Living Hertfordshire

Living Hertfordshire I’m often out & about in Hertfordshire taking pictures of interest & curiosity.

Within easy sight of Harpenden,Along the county lanesAt the town’s periphery,A field of red—A spread of poppiesSet benea...
05/06/2026

Within easy sight of Harpenden,
Along the county lanes
At the town’s periphery,
A field of red—
A spread of poppies
Set beneath a blue sky
Between the rain showers.

If you’re already following me on Instagram (same name as ), you’ll know I’ve been sharing a photo of a church every day...
22/03/2026

If you’re already following me on Instagram (same name as ), you’ll know I’ve been sharing a photo of a church every day. It’s been such an interesting exercise, learning about the history behind each place of worship.

Some of the oldest churches date back to the 11th century, like the ones in Codicote and Aspenden.

I especially loved discovering the tin churches — particularly the one in Bedmond.

The Baptist Church in Berkhamsted tells a fascinating story of the town’s defiance, with a nonconformist congregation that continued to grow.

And it was amazing to come across the Liberal Catholic Church in Letchworth Garden City — an unusual church founded in 1916, with no connection to either the Roman Catholic or Anglican Church.

If you’d like to see more, head over to my Instagram page. You’ll find the full collection, which started in January and finished today… or perhaps, to be continued! Here’s just a few from the collection!

Two years ago, a small group of poets and word-lovers gathered at the Old Mill Pub in Berkhamsted. I was among them, wel...
04/09/2025

Two years ago, a small group of poets and word-lovers gathered at the Old Mill Pub in Berkhamsted. I was among them, welcomed by Andrianne Philippou, founder of the Berkhamsted Poetry Society.

Since then, we have met every month, writing to themes set by Andrianne. The Mad Squirrel on the High Street soon became our regular venue. From the outset, Andrianne shared her dream that one day we would host a Festival of Verse in the very town where she lives.

We have since performed at a variety of intimate and friendly events: an Open Garden in Croxley in aid of the National Garden Scheme, the Poetry Open Event at The Three Blackbirds in Hemel Hempstead, and, more recently, at St Francis Hospice.

Now, with a growing collection of rhymes and poems, the Festival of Verse is firmly in the calendar. This year, the garden at the Old Mill Pub will come alive with words, rhythm, and a strong sense of community.

At 2pm on Saturday 6th September, the stage will open to a lineup of featured poets, alongside an open mic where anyone, from seasoned performers to first-time voices like myself—can share their verse. In the garden, workshops will run for all ages, inviting newcomers and seasoned wordsmiths alike to explore the art of poetry.

The main stage will feature an energetic two-man show by John Hegley and Paul Cookson, An Evening Without George and Ringo. Throughout the afternoon, the air will be filled not only with poetry, but also with music, art, and prose. Raffle tickets will be on sale, adding a touch of fun and surprise to the gathering.

This is more than a festival, it is a celebration of creativity, connection, and the spoken word!

In the picture is Andrianne together with Rog Leach, a fellow wordsmith! You can also catch
Andrianne Philippou with Leslie Tate on Decorum Radio, where Andrianne talks about her TV background, the challenges of growing up bi-cultural in the UK, and of course her latest venture — The Berkhamsted Festival of Verse, coming up on Saturday 6th September.

Tickets via Andrianne’s page












Looking forward to Berkhamsted’s first Poetry Festival, the brainchild of Andrianne Philippou and her team of poetry lov...
30/08/2025

Looking forward to Berkhamsted’s first Poetry Festival, the brainchild of Andrianne Philippou and her team of poetry lovers from the Berkhamsted Poetry Society. Here are Andrianne and Leslie Stuart Tate from Radio Dacorum and Authors in Love. There’s a great programme of events lined up, including headline performances from John Hegley and Paul Cookson with “An Evening Without George and Ringo”.

The festival will be held on Saturday September 6th at The Old Mill Pub in Berkhamstead from 2pm onwards!

For tickets and more information head over to Berkhamstead Poetry Festival!


Andrianne Philippou is the driving force behind the Berkhamsted Festival of Verse, taking place on September 6th at The ...
30/07/2025

Andrianne Philippou is the driving force behind the Berkhamsted Festival of Verse, taking place on September 6th at The Old Mill Pub & Garden, from 2pm to 10pm.

Her love of poetic verse led her to establish the Berkhamsted Poets Society—where I first met her. We meet monthly with a group of fellow poetry enthusiasts at the Mad Squirrel on Berkhamsted High Street, sharing our work around themes set the month before.

From the very beginning, Andrianne shared her dream of hosting a poetry festival—and now, it’s almost a reality.

Poetry can be gentle, humorous, insightful, and deeply sensitive. Come and join us if you fancy playing with words! Contact Andrianne for more details.

Or better still, why not come along to the Festival of Verse and enjoy a slice of late summer filled with poetry, words, music, and verse? Open Mic and Poetry Slam included!

Officially a late bloomer, I enter my 64th year today, happily celebrating a newfound passion for gardening, one I never...
26/07/2025

Officially a late bloomer, I enter my 64th year today, happily celebrating a newfound passion for gardening, one I never expected to grow so deeply!

When I joined the NGS as a volunteer photographer and storyteller, I hadn’t realised how much I’d come to admire, and even envy the wonderful gardens I’ve had the privilege of visiting. Inspired by them, we had our own garden redesigned, and over the past year, we’ve added many new plants, most of them bought at plant sales during NGS garden openings.

Here I am with my three purchases from Zia Allaway’s garden in Harpenden, which opened last year. Among them was a hardy perennial brunnera that, a year later, continues to thrive in its little shady corner. I love the texture of its silver-overlay foliage and the cloud of blue, forget-me-not-like flowers that appeared earlier this spring.

Not far from it, I planted a variety of astrantia. It’s now in full bloom, with small, plum-coloured, pin-cushion-like flowers. Across the way is a deep orange variety of geum that I can now recognise instantly. Since then, I’ve added more geum varieties throughout the garden.

In late May, I purposely visited Kerrie and Pete’s garden in Welwyn Garden City, known for their unusual plant collection. I was immediately drawn to a variety of Solomon’s Seal, with elegant white, bell-shaped flowers hanging from arching stems. To keep it company, I bought another variety of Solomon’s Seal at the St Stephens Gardens plant sale in June.

I’ve also found a quiet corner in the garden for a small collection of ferns, also bought at plant sales, along with a variety of Phlomis, another treasure from Kerrie’s garden.

Gardening has become a truly rewarding journey, filled with unexpected joy, and even a few anxieties that, strangely enough, help me thrive and stay focused. I can now spot the red lily beetle, no friend to my plants, and I take real pride in the many pollinators that have come to grace our little town garden in St Albans.

I hope that, like me, you’ve continued to enjoy visiting gardens, and the rewarding experience of buying plants lovingly grown by the garden owners themselves. It’s an urge that’s hard to resist!

I was absolutely delighted to come across this extraordinary sculpture, designed and constructed in honour of Gill King ...
05/07/2025

I was absolutely delighted to come across this extraordinary sculpture, designed and constructed in honour of Gill King and her brother Graham, who both passed away in 2016 after a short battle with cancer. The sculpture was modelled on Gemma Peace, Gill’s daughter, who had fulfilled the role of carer.

The sculpture was part of the Myeloma UK Garden – A Life Worth Living – which debuted at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2018, earning a silver-gilt medal.

It was the inspiration of Peter King, Gill’s husband, a supporter of Myeloma UK and a resident of Hertfordshire. The seven-tonne, 12-foot-high sculpture was constructed from layers of Arctic blue Perspex acrylic. It was designed by John Everiss and Francesca Murrell. The garden featured up to sixty different plants and trees, each representing a theme of care and hope.

It welcomes every visitor at The Hospice of St Frances which provides excellent free care for local people and support to their families in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Thrilled to have taken part in a poetry recital this morning at St. Francis Hospice, organised by Andrianne Philippou, f...
03/07/2025

Thrilled to have taken part in a poetry recital this morning at St. Francis Hospice, organised by Andrianne Philippou, founder of the Berkhamsted Poetry Society.

It was a real pleasure to share some of my work with the patients at the hospice—an experience both moving and uplifting. Thank you to St. Francis Hospice for the warm welcome and generous feedback.

The hour-long event was rich and varied. I was delighted to perform alongside David Carlile, Andrianne Philippou, and Clare Pasquale, each of us bringing our unique voice and style to the art of wordsmithing.

Calling all poetry lovers!
Andrianne will be hosting Berko’s first-ever Poetry Festival on Saturday, 6th September at Ashlyns School and Grounds, from 2pm to 9:30pm.

Headline acts include John Hegley and Paul Cookson with “An Evening Without George and Ringo”.
Come early to enjoy poetry workshops, recitals, readings by acclaimed poets and authors, and performances by award-winning spoken-word artists.

Be brave and enter the Poetry Slam!
Food and drink will be available, and everyone is welcome!

An Open Mic Night will also take place at The Squirrel Tap Room on Sunday, 7th September, from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.

When I arrived at the Community Compost Hub at Sandridge Road Allotments on Marshall Avenue, Karin was busy tearing up d...
14/06/2025

When I arrived at the Community Compost Hub at Sandridge Road Allotments on Marshall Avenue, Karin was busy tearing up donated recyclable egg cartons, along with a bagful of coffee grounds. Across the way, I spotted Vicky gently rotating a horizontal drum. She invited me to feel its insulated jacket, exceptionally warm and surprisingly huggable! Vicky showed me around, and her enthusiasm and deep interest in all things compostable were instantly obvious.

Vicky founded Soil Squad, a Community Interest Company turning food waste into rich compost with the help of local volunteers. With funding from St Albans Greener Together, they purchased a Ridan Composter, a big, friendly machine that speeds up the process by transforming all compostable materials into a composting mixture which is then transferred into Maturation Boxes for at least another eighteen weeks before it’s ready to be returned to the soil.

Vicky and Karin are both passionate and engaging in their mission. They’ve become experts in various eco-friendly composting methods and are helping the community become greener.

Nothing goes to waste here, provided it’s recyclable. And none of their machinery requires external power, apart from the human kind, of course. Some of you may have already spotted Karin riding her e-cargo bike, currently on loan from Hertfordshire Cycling Wheeling and Walking, around the streets of St Albans, collecting food waste from customers already subscribed to their collection service.

I first met Vicky and Karin at the St Albans Spring Festival. Since then, I’ve started listening to their podcast, The Plot Thickens: No-Dig Allotment Living. They’ve been sharing weekly stories since September 2023 on gardening, allotments, and composting, including the launch of Soil Squad, which dropped last July!

There’s so much more to tell about Vicky and Karin’s journey transforming food waste into rich, living compost. Head to their website for more information on how you can be part of the Soil Squad, or better still, why not join them at their Open Day on Saturday, June 28, between 9:30 am and 11:30 am at Sandridge Road Allotments?

06/06/2025

Exciting News! 🙏
For the first time ever, Bhaktivedanta Manor at the Hare Krishna Temple will be opening its gates in aid of the National Garden Scheme on Friday, June 27th, from 11am to 5pm.

The gardens include the peaceful George Harrison Garden—dedicated to the late Beatle—a serene woodland, and a beautiful rose garden. Visitors will enjoy a guided tour and have the chance to meet the Head Gardener. You’ll also get to visit the cows, a highlight for many!

A hot lunch will be served around 1:30pm.

Light refreshments will also be available in the Temple Cafe in support of the Hare Krishna Temple.

Keep an eye out—more details coming soon!
In the meantime, secure your spot on the garden tour and enjoy this unique experience by booking your tickets in advance. Please note: tickets will not be sold at the garden gate on the day. Pre-booking is essential!

👉 https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/48537/bhaktivedanta-manor

Words by Anna Marie Felice
📷 Keith Robertson

📍 Bhaktivedanta Manor, Dharam Marg, Hilfield Lane, Aldenham, Watford, WD25 8EZ

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