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Author: SSPC Office Admin

News from our Grounds staff

We have 3 new benches to place in each of the villages to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II. The bench for Park Street is already in place and we will be siting the others soon.

The Park Street village sign has been repaired and returned to the village.

We are continuing with our ongoing work to repair and maintain the 106 benches and 14 picnic tables in our care. We have started replacing worn and rotten wood with recycled plastic timber.

Hedges around the parish continue to be taken back at Greenwood Park as they are on a 3 yearly cycle.  

The goal nearest the bottom car park in play area at Greenwood has been taken away to allow the grass to recover.

Please be aware we will be putting a slow-release safe fertiliser out on the areas that get the most wear at Greenwood and Park Street Recreation Ground.  

 

Community grants available from St Albans District Council!

Community groups and charities in St Albans District can apply for grants of up to £5,000 for projects that help vulnerable people.

St Albans City and District Council has launched its £50,000 Community Project Fund for 2022/23.

The fund supports the delivery of projects and activities that benefit the whole community and are in keeping with the Council’s inclusion strategy.

Grants are primarily for time-limited projects run by smaller organisations and which meet a community need.

Councillor Sarwar Shamsher, Vice-Chair of the Housing and Inclusion Committee, said: “These grants offer very valuable assistance to the District’s voluntary and community groups and can be used for sport, arts, music, outdoor activities or social groups.

“The fund is a major part of our inclusion strategy that is intended to support residents who are in need. The groups who benefit do a great deal of important work that has helped thousands of people across the District.”

There are two rounds of funding this year, with the first opening on Thursday 16 June. A second round starts in November.

The Council’s Response Fund for 2022/23 has also opened for applications for grants from between £200 to £2,000 from a pot totalling £10,000.

Voluntary and community sector organisations, social enterprise organisations and community interest companies can apply here: www.stalbans.gov.uk/grants.  

These grants are for small capital items or for funding for projects that need to be implemented quickly.

The Big Platinum Festival – Oh what a night!

Thursday 2 June – a fantastic stage was set up in our beautiful Greenwood Park for a very special event – celebrating 70 years of Her Majesty the Queen’s reign.

From 5:30pm, residents from the parish came in their throngs to join the relaxed community festival atmosphere.   An estimated 2,500 were in attendance! 

The music from the bands covered a great variety to please all.  The event was compered by Elvis Shmelvis who really brought the music together, singing his own classic songs whilst bands were setting up.

Bands on the night were Lady & The Tramp with fun singalong musical hits; The Brickets with classic 50s & 60s tunes; Starseedz with their indie guitar songs; and the night finished with The Beatroute playing party hits into the night with a full brass section.  People were up and dancing throughout!  A huge thanks to Elvis, his wife Sue and his team at Chiswell Studios who put on a fabulous show. 

Refreshment stalls were overrun as the event got busier, with some selling out before the end.  However, people were still in good spirits despite the queues as they could still hear and enjoy the music.  Big thanks to Gracey’s pizza, Westman Foods, Raj Kaur, The Overdraught pub, Lazy Llama, girl guides and Tipsy Bubbles who worked flat out to serve people.  

The focus of the evening moved to the national beacon lighting.  Everyone gathered to watch our postmistress and a community star of 34 years, Raj Kaur, light the beacon for all to see.  The amazing firework finale ensued with 7 minutes of wonder staring into the night sky to watch the brilliant display.   It was a mesmerising end to a special evening. 

Thank you to all who supported, helped, and attended.  You all contributed to an incredibly memorable evening.

Three Days of Celebrations

To celebrate HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, St Stephen Parish Council, together with the parish’s three residents’ associations, is hosting three days of special events in June.

On Thursday June 2, Coronation Day, there is a festival planned at Greenwood Park, Chiswell Green, with live local bands, food and drink stalls and, to make sure the day ends with a bang, fireworks and a beacon lighting ceremony.

The following day, Friday, June 3, at Park Street Recreation Ground, there is to be a Picnic and Vintage Gala beginning at 12.30pm and running until 4pm. The afternoon’s activities include fairground rides, vintage stalls and a children’s entertainer. Come in vintage outfit and you could win a prize!

Finally, on Saturday, June 4, It’s Bricket Wood’s turn to celebrate with a guided walk and afternoon tea.

Although full details of all events are being kept under wraps for now, it’s sure to be a fantastic few days – and a fine way both to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 Glorious Years and enjoy the start of what will hopefully be a fabulous summer.

Keep an eye on this website for updates!