Now that Spring has truly sprung and May has arrived we thought we would devote this month’s picks to outdoor events and activities (well, mostly!).

Brambleton Model Railway Club is holding its annual Open Day at its club site at Highfield Oval on Saturday 11 May - a lovely event for little (and big) model train lovers!  And if your little ones want to get more hands-on with trains then book your sessions at TrackPlay, who will be setting up their giant train tracks in Roundwood Primary School on 4 May and inviting everyone along to play!

The Sustainable St Albans Festival runs this month with over 100 events all aimed at making the district a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly place. There are far to many events going on to mention them all here but you can read about them in our special feature here on the website.  On the theme of getting outdoors though, one that sounds great fun is Come outside and Play! on Nomansland Common with the Woodcraft Folk on 16 & 17 May.  Kids can get involved in den-building, rope bridge making and more, and on the Friday evening teens up to age 16 can join in too!  It’s completely free and they can just drop in!  If your child can’t make it along to that event then they can pick up outdoor skills at the regular 50 Things Club events at Dunstable Downs on the 1st Sunday of every month.  This month it takes place on Sunday 5th and is also free and drop-in.

The annual Herts County Show takes place this month at the Showground near Redbourn on 25 & 26 May.  This is the ultimate family celebration of the Hertfordshire Countryside.

Relax and enjoy some outdoor entertainment on the Common with the return of Luna Cinema on 17 – 19 May.  Films showing this year are The Greatest Showman (PG), Bohemian Rhapsody (12A) and Mamma Mia Here We Go Again (PG).

If your child is a fan of dinosaurs then they are spoiled for choice this month. Knebworth House and Gardens has a Dino Adventure event on 27 May featuring a dinosaur trail, hands-on reptile experience with Ventura Wildlife Rangers plus a Dino-dig and storytelling.  Mead Open Farm has Dino Week during half-term (27 – 31 May) with Meet the Dinosaurs, Jurassic Tractor Ride and Dino Disco!  And in Tring Natural History Museum, as well as their British Dinosaurs exhibition (running until 11 October) they are holding Mini Dinosaur Worlds craft sessions on 28 May.

If you want to support some good causes this month Harpenden Concert Band’s next family concert, Stories through Music, is on Sunday 19 May and features “Tubby the Tuba”, narrated by Jonathan Bungard, “Peter and the Wolf” and “Jurassic Park”.  The concert is free but there will be a retiring collection with proceeds going to Harpenden Spotlight on Africa.

Sauncey Wood School invite you to pick up a bargain at their Jumble Sale on 18 May. The Salvation Army are holding their Spring Fair on 11 May, and the Children’s Society are holding their Spring Fair on the 18 May.

We’ve already mentioned a few half term events here, but you can find the full list of events and activities (indoors and outdoors, so all weather eventualities are covered!) on our What’s On page.