Hollington Wood Bluebell Day- This Monday

Hollington Wood will be open to the public from 10am-6pm this Bank holiday Monday, 4th May. The annual Bluebell Day includes a number of attractions, as well as giving you the opportunity to simply enjoy the ancient woodland and see the carpet of bluebells in bloom. There will be guided walks through the woods, an observation beehive, kids play and woodland piglets. Take the opportunity to wander where you like and explore the woods. The newly-agreed Woodland management plan will also be available to be read and discussed.

Admission is free, but donations towards the upkeep of the wood would be appreciated, and are suggested at £5 per adult and £10 for families. Car parking is limited and must be booked in advance at £10 per vehicle, no parking is allowed along the grass verge on the farm road. Hollington Wood can be found halfway along the private road to Wood Farm/Ekeney House, off the A509 between Emberton and Sherington. Nearest public parking is Prospect Place, Emberton.

For more information, visit the Hollington Wood website. See you there!

The weekend's events

This one's a busy weekend, and so we've collected a list of 'what's on' for you. Bear with it, it may be long, but is filled with great ideas of what to do, including a great selection to suit all tastes and interests!

Friday 24th April

Sausage and mash supper with bingo and quiz @ Lavendon Village Hall. 6.30pm for 7pm start
Bring your own drinks, tickets cost £10.

Friday Night Films- Mr Turner @ MK Gallery, 7.30pm
A pop-up cinema offering an alternative film experience. The film is Mr Turner, which explores the last quarter century of the British painter J.M.W Turner (1775-1851).

Saturday 25th April

Newport Pagnell Singers- Choral Workshop @ Lovat Hall, Silver Street. 9am-4pm
The Sprig of Thyme. Want to sing in a choir? The singers are on the lookout for new members in every voice part. Why not join in for the workshop and see if it's something you would enjoy? You can book a place by clicking here.

The Yardley Hastings Heritage Society @ The United Reformed Church, Yardley Hastings. 10am-4pm
The theme of the open day is Yardley at war. If you have any information, documents or photographs of the village during this time or anything else concerning the village or villagers which you would like to share, then do bring it along. There is a dedicated cupboard for storing the photographs and document sand the facilitates to help you preserve your documents.

Olney Lace Circle- Lace and craft day @ Denton village hall. 10am-4pm
Tickets cost £3.50, this is a ticket only event. Tea and coffee available all day.

Trend:mk SS15 fashion showcase @ Middleton Hall, centre:mk. Saturday- Sunday 
The centre:mk's biggest fashion showcase, with live catwalk shows and great in-store discounts. Find out the trends for spring/summer 2015 and enjoy some exclusive offers from around 30 of the centres shops.

North Bedfordshire NCT nearly new sale @ Bedford athletic stadium, Barker lane, Bedford. 11.30am-1.30pm
Top quality baby and children's clothes and equipment at bargain prices. Opens at 11.30am for NCT members and 12pm for the general public. £1 entry fee.

The Great Sherington Garage Sale @ Sherington. All day.
Come to Sherington to grab a bargain. Sherington is about to open its garage doors for the first time on mass as a fund raiser for St Laud's Sherington. Come and see what bargains you can find. Pick up a pamphlet from Sherington village shop on Church Road, or from one of the participating garages for £1 to see where all the other garages are.

St George's Day All-Dayer @ Bletchley Working Mens Club. Midday-Midnight
Stolen Hours social club presents the annual St George's day all-dayer. DJ's playing Ska, Reggae, Motown and Northern Soul, as well as northern soul dance lessons with Fiona Smith.

Good Dog Owners' guide to MK @ Campbell Park, Milton Keynes. 2pm
An introduction to the parks of Milton Keynes for new dog owners, includes a short walk. Meet at Campbell Park Pavilion. £1 per person.

Foodie quiz night @ Browns of Stagsden. 7pm for 7.30pm start
Tickets cost £10 and includes a sausage supper. Teams of up to 8 people, with a prize for the winners. There will be a bar with local ale served.

Cowper & Newton Museum presents: Old Time Music hall @ Carlton House Club, High Street Olney. 7pm for 7.30pm start
David Pibworth produces a night of songs, variety, music and laughter to commemorate the Great War centenary. 'Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile.' Be transported back in time and reminisce with tributes to great acts such as Laurel & Hardy, Gert & Daisy and more. Tickets just £3, available from the Cowper & Newton Museum shop.

The Pad Presents: The Neville Staple Band + Ruts Dc @ The Corn Exchange, Bedford. 7.30pm
Including New Groove Formation, Hammy & Geoff and DJ Andy Attic. Neville Staple is one of the great figureheads of the second wave of British ska in the last 70s. Best known for his work as the singer in Ska and Two Tone legends The Specials, his solo tour features a selection of The Special's back catalogue as well as tracks form his second chart topping band, The Fun Boy Three, as well as reworking some original Jamaican ska classics and showcasing some brand new solo material.

Bradwell Silver Band Concert @ St James Church, New Bradwell. 7.30pm
Bradwell silver band spring concert and annual awards. The band will perform a selection of music to suit all ages and tastes. Bradwell silver band is proud to support players of any age who wish to learn a brass instrument, with free tuition and instruments. The annual Spring Concert is an opportunity for band members to celebrate and recognise the commitment and hard work of the players and supporters.

Sunday 26th April

Telephone and Post Office vehicle's day @ Milton Keynes Museum. All day
Discover more about the telephone and the ways in which we communicate. Postal and telephone vehicles from the past 60 years. Working telephones and switchboards will be found in the telephone gallery, Post Office films and videos and working telegraph and telephone equipment will also be on show, as well as the usual museum exhibits.

Age UK fashion show @ The Peartree Centre, Peartree Bridge. 2-4pm
Hand-picked clothes from the six local Age UK shops. Fabulous fashions, jewellery and other accessories for sale on the day. There will be live music, and visitors will receive a goody bag, glass of bubbly on arrival and canapés. Tickets cost £10 or £8 in advance.

Weekend Events near you...

Friday 6th:

Bedford Art Society at Putnoe Heights Church, 7.15pm for 7.30pm start.
Derek Daniells demonstrates painting scenes of buildings and people in oils. Entry is free for members and £5 for visitors visit www.bedsartsociety.co.uk for more information.

The Bedford Branch of the Royal Anglian Regiment Association, 8pm.
Monthly meetings are held on the first Friday of the month. Bar opens at 7.30pm. If you are an ex-serviceman/woman of any arm please feel free to join.

Saturday 7th:

Fusion Youth choir in concert at St. Owen, Bromham. 3-5pm.
Tickets cost £5 for adults, children under 12 are £1. Refreshments are also available.

Olney Ward Councillor Surgeries
At the Pavillion, Lavendon. 12.30-1.30pm
and at Sherington Village Hall on the 21st February 12.30-1.30pm.

Sunday 8th:

HULA Animal Rescue 'Love is in the Hair' at Glebe farm, Salford Road, Aspley Guise 1-3.30pm.
HULA dog parade at 2.30pm, bazaar and pet shed bargains, Valentine card workshop, fun and games for the children. Only £2 per adult, children go free. All proceeds go to the care and welfare of HULA's animals.

Oktoberfest- kicking off tomorrow night in Sherington

The White Hart in Sherington is hosting the traditional German beer festival, Oktoberfest, all this weekend. There's a great selection of food and drink on offer over the weekend; German beers, including fruit beers (something different to try!), ciders and German foods, including sausages and pretzels.

The event begins tomorrow night from 5pm, with food on offer up until 10pm and the bar open till midnight. 8.30pm sees music from London based singer Billy Keane Music until late. You're encouraged to come dressed in German traditional themed fancy dress, and there will be a prize for the best dressed male and female so get down to the closest fancy dress shop! (see the image below for some inspiration!)

Saturday kicks off at midday, and there will again be all the great food and drink on offer. The evening will feature a classic disco with DJ from 7.30-11pm, so don't forget your dancing shoes!

Sunday is the finale, with a family fun day from midday featuring more live music from 2pm, candy floss, popcorn, face painting, more German beer and more German sausages! There'll also be a bouncy castle for the kids and, wait for it, a bouncy castle for the adults too! Food is served until 5pm and the bar will close at 7pm.

It's set to be a great weekend, don't miss out!

Row row row your boat- What's on this Weekend?

As well as the events on through part of the MK Heritage Open days today, there are also a number of other events on this weekend...

Saturday

The Olney model railway club exhibition will be held at the Carlton house Club in Olney from 10.30am-4.30pm. Come along to see layouts, trade support, society stands and refreshments. Adults cost £2.50 and a family of four is £6.  Visit the website for more information.

The Milton Keynes Regatta also takes place today, consisting of two lane racing over a 500 meter course, with a variety of events in all categories including rowing, sculling, junior, senior and masters events. Racing will begin at 8.30am until 5pm, so do come along and cheer the rowers on at the rowing club on Caldecotte lake.

In the evening, come along to St Laud's Church in Sherington at 7.30pm to hear 'Ed and friends' play a light and varied programme of instrumental and vocal music. Tickets are £8 and are available on the door or from John and Pam Fielding. The concert is being held in aid of Prostate Cancer UK and St Laud's Church.

Sunday

HULA have another of their popular fete and dog show's today, including a variety of activities such as dog classes for all, doggie games and a fun photo competition (bring your pet photos). There will be assorted stalls, fun and games for children, bazaar and book stall and delicious refreshments, and the opportunity to come and meet the resident farm animals. Admission is £2 for adults and £1 for children, with all proceeds going to the care and welfare of HULA's animals. visit the website for more information.

Part of the Milton Keynes Heritage Weekend includes the medieval family fun day at Milton Keynes discovery centre, Bradwell Abbey, from 11am-4pm. The day will include a variety of hands-on activities, such as archery, birds of prey, medieval re-enactors and encampment, face painting, arts and crafts and more. There will be a great selection of refreshments, including hog roast, tea/coffee and cakes.

Visit the Cowpers Oak Country Pub and dining room from 4pm to enjoy 'last of the summer tapas'- enjoy some tapas and sangria as we say goodbye to summer!

This Weekend: Events in the local area

You'll have hopefully already seen the blogs for the Newport Pagnell Carnival,the Rugby 7s and the Olney raft and duck race taking place this weekend, but there are a couple more to mention, as well as reminding you of those three key events for the calendar!

SATURDAY:
Lathbury Village Hut is home to an event this weekend; the Lathbury 1914 project exhibition between 2pm and 5pm both Saturday and Sunday. The exhibition entry is free and showcases variety of historical treasures. There will also be extra entertainment going on between 3 and 4pm, including music, poetry readings and the modern day Clanger Competition. There will also be a special service of commemoration in Lathbury Church at 11am on Sunday.

Night Hike @ Ouse Valley park; Something a little different for a Saturday night! The walk begins at 9pm, and led by local wildlife experts you will discover many varieties of nocturnal wildlife residing in the Ouse Valley. Booking is required, and costs just £1 per person.

SUNDAY:
Summer Celebration and Open day @ Campbell Park, Milton Keynes. 1-4pm
An afternoon of guided walks, country talks, music, demonstrations and displays. The Parks Trust will have a display of landscape machinery, talks, demonstrations form some parkland activities, bug hunting for kids with the education team, free land train rides and music from Bradwell silver band. This is a free event. Check the website for the marquee programme of talks and activities.

'Something different' @ St. Laud's church in Sherington, 10.30am
Come along for refreshments and to meet new people and spend some time discovering who this God fellow is. Wherever you stand on faith, all are welcome. There's an informal service to explore Christian faith together.

Tyringham Teas @ St. Peter's Tyringham Churchyard, 3pm
Come along for teas in the St. Peter's Churchyard. Relax with delicious homemade cakes and lovely views over the Ouse.