stalbanslife

As the 29th St Albans Half-Marathon Event approaches, its time for us all to pull out the T-Shirts, trainers and log onto stalban@leisureconnection.co.uk to sign up.

Fancy-dress, fun characters, free ice-cream, free T-Shirts and medals for the children, are all part of the day. From the age of 6 months to eighty, all ages turn up and simply have fun! This annual event takes place on Sunday 13th June 2010 and includes the 5k run, 1.5 mile Fun Run, Walking Half marathon and Healthy Hearts Jog.

Last year, the British Heart Foundation were extremely pleased with its success. Robert Cox, the organiser, showed great appreciation, ”People turned up in droves and I would like to thank all involved.” More than £37,000 was raised , with BHF and other charities being the recipients.

Next year (2011) will be the 30th Anniversary of this event. To celebrate this, the organisers are asking residents to send in any memories, stories and photos of their Half Marathon experiences, to help with an event biography. Email Stalbanshalf@leisureconnection.co.uk

For more information: Phone 01727 827 666 or click www.stalbanshalfmarathon.co.uk/ or email stalban@leisureconnection.

There will be a Christmas market at Charters Health Club, Russet Drive, St Albans, AL4 0DB on Friday 18th December 3pm til 9pm. Free Entry! Have a go at ice skating, fairground rides or visit Santa in his grotto; lots of craft and food stalls, festive refreshments, plus lots more fun for all the family. The event is being run by Highfield Park Trust, a charity which manages Highfield Park, a public park. All proceeds will be used to improve the Park. Tickets for ice skating and Santas’ grotto are limited, book in advance via the website – http://www.highfieldparktrust.co.uk.

I love fireworks, simple as that. I can’t get enough of them and the annual display at Verulamium Park is always excellent. Luck favoured the brave and the evening was still and crisp. The rain held off till later in the evening allowing for one of my favourite displays for some years. Here is an image to give a flavour of what we enjoyed. See you there next year…..

St Albans is extremely proud to have the world’s largest butterfly park, which is a £25 m project. Currently known as Future Gardens, it will eventually become Butterfly World.

It consists of 27 acres of land in the green belt area north of the M25 in Chiswell Green, St Albans. There are 12 inspiring gardens which have something for everyone, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar Garden for children. There is the Wildflower Meadows, a tropical butterfly house, a butterfly garden and a café.

Clive Farrell, a lepidopterist (butterfly enthusiast) is the inventor of this project. He has opened butterfly houses in Florida, Switzerland and Stratford-upon-Avon. When finished, the aim is to have 10,000 tropical butterflies of 250 species. These will freely fly under the 300ft-wide, walk through dome.

David Attenborough is concerned about the decline of butterflies in recent years but is delighted that the plants are already flourishing in this new habitat. David Bellamy, the celebrated botanist, is one of the trustees of this project and has already spotted some species of butterflies and bees at the gardens.

One little hiccup to overcome, it seems, is the issue of finding the place! Some signs say Future Gardens and some show a flower. This has caused some complaints but perhaps the stalbanslife readers can let us know how it went for them?

For information on opening times and directions, visit www.futuregardens.org

This is actually my first ever blog and it is a great honour to be writing it for a website such as stalbanslife, as I consider this city very special and think that the website will reflect all that is good (and sometimes not-so-good) about it.

Yesterday, as I wandered across the Verulamium with two of my children, I wanted to photograph so many aspects of it; the scene of the lake with its swans, the River Ver, the ancient Fighting Cocks Pub, the rise up to the truly magnificent Cathedral (Abbey) of St Albans!

I wonder if everyone has that same connection and sense of belonging that I feel while sitting in the Cathedral. Whether it’s an official event going on or a quiet Saturday afternoon, it gives me a sense of awe. I feel the past meet the present here. When the choirs practice, its like magic in the air from the floors to the ceiling. The Christmas festivities are really worth coming for, if you want to be moved to tears. Personally, I like to ponder on the fact that Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean) swung across the altar here during the making of Johnny English.

Anyway, the point I want to make is that this majestic city, with its amazing history, its churches, cafes, restaurants, museums, pubs and parks, is good enough to share with the rest of the world. And stalbanslife is hoping to do just that!