A guide to community events going on in Bushey, Watford, Three Rivers and the Langleys.

WATFORD:

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Watford is hosting World Peace Day on Wednesday. The event will start at 11am and involve the commemoration of a special Peace Garden erected as a standing testament to those who value peaceful solutions to problems large and small. The garden will be open to all.

The Hospice of St Francis has launched a fresh, new recruitment drive to encourage nurses, clinicians and non-clinicians to consider developing their career with the charity. People are invited to find out more about joining the team by visiting the Hospice at one of a series of recruitment open days during September. The open days are designed to be completely informal, with no obligations attached, and are for anyone who would like to find out more about the Hospice, its environment, culture and benefits alongside current job vacancies. No booking is necessary, and those who are interested can just turn up on one of the following days: Saturday, September 10, between 10am and 12pm, Monday, September 12, between 10am and 12pm and Tuesday, September 27, between 1.30pm – 3.30pm and 7.30pm – 9.30pm. Further details, alongside current nursing and ‘coming soon’ job opportunities in fundraising, communications and administration, can be found at stfrancis.org.uk/workwithus

Home-Start Watford and Three Rivers are holding their annual general meeting on Thursday, September 22. There will be a buffet lunch served and there are plenty of parking spaces. The event will take place between 11am and 2pm at the The Fairway Inn, Moor Lane, Rickmansworth. To register, visit: https://home-startwatfordagm.eventbrite.co.uk.

Black History Month is being celebrated at Watford Palace Theatre. Working in close connection with Watford African and Caribbean Association, the Black History Month Celebration at Watford Palace Theatre annually presents a vibrant range of stage performances from community and professional artists reflecting the richness of Black history and culture. This year events will take place between October 5 and 9. For more information, or to get involved contact participation@watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk.

Watford’s friendliest open mic night is back on Saturday. It will take place at Attico Arts Centre in High Street from 7.30pm.

A Parkinson’s talk will be held next weekend. Dr Peter Lovatt, also known as Dr Dance, is a psychologist who runs the Dance Psychology lab at the University of Hertfordshire. He specialises in the connection between dancing and neurodegeneration and is researching into the ways dance can benefit people with Parkinson’s. 2pm. The event will take place at Stanborough Centre in St Albans Road. To register, email g.emery321@btinternet.com.

A free bat walk is taking place in the town. It will take place on Friday, September 16 from 7pm. For more information, contact Debbie Brady on 07842 021601 or email debbie.brady@watford.gov.uk.

Group sessions to protect young people from child sexual exploitation are taking place. Hertfordshire County Council is working closely with Hertfordshire Constabulary and Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board to prevent CSE in the community, and its Youth Connexions service will be holding group sessions in Watford and Three Rivers to educate and protect vulnerable young people from this crime. For information about the programme, contact Sarah Parkhouse, 01438 843889, or email: sarah.parkhouse@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

The 9th Year Annual Business Professional Breakthrough for conference (BPBC 2016) is taking place next month. They will Get Expert Business Seminars, Business Exhibition Fair, Networking, Career empowerment Workshops, Job Fair and Pitch for funding, Feature areas include: Start up and Finance, Business Management / Support, Creativity, Digital training, Health Awareness, Expert Panel, Master classes, Work shop, Franchise opportunities and many more. It will take place on Saturday, October15 from 10am at Watford Colosseum in Rickmansworth Road. This event is for Startups, Product Launchers, Mission-driven SME business owners that strive to see the change that is needed in today’s world by providing products and services, that will revolutionize the industry. For Booking and Registration, contact 01923 246548/ 07580091836.

THREE RIVERS:

Heading here The Croxley Green Show is returning to find the best flowers, fruits and vegetables in the area. The event, on Saturday, will award the best produce and all the food will be auctioned at the end of the day. All exhibits must be entered by 11am. Cake donations are needed for the show which starts at 2.30pm at Yorke Mead School, in Dulwich Way, Croxley Green. For more information email: mail@croxleygreenshow.co.uk or call John Jowers on 01923 774 621.

High Speed Two (HS2) is encouraging residents to attend an information event. HS2 experts will be talking to members of the public, on September 17, and explaining how the line will affect the area. People will also be able to see maps and plans of the project, and explore the proposals in more detail. The event will be held between 11am and 3pm, at West Hyde and Maple Cross Community Centre, in Hornhill Road, Rickmansworth.

People living in Croxley Green are invited to the Residents’ Association meeting. The meeting will take place on Monday, September 12 at 8pm, in the Croxley Green Library in Barton Way. Visit: croxleyresidentsassociation.co.uk

Sarratt residents are invited to a parish council meeting. Cheese and wine will be served at the event on September 20, which gives a people a chance to talk to parish councillors. The meeting will be held in the Village Hall, in The Green. For more information visit: http://sarrattparishcouncil.co.uk/ Heading here The Battlers Green Farm shop, in Radlett, will be opening its doors to people in September 13 at 9am. This is one of the few remaining original greengrocers in the UK and will provide a range of produce and serve businesses around Hertfordshire.

BUSHEY:

There is an opportunity for men to get in shape this autumn as a new weight management course will start in Bushey. Shape Up is a free weight course for men, funded by Public Health Hertfordshire and delivered by Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust with funding support from Hertsmere Borough Council. The course is aimed at men aged 18 to 65. Sessions will take place at Queens School in Bushey on Tuesday nights from 7.30pm to 9pm starting on September 20 for 12 weeks.

The next Bushey Forum public meeting takes place on Tuesday, September 13, at 7pm to 9:30pm at The Bushey Centre, High St, Bushey, next to the Country Club. From 7pm there will be free tea and cake will be provided by Mabel’s Vintage Tearooms and the meeting will start at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and for non-members it is £2. Speakers will discuss a planning policy update and the Bushey Festival.

THE LANGLEYS:

The team at Pampered Pooches in Kings Langley will be celebrating their first birthday on September 17, from 12pm to 4pm. There will be treats and goodies for both visitors and their dogs four-legged companions. Special offers, prizes and treatments will also be available. The event will take place at the Pampered Pooches shop, 15 High Street. Abbots Tandoori Restaurant will be raising money for Abbots Langley Tough Ten with a curry night on September 19. Tickets for the event will be £15 per person. There will be a raffle, table quiz and silent auction. Tickets will be available from committee members and Langley Travel.

Abbots Langley Gardening Society will be welcoming in the new season with an Autumn Show on September 10. The show will open from 2.30pm and will have stalls selling a variety of homemade jams and plants. Refreshments will be available. Entry for members will be free and £1 for non-members.

Kings Langley Cricket Club will be holding the Best Kept Garden Awards on October 21. Entry is free of charge and the club will provide a free buffet and a drink upon arrival. The evening will start from 7.30 when the trophies will be given out to the winners. There will be a raffle and auction, raising money for Kings Langley Secondary School’s new building.

Applefest will take place on October 16 from 11am to 4.30pm at School Mead. Entry is free with events, including music, drumming sessions, a petting zoo, as well as a fun fair and face painting.Apple trees will also be on sale as well as a range of other plants.

Authors gain backing from a library to promote and sell their work at an open day. Writers can hire a table to showcase their work at St Albans Library on Saturday, October 22, from 11am to 3pm.

A Grand Fireworks Display will take place on Chipperfield Common on Saturday, November 5. The entry is free and there will be rides, stalls, hot food, music and a bar. For stall hire, contact 07808 079357.

Email your community news to charlotte.ikonen@london.newsquest.co.uk.