Harpenden Easter Holiday ideas to keep the children entertained!

Lydekker Park is a lovely enclosed park in Central Harpenden (opposite the BP garage.  The land was formerly part of the garden of Harpenden Lodge, built in 1803, which was home to the Lydekker’s (one of Harpenden’s oldest families). In 1937 Hilda Lydekker entered into an agreement with the council to ensure that the open space be used as a park area for the public; she wanted this done as a memorial to her two brothers and her fiancée who died in World War I.

The park has plenty of space for children to run around in and the little paths, which weave around the park, are brilliant for chasing and hiding games.  There are lots of benches on which to take a rest and admire the wildlife and a lovely central seating area which is lovely for a larger group to get together.  The park has a wealth of flora and fauna to look at and even boasts a small pond with a little wooden bridge (just perfect for dropping stones off of and if you’re lucky, like I was the other day, you may see the family of ducks who live there!)  This area is ideal for a picnic and, as it is just a few minutes walk from the High Street, it provides a little light relief for shop weary children!

Rothamstead Park is a massive common land which is situated in the centre of Harpenden.  As well as all of the facilities which the park boasts (including football  and hockey pitches, tennis courts, a sports centre, swimming pool, a 5aside football court, a purpose built skate park and a playground for kids) the park has open spaces as far as the eye can see.  Children can run until their heart’s content; they can play ball; they can safely scoot along on their scooters or even go for their first wobbly ride without stabilisers; they can chase each other in and out of the trees which line the path through the centre of the park; or sit on the grass and enjoy a picnic. And if the children still want more the children’s play area is very well equipped and has a range of play equipment including swings and slides (of varying sizes), numerous climbing ‘frames’ and a roundabout.   

Harpenden Common, which stretches almost 2 miles from the centre of Harpenden southwards, is a place of beauty.  The Common is home to numerous types of wildlife and plants and is recognised as a county wildlife and protected species site; perfect for a nature hunt, the children could collect things to take home and make pictures from.  There is plenty of open space for running, kite flying, picnicking....  There is also the recently developed Southdown Ponds area, which is beautifully landscaped and the ducks never disappoint (the Town Hall sells food is you fancy feeding them) and a Nature Trail – there really is something for everyone and best of all, it’s all free!  And don’t forget the Easter funfair will be coming to town from 21st – 25th April.

There are lots of other parks and open spaces in Harpenden and the surrounding areas- which ones would you recommend?

Travelling just outside Harpenden, the Discovery Centre at Stockwood Park provides an excellent free trip which can still provide hours of fun even if the sun isn’t shining as it has some indoor exhibits (it is on the Harpenden side of Luton so only takes 15 minutes to get there.) 

On Easter Sunday and Monday they are hosting a special Country Fayre.  There will be rural life demonstrations, local craft and gift stalls, petting farm, local farmers’ market stalls, bouncy castle, charity stalls and a range of children’s activities.  Admission costs are £3.00 per adult, £2.50 for concessions and £1.50 per child with under 5s going free.

Redbournbury Watermill is opening its doors once again!  From April the museum and shop is open will be open Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons (2.30 – 5.00); the mill is open for flour sales on Tuesday and Friday mornings and the bakery is open on Saturday mornings from 9 – 1. 

Redbournbury Mill is built beside the River Ver  close to the main road between Redbourn and St.Albans.  It is in a quaint unspoilt area, little changed for hundreds of years and consists of a farmhouse and surrounding buildings, which date back to the fifteenth century, at the end of the lane.  As well as the mill there are some lovely walks in the surrounding area.  

And don’t forget a trip to Harpenden Library (especially if the weather is unkind to us!)- the library which is conveniently situated in the town centre, is very well equipped and has a really good children’s area (my two love the train!) Not only can your children borrow books, they can also borrow DVDs and talking books (for a small fee.)  The library also hosts  a ‘Story & Rhyme Time’ for toddlers, ‘Baby Rhyme Time’ and a reading group called Chatterbooks for 8-12 year olds- for more details pop in and ask one of the librarians.   And don’t forget that under 5s can join the Bookstart Book Crawl collecting stickers and certificates for the books they read.   

I’d love to hear what else is going on over the Easter break in and around Harpenden!