution that will change farming forever. In his wide-ranging and timely talk, James Clarke, head of Communications at Rothamsted, will outline the critical issues facing our farmers and look at how the fundamental research undertaken by the institute’s scientists can help deliver a more sustainable food future. 

 

And now Katharine Tate.

‘How Healthy Eating will keep you Fit and Well’

Low energy levels, sluggish digestion and interrupted sleep are common symptoms that can have a huge impact on our mood, cognition, overall health, fitness and wellbeing. The Food Teacher™, Katharine Tate, an Harpenden based award winning Registered Nutritional Therapist, will help us to understand key foods and lifestyle factors, which can increase or deplete energy and support improved sleep. She will discuss foods and nutrients that are beneficial to focus on or avoid. By reflecting on our individual needs we can implement some changes, which may improve our overall fitness and wellbeing.

 

As a Registered Nutritional Therapist, Katharine applies nutrition and lifestyle medicine sciences to promote health, peak performance and individual care. She runs a private clinic and is currently the only recognised British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine practitioner in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire to have successfully completed post graduate training to support clients with cancer.

   

The meeting will take place at Katherine Warington School, on the Lower Luton Rd. It will be preceded by a brief Society AGM. There is plenty of Free parking.

Harpenden Local History Day

Explore Harpenden’s fascinating history on Saturday April 20 - Be part of Harpenden’s History

This will be one of Harpenden’s most important community event days of the year. Taking place at the Eric Morecambe Centre from 11am - 3pm to celebrate the History Society’s 50th anniversary and the official opening of our new Museum by Annie Brewster, High Sheriff of Hertfordshire 2024-25 – “in nomination”, until confirmed on 17 April.

You will discover the treasures of Harpenden’s past. Explore fascinating exhibits about the history of Harpenden and district, see a video using drone footage to reveal Harpenden’s racecourse on the Common, unused for over 100 years, and a special children’s competition. Listen to history talks from experts throughout the day on subjects like medieval Harpenden, The Plague and historical date about the Office of the High Sheriff.  See exhibits from other societies, including Redbourn and Wheathampstead history societies.

Visit the Museum too and make a totally enjoyable day for all the family.

Snacks and drinks will be available to buy during the day.

It’s FREE to enter, open to all and no booking.  Rothamsted Research have kindly offered free use of their Conference Centre car park on the day for people attending the Local History Day. 

WHY NOT JOIN THE SOCIETY AND BE PART OF HARPENDEN’S FUTURE?

The Society promotes and encourages a range of local activities and initiatives with public meetings and community events.

We’re here to help with the concerns people have on things like schools, healthcare, housing, parking, pollution, overdevelopment, lack of infrastructure, and now more than ever climate change with all the important environmental issues affecting the future.

With almost 900 members and an effective committee we can engage with the local community to highlight issues, lobby politicians and present findings via our web site, quarterly newsletter and social media.

Joining is easy and inexpensive. For full details of how to join the society, including how to apply online, please click here.

31st January Public Meeting

 

'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 multiply 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 downloaded by clicking here.

NEWS

Click here to see a statement from SADC about the recent Government "designation" letter.