Every November, the red poppy appears on coats across Harpenden. Behind those small paper flowers is a great deal of organising, collecting and quiet dedication, and Harpenden Lions Club is proud to be part of it again this year. A Record to Celebrate The 2025 Poppy Appeal raised £31,000, a total announced at a social evening at Bennetts RBL Harpenden on 24th September. The evening also gave us the chance to recognise the people who make the appeal possible. John and Denise P

Celebrating Success and Supporting Young Environmental Leaders The Harpenden Sustainability Market on Sunday, September 20th was everything we hoped for – and more. The brilliant turnout, the wonderful community spirit, and the tangible difference we made together have left us feeling incredibly grateful and inspired. A Day to Remember Our book stall was buzzing from start to finish. Whether people came looking for a specific title, browsing for hidden treasures, or simply st

When Harpenden Lions set out to organise the 2026 Highland Gathering, our goal was simple but meaningful: bring the community together for a day of celebration while raising funds for a cause that matters. As the final results came in, we were overwhelmed with pride. From the proceeds of the event we're now donating £6,000 to Mind Hertfordshire, an organisation doing truly vital work in mental health support across our county. Why Mind Hertfordshire Matters Mental health is o

Every community has stories of people who come back – individuals who catch a spark of purpose when they're young and carry that flame into adulthood. Amanda's story is one of those beautiful full-circle moments, and we're delighted to share it with you. A Journey That Began with Leos Amanda's involvement with Lions Clubs International didn't start recently. Years ago, when she was younger, she was a proud member of **Leos** – the youth division of Lions Clubs International,

When the Year 5 students at Lea Primary School & Nursery decided to raise money for Toilet Twinning – a Tearfund initiative tackling the global sanitation crisis – they showed the kind of determination and compassion that truly inspires us. Their energy and enthusiasm resulted in £240 raised. But the story didn't end there. A Mini-Fair with Maximum Heart In June, Year 5 organised a vibrant after-school mini-fair that brought the community together and proved that young peop

The Flamstead Scarecrow Festival is one of Hertfordshire’s most charming and creative summer traditions. Each year, residents across the village craft imaginative scarecrows and display them outside their homes, along the High Street, and around key community spaces. Families, visitors, and local groups wander through Flamstead discovering each creation, voting for their favourites, and enjoying the festival atmosphere. It’s a celebration of creativity, community, and village

Harpenden Lions Club contributed, with others, to fund an all-weather surface to refurbish a playground which had deteriorated badly - too dusty in summer, too muddy in winter. The playground was opened on 11th July by Steve Pryor of Harpenden Trust - further details about the school at https://www.lea-pri.herts.sch.uk Before After Supporters Children and staff at playground launch with Steve Pryor (Harpenden Trust) and Dave Price (Harpenden Lions Club) and other donors

Our trained club members have previously carried out vision screening in primary schools across Hertfordshire and North London. We were delighted that Roundwood Park Primary School became the first school in Harpenden to participate in the programme. During our visit, we screened 80 children in the Reception and Year 1 classes. Early vision screening can help identify potential sight problems at an early stage, enabling children to receive appropriate assessment and support t