Netmums are a free service run on a voluntary basis by local mums providing information and support to other local mums. The sort of information we provide are things like; places to go, indoor play areas, what's on, we have a lively noticeboard where mums can air their views, request help or pass on some helpful tips.
A search site of activities for babies and children under 5 across Hertfordshire.
We are a small, friendly group founded in 1972 tackling environmental issues in the Watford and Three Rivers area. We belong to a network of similar groups within national Friends of the Earth. We hold regular meetings to make social contact, organise events and campaigns. For contact details, click here.
Their band features melodeons, accordion, violin, tuba, drums, recorder and various tambourines and any other device for making a noise.
They’re always looking for dancers and musicians, men and women, experienced or beginner.
Venue:
They practice at 8pm on most Mondays at St Matthew’s Church Hall, Eastbury
Road, Watford (near Bushey Arches). During the year we dance out at events
around the country.
Contacts:
Ted Richards 01494 772543
Eileen Johnson 01442 832588
Email: Benskins.Morris@virginnet.co.uk
They rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday each week in their own band room. They would welcome any players wishing to join them for a rehearsal.
Events are organised by members, and planned at a series of monthly clubnights, usually held in pubs. All sorts of events are organised- parties, cinema, sports, theatre visits, meals - in fact anything that will gather a crowd. The events are written up in a monthly bulletin, which is sent to all members.
It has grown into a society of thousands, with members from all walks of life; as a Registered Charity it is strictly apolitical - both Royalists and Parliamentarians are now included in it's ranks.
For more information on the local society (the Earl of Essex Regiment of Foote), please contact Guy Sargeant (guido@moose.co.uk).
It also offers RYA dinghy and powerboat courses, regattas, special events and trips to larger water and costal venues. Due to active fundraising BLYM has acheived a good standard fleet of boats and excellent on land factilies.
The members are from all walks of life and industry sectors and are not just limited to people who live in St. Albans. They have members from Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, North London and surrounding counties.
A naturist club located in several acres of mixed woodland and lawns between Watford and St Albans, with heated pool, restaurant and bar, sports facilities and holiday accommodation.
A five acre naturist site between Watford and St Albans.
This is non-sited swimming club based around Watford.
has just opened in Woodside
on the A405 (North Orbital Road - Advance booking office 01923
682222, Programme information 01923
682244.
To find out what's playing (now and in future), click here and for booking, click here.
To find out what else is playing around the county, visit the UK Theatre Web - Watford or Caxton's 'What's On in Hertfordshire Guide'.
,
and contains Children's, Adult and Reference sections - 01923
226230
Located on the World Wide Web (WWW), this unique digital art collection provides a "cyberspace" preview of the annual Open Studios event, including many beautiful colour images donated by the artists of Hertfordshire. Also featured on this web site are numerous artists' statements, as well as the locations and visiting hours of homes and art studios that will be open to the public during Open Studios (7th to 22nd September, 1996). Images available for viewing on the web site include paintings, sculpture, jewellery, collage, watercolours, metalwork, ceramics, stained glass, fabric, photography, printmaking, and more.
"It has great DJ's. Terrific music, amazing atmosphere, terrific dancers. Les Adams (the Friday and Saturday DJ) is the 1995/96 UK DJ of the Year. Simon King was the year before. It's a party animal's paradise. The drinks are expensive though. There are great fun nights (such as bouncy castles etc.). It's totally excellent!" - Helen
in Central Watford.
It puts on many different types of event. Box office - 01923
445000
Chigago's Rock Cafe is also regarded as a club by some of it's patrons.
. Beyond this is West Herts Golf Course and Whippendell
Woods. Inside the park itself there is a children's paddling pool, tennis
courts, a bowling green and a croquet lawn.
In summer a children's train is also in operation. On the nearest Saturday to the 5th of November, Watford Round Table hold a free large fireworks display in the park. On various Bank Holidays, a fair is also set up there.
is a wide open space on the north side of the town, with playing fields
and children's swings.
For more information contact Watford Council leisure services on 01923 226400 ext. 2555.
| Watford Park Facilities | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key | Name | Playing Fields | Swings etc. | Tennis | Toilets |
| 1 | Woodside | Y | Y | N | Y |
| 2 | Garston | Y | Y | N | N |
| 3 | Lea Farm | N | Y | Y | N |
| 4 | Meriden | N | Y | N | Y |
| 5 | Linear | N | N | N | N |
| 6 | Harebreaks | Y | Y | N | Y |
| 7 | Cassiobury Rec. | Y | N | N | N |
| 8 | Cassiobury | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 9 | Colne | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 10 | Waterfields Rec. | Y | Y | N | Y |
| 12 | Harwood's Rec. | Y | Y | N | N |
| 13 | King George | Y | ? | ? | ? |
| 14 | Gammons Lane | Y | Y | Y | N |
| 15 | Callowland | Y | Y | N | N |
Also if you're interested in the pubs in the Bushey Heath area, take a look at The Bushey Heath Pub Guide.
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.
It's tastefully decorated and on Sunday evening they have a 'comedy club'
(not for the faint-hearted!!).
.
It has a large hall, squash courts, badminton, aerobics facilities, fitness
training and a bar.
and contains a full size pool (without diving facilities), a learner's
pool, and a sauna club. The main pool tends to be used by serious swimmers
and clubs, so phone to check availability first. The learner's pool is
used by many clubs, to teach people to swim.
- Tel: 01923
230933
centre next to the Warner Brother's Cinema (position 5 in green on the
map - Tel: 01923
682929.
Classes in Watford:
St Thomas’ Gymnasium, Langley Road, Watford - every Monday 8.30pm - 10pm.
Bill Everett Community Centre, Leggatts Way, Watford - every Wednesday 8pm -
9.30pm.
For further information call Kevin Leigh on 0773 3361045 or look at our
Web site.
The instructor is a Senior 4th Degree Black Belt, with an MSc in Sports and Exercise Science and over 14 years international teaching experience. Classes are suitable for anyone aged 12 upwards, with any level of fitness, as beginners will get sufficient rest periods. Chinese kickboxing is a very practical complete means of self-defence, whilst enabling students to develop confidence, fitness, flexibility, and discipline, under professional tuition.
Classes in Watford: Bill Everett Sports Centre, Leggatts Way, North Watford, WD2 6BJ.
Tuesdays 8-10pm.
Bushey Grove Leisure Centre (Dance studio Upstairs) Aldenham Road, Bushey, Herts WD23
Sundays 5:30-7:30pm
For more detailed information visit www.wushukwan.com.
Disciplines practiced at the club includes 0.22 rifle at 25 yards, 50 metres and 100 yards plus air pistol and air rifle at 10 metres.
It is a small club with just over 20 shooting members. They are non-profit making with all income put back into improving the facilities available to their members.
It is the club's aim to encourage shooting sports of all disciplines. You can be certain of a warm and friendly welcome whether you are a complete novice or a seasoned veteran.
'Very long, having but one street'
The walk starts off at Bushey
Arches ,
which is the dividing line between Watford and Bushey. The Arches themselves
carry the railway line from London to Birmingham, which arrived in the
town in 1837.
Set in a wall at the bottom of the hill, is an iron bollard which used
to mark the end of the turnpike (toll) road up Chalk Hill, to London. If
you now walk along the main road towards the town centre, you will cross
over the River Colne. This used to be a deep ford, which is from where
the town takes part of it's
name.
As you continue up the lower High Street, you pass Watford
Springs swimming centre
on your left, and then Watford
Museum.
This contains a very good collection of exhibits about the town and it's
history, and is based in the old front offices of Benskin's Brewery, which
was once a major industry in the town. The rest of the site is where Watford
Springs now stands. Next on your left is Watford
High Street Station, just before you reach the town
centre ring-road.
Crossing the ring-road, you will find yourself in the High Street. On
the right hand side is Watford's new shopping complex, the Harlequin
Centre,
the main entrance to which is on the corner of Queens Road, one of the
first roads to be built off the High Street, to give people access to the
railway.
Just on from here on your left, you will find a walkway through to St
Mary's Church,
the oldest building in the town, surrounded by it's ancient churchyard.
Just behind the church, are some Alms Houses which are the oldest inhabited
buildings in the town. Moving back to the High Street, you may notice it
opens out at this point, which is because the town's original cattle market
used to be held here. The
modern market has now moved into
Charter Place,
on your right. Market Street leads off the High Street on the left, where
you can see a very old window, saved from the original building on the
corner.
Continuing on, the street narrows back to normal size, reaching Clarendon
Road (named after the Earl of Clarendon), which was the other road built
to Watford Junction
station
. On it's right hand side, can be found the Palace
Theatre built in 1911. Jackson's Jeweller's shop is opposite Clarendon
Road, housed in a building believed to be over 300 years old. As you approach
the bridge, you can see the coats of arms of Watford's twin
towns on the parapet: Mainz (in Germany), Nanterre (in France), Novgorod
(Russia), Wilmington (US) and Pesaro (Italy). Watford's own department
store, Clements
is on your right.
Moving under the bridge takes you into the top of the High Street, known
as 'The Parade'. Straight ahead is The
Pond,
which has been here for several hundred years. On the corner to the right
is Destiny, Watford's award winning night-club.
Continuing past the pond, and under the subway, you reach the Town
Hall,
on your left, and the main library on your right.
Next to the library is the town bandstand, that used to be in Cassiobury
Park. In front of the Town Hall are some memorial statues to those
that died from the town in the First
World War. These used to be in front of the Peace Memorial Hospital.
Just behind the Town Hall are the Central Swimming
Baths.
You have now reached the other end of the 'one long street', at the point that used to mark the end of the town. The road ahead leads to Hemel Hempstread and Berkhamsted, and the road you have just gone under leads to St Albans to the north and Rickmansworth to the south.
(see
above). From the Arches, walk towards the town centre,
on the right hand side of the road, until you reach the bridge over the
River Colne. This was where there used to be a deep ford, from which the
town takes part of it's
name. Follow the path along the side of the river, until you reach
the back of a warehouse. From here, you have to walk along the road (along
side the railway embankment), until you reach a large roundabout. Cross
over and re-join the river at the bridge. The new Tesco's superstore is
on your left hand side as you walk along the side. The river banks were
re-landscaped in about 1990 when the store was built. Continuing past the
store, you can see one of the old Benskins brewery buildings on your left,
which was part of a major local industry in the past. The course of the
river was altered here in 1987, and then re-stocked with fish.
Continuing along the path, you cross over Water Lane and then under the new link road. This takes you in to Waterfields Recreation ground. From this point on, the walk is also a cycle path. The railway embankment on your left hand side is the local line that goes to Watford High Street, Watford West and Croxley. There is a map here of the complete Colne Valley walk. If you continue along the river bank, there is a footbridge that allows you to cross over to the Bushey Hall area. A little further on, on your left, you will find an a Corporation of London Obelisk, that used to mark the boundary for tax on coal going into London (under the 1861 Coal and Wine Duties Act). A tax of one shilling, one pence was levied per ton until 1890. The obelisk was moved from the other side of the river in 1984. Unfortunately today, it is covered in graffiti.
Walking under the railway viaduct of the main Euston to Birmingham line, you emerge in Colne Park playing fields. Walk along the path and until you reach the new road bridge, which you can go underneath. This takes you along the bank, behind the allotments. The road on your right is the M1 link road, built about five years ago to link Watford town centre to the M1.
At the end of the allotments the made up path turns away from the river and becomes the pavement in Radlett Road. You can walk across the park, to stay on the river bank, but I wouldn't advise doing it, if it's been raining. Eventually the river reaches Bushey Mill Lane, where you leave it to follow the path into Linear Park, a tree-lined walk, that takes you to the Watford Bypass (the A41).
From the side of the A41, you can see the Meriden tower blocks, which are the tallest buildings in the town. On your right is junction 5 of the M1, leading into London. On your left, the road leads to Garston and North Watford. You may find it easier to cross the road by walking down to the traffic lights. Walk through the gates into the private road Munden Drive, a tree-lined path, that takes you up to the bridge over the M1 into open fields. If you follow the path, until you reach the point where a path joins from the left. This is the boundary of the town. From here you can follow the path on the left which takes you into Garston (or along School Lane, across Bricket Wood Common, into Bricket Wood), or you can continue along the river past Munden House, to where the River Ver joins from St Albans.
,
one of the oldest buildings in the town. The mill used to be powered from
the River Gade, which runs under the road at this point. If you walk back
up the lane you come to the bridge over the Grand
Union Canal. From here, you can see across the fields to 'The Grove',
a large house on your left now used as a management training centre. Go
down onto the tow path and go under the bridge past the old lock keeper's
house. The path is quite well made up and is suitable for cyclists, with
sturdy tyres. As you walk along, you can see the river across the field
on your right and some playing fields on your left. (In the opposite direction,
the tow path leads to Hunton Bridge and King's Langley).
At the point where the towpath crosses to the other side, you can see
Rough Wood on your left. You then walk by two locks, and the canal is joined
by the River Gade, forming part of it's course. There are many paths through
the wooded embankment on your right, which lead across farmland, and eventually
to Whippendell Wood. On the other side of the canal, you can see watercress
beds, up to the point where the Gade splits off again, just before the
Cassiobury Lock
and bridge. There is a British Waterways
information board here, giving more details of the Grand Union, which is
their responsibility. The path off to the right leads across West
Herts Golf Course to Jacotts Hill and Whippendell Wood. If you cross
over the bridge, you will be in Cassiobury Park and
you can continue walking along the Gade, or continue
along the canal tow path
Walking along the path between the canal and the river, (which is well made up) and you can see many watercress beds on your left, and the canal on your right. The river splits into two, with the main stream, along the edge of the park, and a smaller stream next to the path. You can cross over both, to get back into the park at several places along the way. The way becomes more wooded as you progress, eventually reaching a fenced off fishing pond. The path that crosses here runs between the park and a bridge over the canal. Continuing along, you reach Gade Avenue. (Skip over next paragraph).
Continuing along the tow path (which is a bit bumpy in places, if you are cycling), you can see some watercress beds on your left, and the golf course continues at the top of the embankment on your right. Just past the next lock, there is a boating marina, holding many canal barges and other boats.
The railway viaduct overhead is the London Underground Metropolitan line, leading to Watford Met station. Next you reach the A421 (Rickmansworth Road), near Croxley Green BR station.
From here you can continue along the canal and the Gade to Croxley Green and Rickmansworth, where they join with the River Colne and the River Chess.
to Garston
is a good walk but only early on a Sunday morning when there is little
traffic. To the west of the town, Whippendell wood is located, which is
about two square kilometres of well maintained woodland. Beyond the wood,
there are large areas of open country. To the south-west of the town there
are also large open areas, where the Gade joins the Colne, and to the east
towards Aldenham.