Our Heath Barn

13/06/2026

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/kevin-mcclouds-listed-britain

Kevin McCloud uncovers the stories behind the buildings Britain has chosen to protect

08/06/2026

I'm very happy to announce, on behalf of the Our Heath Barn team, that we have submitted our Bid & Business Plan to Herts County Council this morning.🥳

Although time will tell if this leads to a successful outcome, I am able to say with complete conviction there is not anymore we could have done, no stone left unturned and as far as I'm concerned, if M&S wrote Bids, it would look like this one 😉

The document consists of 137 pages, and references our accumulative funding (fundraisers, donations & pledges) of over £160,000 which means (including an increase to 25% contingency on restoration costs from 12.5%) that we're filling that final piggin bucket and able to make an offer for the building/land too, ensuring we cover seed funding for potential heritage grants and other early costs they won't fund. There's obviously a lot hanging on successful funding applications but one step at a time.

A massive thank you to all the following that provided letters of support...

Dacorum Borough Council
David Taylor MP
Hemel Hempstead School
Hemel Hempstead Theatre Company
Box Moor Trust
Boxmoor Councillors Dacorum
St John's Boxmoor
Plunkett UK
Boxmoor Good Neighbour Scheme
Heritage Hub - Herts University
Hugo Hardy -Heritage architect
Rory Cullen -Heritage Consultant
Louis Curtis-Heritage Timber building consultant
Sunnyside Rural Trust
Eckoh
RSK Group

And testimonials from:
Brian Doran
Sally Taylor ( Herts Visual Arts)
Hemel Hempstead Local History & Museum Society
Steven Wilson (musician)

Lastly, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to the wonderful Our Heath Barn team brought together in only a few short months Cllr William Allen, Astrid Ricketts, Claire Gillespie, Joanna Phillips - Holistic Health, Kate Schwarz, James Lark (Ohmyart). A special mention to Dave Catlin & Gill Broadbent who have been a dream to work with intensely over the past few weeks and who I owe so much to for bringing this special document together.

Keep everything crossed everyone for good news! I've asked the council to keep us updated with expectations around timings - we want things to remain pacey and we've made it clear, we're keen for a swift decision.

As always, thank you for your support everyone - if it wasn't for your ongoing support and belief, there would be no campaign and definitely no impressive proposal 🙏

07/06/2026

Feeling the delightful ache in my arms and legs this morning following yoga with Maria Boxmoor Yoga yesterday.

The timing of her fundraising session for the barn was a welcome reminder of how easy it is to fall into the 'doing' trap that we forget to ground, 'be' in our bodies and make real time to be content with just us - on a mat - no fancy props, just us feeling our way into a movement, stretching and relying on our beautiful muscles to support us and majorly, making time for a decent and mindful breath.

The campaign (however much we love it) has felt like constant striving for the past nearly 4 months or so months, it consumes our waking hours and is relentless due to the short amount of time we were offered, so when someone says....I have this idea ...like Maria Oliver did, it means alot. It means we can take a breath. As a team, we're busy, squirrelling away and ticking off our 'Must do' list to meet the Bid deadline and have everything in place for that, that engaging in the part that long term means the most and creates the most impact - engaging with the community we hope our project will help, has had to take a back seat.

Maria said, 'I thought I'd make a special candle and I thought I could run a yoga session to raise funds' and she did it! It also gives a different voice, edge, energy to things and hearing her talk about the campaign yesterday (in her own words) is such a joy. My point being, don't ever underestimate what you can bring to a party!

Maria's session also creates an interesting circling back to the topic of Intergeneration.

The first time I suggested the barn idea, (beyond my husband and Mum,) was with my friend Jo and we were on our way to visit an intergenerational nursing home in Wandsworth called Apples & Honey Nightingale. They are highly regarded, as the first of their kind in the UK. They have a nursing home and childrens nursery that sit alongside one another on the same site and opportunities are created for little ones, their parents/ carers and elders to come together frequently to interact and learn from one another. The day we visited there was singing and dancing. It seems like such a simple idea and it works, so why aren't more people doing it! It's a key focus of our hopes with the barn- bringing people of all ages together to create, learn, play and just 'be'.

Yesterday, Maria brought together 21 people from a range of ages and abilities and it felt so natural and easy.

She raised £201 through this class and over £100 through candle sales 🥰

On behalf of the team and our lovely barn, thank you to Maria for fully committing to this amd promoting like crazy; alongside her other obligations including running her own business as a yoga teacher and self published author. Boxmoor is so lucky to have you 😘

Please check out Maria's classes (includes pregnancy and postnatal) via this link:

https://www.boxmooryoga.co.uk/about-5

Now- where did I put my yoga mat 🧘‍♀️

06/06/2026

Just a little bit on these absolute legends Hemel Hempstead Theatre Company who continue to amaze us in their support of our cause.

From offering us venue space at Boxmoor Playhouse without charge for everything from our Unlocked fundraising events, to our plaquard painting session last year, our public meetings and private meetings and quiz night to today, offering Boxmoor Yoga a place of shelter this morning when her outdoor session had to go indoors due to the weather.

They've written countless testimonials to the council and a Letter in support of our proposal which we will be sending off to the Herts County council on Monday, along with many others.

They've given so much already and continued to keep us in their thoughts for this *the final act 🎭* a generous donation 😘.... I look forward to a time when order is restored and we become *in real life* neighbours, when we really hope we can reciprocate that support into the future.

Run by the most fantastic loyal, local people who are professional, caring, fun and just blinkin lovely- we feel so included and so grateful to the leadership team and the community.

Please do check out their upcoming production happening towards the end of June and book your tickets today or if you're planning a party or celebration, please do bear them in mind. https://www.hhtheatreco.com/comefromaway

Thank you HHTC - we are so grateful to you 🙏

Special mentions to Katie Lovell, Barry Collins , Sophia Jabbar & Penny Pomroy x ooh and later on I'll say something about Jade Saunders - the gift that keeps on giving.

05/06/2026

Please folks, check your emails 😘

05/06/2026

Morning Everyone 👋

We're going to be locking in those numbers on our Bid very soon, this is a last rallying cry (for now 😉) for any last pledges (email me [email protected]) or donations www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-heath-barn

As it currently stands we have 204 pledges, 366 crowdfunder donations. We're now at the amazing total of £161, 342!

I'll do a proper post soon (you know, my favourite mushy, fluffy kind) but needless to say, we're blown away at the support and what has been achieved in a short amount of time and I'll tell you what- this document is really blinkin impressive and has tenacity written all over it!

I've been whispering sweet nothings to our beloved barn for a few years now but never have we believed more that we're really coming for you. 😘

04/06/2026

On behalf of the Our Heath Barn team, we'd like to say a huge thank you to RSK Group for their generous support.

It's a lovely feeling when businesses recognise the positive impact our initiative could have on local people in the community.

RSK Group are a local company, based in Hemel Hempstead and delivering environmental and engineering services across global markets, combining innovation, digital tools and expert delivery to solve complex challenges in the water, energy, infrastructure and the natural and built environment sectors.

As a values focused organisation at Our Heath Barn, we are excited to work with companies where ethics align and there is strong sustainability awarereness. RSK Group work hard to drive green economy and support important worldwide projects, therefore we are thrilled to have their support!

Thank you so much RSK Group x

04/06/2026

04/06/2026

Please don't forget Boxmoor Yoga fundraising yoga event to raise funds for the Our Heath Barn on Saturday morning.

Due to likely dampness on the moor, we're grateful to Hemel Hempstead Theatre Company (Boxmoor Playhouse) for agreeing to accommodate us.

Please book on for a donation via Maria's website:

https://www.boxmooryoga.co.uk/shop-1

Please also check out her exclusive candles - only a few left for £10.

Hope to see you Saturday at 9.30am.

Lisa x

03/06/2026

Morning Folks, we are now closing in on the £150,000 in crowdfunder donations and pledges which is a phenomenal amount of fundraising in essentially 3 months!

PLEASE, PLEASE check your inboxes and junk mail or search [email protected] in your emails to see if I've asked you to confirm your exact amount of pledge giving.

There are still ALOT of lovely pledgees that have not got back to me. I can't include you in our total until I hear from you.

We need any pledges to be firmed up by Friday morning please. If you haven't confirmed an exact amount with me directly but you've completed the google form, please email me.

We're in the trenches (thank you to Gill & Dave -we're residing there virtually together) wrestling with the Bid to get it just right for submission. It would be amazing to have a really clear offer of funds accumulated by then. We have a fantastic document of letters of support and testimonials from local organisations and businesses- it's all looking very strong and incredibly positive.

DON'T DELAY, CONFIRM TODAY!

If you're wanting to give under £100, the crowdfunder is still open and collecting money www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-heath-barn
358 people have supported everywhere from £5 upwards.

If you'd be interested in pledging £100 for a share. Please email me in the first instance [email protected]. (190 people have pledged which is such a demonstration of confidence and wanting to keep this special building in the community and supported by those who know the people and the area best.)

Thank you!

Lisa and the Our Heath Barn Team ###