Global Warming

**Come try quadball - a mixed-gender sport open to anyone and everyone regardless of gender, ability, or background.** Quadball, formerly quidditch, features players on each side aiming to outscore their opponents by throwing a volleyball through one of three opposing hoops, whilst defending their own hoops with tackles or knocking out opponents with dodgeballs - all while on a broom. **[Short Video on How To Play Quadball](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKUZ9LLH-_c)** These sessions are casual mixed games, and are very beginner friendly, so this is a fantastic opportunity for new people to get involved! Despite our quidditch origins, quadball is very much a sport unto itself and has no relation to or any involvement with Harry Potter or JK Rowling. We celebrate the inclusion of members of the LGBTQ+ community and welcome people of **all** backgrounds and gender identities to get involved. --- **These sessions are designed to be casual and easy to get involved with** * Each session will start with a small warm up, alongside a brief introduction of the rules for newer players. * Players will be sorted into teams, and we'll have several mixed games across the evening (sunlight depending) * Games will run for 20 minutes each, split into two 10-minute halves. * Afterwards we'll head to either The Finbsury or the Twelve Pins to relax, hang out, and get to know the other players. **Please bring** * Suitable athletic or outdoor footwear * *Trainers or Football Boots* * Suitable clothing for exercise Whether you’re brand new to sport, a seasoned athlete, or just wanting to give something new and interesting a go - this is the place to be!

Join us on Wednesday 6th May for our next AI Exchange event, hosted by AWS at their Holborn HQ. Here's what's on the agenda: **[Nova Intelligence](https://www.novaintelligence.com/)** are tackling a problem that doesn't get talked about enough, most AI agents simply weren't built to work with enterprise software like SAP. Their talk discusses how they have solved that, and what it looks like when AI works as well in the enterprise world as it does everywhere else. **[WeBuild-AI](https://www.webuild-ai.com/)** are making the case that bigger isn't always better. Their talk breaks down how small language models, through distillation, fine tuning and low rank adaptation, can deliver the same results as larger models, at a fraction of the cost. **[AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/)** are tackling the question underneath all the others, not how to use AI, but what it's doing to the human mind. Their talk explores how cognition is shifting, which human traits become more valuable as AI takes on complexity, and what genuine human AI partnership actually looks like. As always, doors open at 6:30pm and talks start at 7pm sharp. We have a tight capacity for this event, so please RSVP as soon as you can to secure your space. **Agenda:** **[Marcello Urbani](https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcello-urbani-4730b75/?skipRedirect=true) @ [Nova Intelligence](https://www.novaintelligence.com/)** "**Bringing Agentic AI to the SAP Ecosystem"** Most enterprise software wasn't built with AI agents in mind — and mainstream agents weren't built for enterprise software. SAP is the sharpest example: code lives in the system, not a filesystem, and git-based workflows simply don't apply. Nova closes that gap — an agentic assistant that speaks SAP natively. This talk covers the mismatch problem, how we designed Nova around SAP's environment, and what it looks like when an AI agent finally works as well on SAP as it does on mainstream systems. Bio: Marcello is a software engineer with over two decades in the SAP ecosystem, most of them building DevOps tooling at Basis Technologies. Last year he joined Nova Intelligence to focus on AI applied to SAP systems. An active open source contributor, he is best known for abapfs, a VS Code plugin that enables ABAP development directly in the editor. **[Adel Rahimi](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adelr/) @ [WeBuild-AI](https://www.webuild-ai.com/)** "**Small Language Models: Practical AI for the Real World"** Large language models have dominated the AI conversation, but a quieter revolution is underway. In this talk, we'll explore the rise of small language models and why they matter now more than ever, from reduced infrastructure costs to data sovereignty and the ability to run AI on-premise or at the edge. We'll dive into the techniques that make small models punch above their weight, including distillation, quantisation, fine-tuning and low-rank adaptation. Whether you're navigating regulatory constraints, working with limited compute, or simply looking for a more practical path to production AI, this session will give you the tools to think smaller and smarter. Bio: Adel is a Principal Engineer at Webuild-AI. He has a decade of experience in building and scaling AI and ML solutions at different industries and different company sizes, ranging from series A to unicorns and more recently he was a Sr. AI Engineering Manager at Procter & Gamble. He has also published several research papers in the areas of AI Explainability and NLP and is an advocate of safe and explainable AI. **[Elliott Almeida](https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliott-almeida/) @ [AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/)** **"The Cognitive Partnership: How AI is Reshaping Human Intelligence"** This session explores the profound psychological transformation at the intersection of human cognition and artificial intelligence. Moving beyond tactical implementation, we examine how AI is fundamentally altering our cognitive identity and which human psychological profiles naturally thrive in AI collaboration. Drawing on the "Missing Middle" philosophy and the tension between cognitive offloading and scaffolding, we investigate the paradox of augmentation: as AI handles increasingly complex cognitive tasks, what uniquely human capacities become more valuable? We hope to see you there for another great AI filled evening! **Sponsors...** The AI Exchange is brought to you in partnership with[ LinuxRecruit](https://www.linuxrecruit.co.uk/) and[ AWS.](https://aws.amazon.com/) LinuxRecruit is building the next wave of Tech Unicorns in Europe. Whether you're hiring or exploring your next opportunity, [get in touch](https://www.linuxrecruit.co.uk/jobs). The types of roles we have currently are across Founding Engineers, Engineers across Product, Software, AI/ML, Data and Platform Infrastructure/DevOps.

Hi folks! Welcome to our May Cloud Native London meetup! Join us to hear from our three great speakers and network with your fellow techies over pizza and drinks, or alternatively chat and following along on Youtube or LinkedIn! 6:00 Pizza and drinks 6:30 Welcome 6:45 The End of Handoffs: Build, Run, Own in One Flow (Alberto Pose, Pulumi) 7:15 You Can’t Patch Fast Enough: What AI-Driven Attacks Mean (Idan Elor, Oligo Security) 7:45 Break 8:00 From Zero to HyperPod: Distributed Model Training on AWS (Anton Nazaruk, Cloud Combinator) 8:30 Wrap up See you there! Cheryl (@oicheryl) **The End of Handoffs: Build, Run, Own in One Flow (Alberto Pose, Pulumi)** AI is changing the shape of team structures. A similar shift to the one that brought dev and ops together into DevOps is now happening as product must also meet the accountability bar. At the same time, tooling has not caught up with "throwing it to Claude/Codex". Engineers are confronted with a choice: trust code and actions they do not fully understand, or... move too slowly. Are these problems fundamentally new, or are there lessons we can draw from the past to adapt and think about what comes next? *Alberto Pose is a software engineer with a soft spot for developer tooling and infrastructure. He is currently part of the team managing the CI/CD pipelines for Pulumi's open source projects. Before this, he spent nearly ten years at Prime Video and AWS. A major highlight of his time there was helping bootstrap the living room device automation team, taking it from a small group effort to a 30 person organisation that brought full automation to millions of streaming devices worldwide.* **You Can’t Patch Fast Enough: What AI-Driven Attacks Mean (Idan Elor, Oligo Security)** Anthropic’s Project Glasswing announcement put the industry on notice. AI has fundamentally changed the threat landscape and the risks facing organizations, and it’s happening faster than most security models can adapt. AI-assisted attackers can now discover vulnerabilities, generate exploits, and launch attacks at rates never seen before, collapsing the window between disclosure and exploitation. In this environment, patching alone is no longer enough. For cloud-native applications, where systems are dynamic and constantly evolving, this creates a new challenge: how do you stay protected when you can’t fix vulnerabilities fast enough? This talk explores how the attacker model is shifting in the AI era, why traditional approaches are breaking down, and what it means to move from vulnerability-based security to real-time protection at runtime. We’ll cover how focusing on exploit techniques enables teams to stop attacks as they happen, including zero-days. *Idan Elor is Field CTO at Oligo Security, where he partners with large enterprises to solve complex application and cloud security challenges. He most recently served as Director of Solution Engineering & Tech-Alliances at Apiiro, where he empowered enterprises to secure their software supply chains. With over a decade of experience spanning application security, DevSecOps, and mobile security, Idan has also held leadership positions at companies like Snyk, Symantec, and HP. His unique background combines deep hands-on technical expertise. A passionate advocate for bridging the gap between security and development teams, Idan is known for his ability to translate complex security concepts into actionable strategies that organizations can actually implement.* **From Zero to HyperPod: Distributed Model Training on AWS (Anton Nazaruk, Cloud Combinator)** You've got a model that works. You just need more GPUs. How hard can it be? That's where the pain starts. GPU availability, infrastructure complexity, and cost are the three blockers that trip up even experienced teams when scaling from single-GPU training to serious distributed workloads. This talk is a practical walkthrough of how to set up distributed model training on AWS - covering the capacity options (On-Demand, Spot, Capacity Blocks, SageMaker Training Plans), when to use each, and a repeatable infrastructure blueprint for compute, networking, storage, and observability. I'll demo provisioning a HyperPod cluster and running a distributed training job with automatic failure recovery, and share the cost levers that matter at scale. Whether you're a platform engineer supporting ML teams or an ML engineer tired of fighting infrastructure, you'll leave with a decision framework and a blueprint you can implement. *Anton Nazaruk is CTO at Cloud Combinator, where he helps companies run GPU workloads on AWS - from early-stage startups to larger organisations doing distributed training at scale. He focuses on making ML infrastructure repeatable, resilient, and cost-efficient.* *LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anton-nazaruk* *Check out [https://www.oicheryl.com/cloudnativelondon](https://www.oicheryl.com/cloudnativelondon) if you're interested in speaking or sponsoring.*

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/44666 **Game Description:** Play non-stop basketball with no drills for 2 hours with good music and great vibes 🔥🔥 All women welcome - all levels 🙌🏼 **Directions:** 🚶🏼‍♂️3 minute walk from Edgware Road Underground Station 📍King Solomon Academy​,​ Penfold St​,​ NW1 6RX 🚪 Use main entrance on Penfold street https://goo.gl/maps/ePyuBJAqCDYNdijX8 🚗 Free Parking after 6:30pm **Rules** \- Call your own fouls\! \- Winner stays on \- Have fun🙃

As official AI Community Partner for the **Digital Marketing World forum,** we (AI Professionals Network) are pleased to offer **discounted and complimentary tickets for the upcoming event at Excel in London on 6-7 May 2026.** This is a prestigious London event focused on AI and Digital Marketing. Join **3,000+ CMOs, marketing directors and senior leaders** for two days of insight, innovation, and networking covering **• AI, Agentic & Hyper Personalisation** **• Digital Transformation & Leadership Strategy** **• Content Video & StoryTelling Marketing** **• Influencer & Creator Economy** **\* Omnichannel Marketing and more** For full details on the event: [https://www.digitalmarketing-conference.com/global](https://www.digitalmarketing-conference.com/global) **To register for your special tickets visit: [https://aiprofessionals.network/dmwf26](https://aiprofessionals.network/dmwf26)** Note: this event is also being promoted by other groups.

Important - Please Read the event details below👇 Welcome to London's Highest Rated International Languages Exchange group with over 1600 reviews rated 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🇬🇧🇪🇸🇫🇷🇯🇵🇮🇹🇩🇪🇮🇳🇧🇷🇰🇷🇨🇳🇪🇬🇭🇰🇺🇦🇺🇸🇹🇷🇹🇼🇷🇺🇵🇱 To learn more about us and our community visit [www.languages.london](https://www.languages.london/) WHEN & WHERE Join us every Wednesday for our midweek global language exchange and social from 7pm. The venue is the Craft Beer Co. in Hammersmith, a really friendly pub with a great selection of drinks (especially beers!) including non-alcoholic options and excellent access to public transport. HOW WE DO IT It's simple .... 🔘When you arrive please collect your personalised language badge from us, **BEFORE** you order your drinks. We'll be waiting to give you a warm welcome 😃 🔘Please wear your badge during the event and return it before you leave. 🔘Start meeting the community and having fun, lots of fun! You should confirm your place to attend this event. There's a small fee of £2, which you can pay when you arrive. You should buy something from the bar to support the venue, who kindly offer us a dedicated space. 🇲🇽🇻🇳🇧🇬🇵🇸🇸🇪🇮🇱🇦🇺🇨🇦🇳🇱🇨🇴🇭🇺🇿🇦🇹🇭🇵🇪🇧🇴🇳🇬🇪🇬🇳🇿🇨🇭 **WHO** Languages in London events are organised for our community - being social, making new friends, building cultural bridges and always very relaxed. We have the largest number of languages and countries represented in our weekly language exchange and social events. This is **not** a dating event. Our events are open to Internationals, Locals, Expats, Students, Travellers..... Everyone! Is this the Intercambio you've been looking for? Want to practice your ingles, espanol , francais, italiano, Deutsch, portugues or other European languages? Asian languages ? Or maybe prefer to only speak English, that's just fine. This is the event for a truly global community and for citizens from around the World 🌎 It's your international language hub in London! **All languages and all fluency levels are welcome** Spread the love, bring your family, friends and colleagues 💚 The creator and organiser of **Languages in London - Girish**, will always be visible at the event and there to support you and help with introductions, if you prefer. These are real events with real people. We aren't one of those groups that fill our events with fictitious attendees👻. We want to remain the **BEST** language events group in London, being the biggest isn't our focus. **No-shows at our events are removed from the group.** **Inactive members are also regularly removed from our group.** **LANGUAGES** Here's a selection of some of the languages that our community speak or have been practicing English, Spanish (incl Latin American), French, Italian, Portuguese (incl Brazilian), German, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Russian, Korean, Hindi, Turkish, Arabic, Ukrainian, Polish, Hebrew, Swedish, Bulgarian, Vietnamese, Hungarian, Bengali, Dutch, Catalan, Farsi, Greek, Urdu, Welsh, Romanian, Norwegian, Czech, Slovak, Estonian, Danish, Finnish, Turkmen, Latvian, Lithuanian, Nepali, Yoruba, Filipino, Thai, Albanian, Croatian, Serbian, Ebo, Gaelic, Icelandic, Afrikaans, Tamazight, Tagalog, Creole, Malagasy, Mongolian, Tok Pisin and more... you get the idea! 🇷🇴🇬🇹🇨🇿🇳🇴🇩🇰🇫🇮🇨🇾🇺🇾🇪🇬🇧🇬🇦🇷🇰🇪🇱🇰🇲🇦🇹🇳🇩🇿🇸🇬🇲🇾 **SUSTAINABLE** 🌎🌳 Like you, we really care about our planet. We don't like single use paper name tags, stickers or wristbands as they can't be reused or recycled and can even damage your clothing ☹️ The Solution? Our personalised and completely reusable Languages in London badges! 🏆👍 So, please make sure you return your badge to us, before you leave the event. We'll sanitise it (anti bacterial & disinfectant cleaners) and use it again & again & again. Thanks for helping us do the right thing and keep our costs down🙏 **SAFE SPACE FOR EVERYONE** 👮‍♂️ We don't tolerate prejudice or harassment of any kind, at any time. Be polite and respectful to everyone else and they will reciprocate. Let's keep the space safe, welcoming for everyone and free of any political agendas. Please report any concerns to the Organiser immediately. Please look after your belongings, the venue is a public place. We may take photos or video at the event for future promotional use. Let us know if you'd rather not be included, we respect your choice 📸 **SPREAD THE WORD** 🗣️💬 If you enjoy our events, please tell your friends and colleagues and help us grow **your** community, thank you ♥️ Join our community - [www.languages.london](https://www.languages.london/) We're looking forward to welcoming you at Languages in London 😊👋 🇲🇰🇳🇵🇧🇩🇵🇭🇦🇪🇦🇱🇧🇪🇮🇪🇲🇹🇰🇿🇱🇦🇯🇴🇱🇹🇱🇻🇪🇪🇰🇭🇨🇱🇲🇳🇨🇺

Do you want to submit a talk to a Postgres conference? Do you want to try out the challenge of fitting a bunch of interesting information into 5 minutes for a lightning talk? Can you talk for 1 to 2 minutes on a Postgres topic you've just heard? On the 6th of May, we will be back at Star of Kings, running an event which is all about speakers and speaking. With the Call for Papers for PGDay UK closing on the 12th, we are inviting anyone who has a talk idea, is unsure of whether the topic fills the time, or just might enjoy a bit of technical improv to join us. If you would like to present a talk or a lightning talk, please get in touch. We will update this event description a people come forward. In the absence of any volunteers it will be Postgres-themed improv talks and, maybe, an organiser taking a talk for a spin. Don't let it come to that :)

Have you ever wanted to get together outdoors and chill out amongst good company whilst being immersed within nature & amazing weather? If so, then this is the right event for you. Welcome to another one of the CHILL events where you have the opportunity to settle in the parks, form friendships, socialise, have a picnic and so much more whilst being immersed within the luscious greenery, botanicals and the gorgeous weather. 

With this particular chill event, we will be settling at Primrose Hill. Primrose Hill is an iconic landmark which offers us the amazing if not one of the best views of the city skyline. It’s also a cosy spot to settle whilst seeing the sun set and gazing at the amazing view of the city. Depending on the aura and if the event goes well, we may do an aftermath and let democracy decide. My fellow explorers, if you enjoyed the event, I’m more than happy to accept any donations which of course are optional but will go a long way to help me unlock and deliver even more exciting and engaging events and resources: https://www.paypal.me/calvinjoy 

WHAT - Chill at Primrose Hill
WHERE - Primrose Hill
WHEN - 7pm - 11pm
MEETING POINT - Primrose Hill
NEAREST STATIONS - Chalk Farm & St John’s Wood Station
REQUIREMENTS - Just your good behaviour is all and whatever is listed above for the walk. Maybe bring your ID if we do an aftermath. Disclaimers: Please be on your best behaviour and respect one another. This group doesn’t tolerate any misbehaviour and misconduct. Should such a thing take place, you will be removed. If you ask a question that either already has the answer to it or doesn’t relate to the event at all, I won’t respond. Whenever an event takes place, I will cut off contact 20 minutes after the event commences. If you message even 1 minute after the cut off time, I won’t be available as I’m conducting the event. There will be photography and videography by myself so if you are photo conscious and/or do not want to be in the video, do kindly inform me and I’ll try my utmost best to not involve you in the picture. Let’s all be responsible but please be aware you come at your own risk. Do be mindful of your possessions, belongings and most importantly, your safety. The ‘London society of explorers’ accept no risk of liability at this event.

ENJOY THIS UNIQUE WALK IN STUNNING GREEN SPACES. STRENGTHEN NEW FRIENDSHIPS IN A PUB SOCIAL AFTER THE WALK. **WALK START: Forest Hill Railway Station** (National Rail and London Overground - Travel Zone 3) WALK ROUTE: Today we walk through the contrasting scenery of Horniman Gardens, Dulwich Park, Sydenham Woods Sydenham Wells Park and Crystal Palace Park. WALK DISTANCE: Approx 6 miles. WALK FINISH: Crystal Palace Station ( National Rail and London Overground). STOPOUT POINT: Throughout the walk we will cross several London bus routes. **Scroll down to see Disclaimer and Notice of Risks.** ENJOY UNIQUE HEALTHY WALKS IN STUNNING GREEN SPACES OR ALONG WATERWAYS IN LONDON. STRENGTHEN NEW FRIENDSHIPS IN A PUB SOCIAL AFTER THE WALK. **COST of EVENT**: **All of the walks on this group are only £5 each to attend. Payment is not collected before the day of the event to allow you maximum flexibility.** **This walk is free for holders of the Ken's Events Membership Card.** Get out, explore and enjoy London's abundant green spaces and surprising surrounding countryside. Give up the city streets for a day and breathe some fresh air. Improve your overall fitness levels and make some new friends at the same time. Social Event: Our walks are social walks, where the emphasis is on meeting new people, enjoying nature, healthy exercise, and fresh air. Our walks are not interrupted with running commentaries or historical lectures, although occasionally features of significance may be pointed out. As such our walks will be continuous with few stops and it is your responsibilty to keep walkers ahead in view and to follow the direction of the walk. We always end the walk at a pub where the socialising can continue. Take this opportunity to visit green parts of London, unknown to most people, and that you would not otherwise have an opportunity to see. RISKS:Please dress appropriately for weather conditions and carry a bottle of water and necessary medication. You need to be moderately fit for this walk and be able to walk for four miles without a break. In these walks we use; pavements, cross busy roads, public parkland, towpaths alongside water, other public paths, and tracks through woodland and countryside. Please only wear good sturdy shoes, trousers are recommended, and take care as surfaces may be uneven, and some paths are also used by joggers and cyclists. Be wary of portruding tree roots and low overhanging branches. If you require insurance for these walks then you must arrange this yourself. No large dogs or small children please. Please arrive in good time to allow opportunity to use toilets at the start of the walk as there may not be any toilet breaks available during the walk. WANT TO COME ON ANOTHER WALK? For a list of future walks go to[ http://www.meetup.com/KENS-EVENTS-EXPLORE-LONDON-SECRETS/events/](https://www.meetup.com/KENS-EVENTS-EXPLORE-LONDON-SECRETS/events/) DISCAIMER All Ken's Events are subject to a disclaimer. Please click here [https://www.meetup.com/kens-events-explore-london-secrets/](https://www.meetup.com/kens-events-explore-london-secrets/) to find out more about Kens Events/Walks and click on 'read more' to see full disclaimer. Please post no pre-event messages unless you are posting something relevant for the whole group. Kens Events also has a facebook page. [http://www.facebook.com/Kens.events](http://www.facebook.com/Kens.events) When you arrive at the station look for Ken with Kens Events/Meetup Badge outside the station. WHAT IF THE WEATHER IS BAD? - Light rain is not a problem, only very heavy rain will lead to a postponement.

THAMESPATH, PARKLAND, LAKES, MEADOWS. **WALK START POINT: Canada Water Tube Station** (Jubilee Line and London Overground - Zone 2). Outside the station look for Ken with the Kens Events/Meetup badge. WALK ROUTE: Southwark Park and Thamespath to Tower Bridge and onto St. Pauls. WALK DISTANCE: Approx 5 miles. WALK END POINT: At St Pauls Cathedral and Underground Station ( Central Line - Zone 1). WALK STOPPING OUT POINT: Never far from London bus routes. **Scroll down to see Disclaimer and Notice of Risks.** Please arrive in good time to allow opportunity to use toilets at the start of the walk as there may not be any toilet breaks available during the walk. **COST of EVENT**: **All of the walks on this group are only £5 each to attend. Payment is not collected before the day of the event to allow you maximum flexibility. Why pay more on other groups for overpriced walks with no afterwalk socialising!!** **The walk is free for holders of the Ken's Events Membership Card.** Please post no pre-event messages unless you are posting something relevant for the whole group and only post photos of other members with their consent. Kens Events also has a Facebook Page, Instagram and Twitter accounts. [[http://www.facebook.com/Kens.events](http://www.facebook.com/Kens.events)](http://www.facebook.com/Kens.events) Instagram Page [Kenswalks](https://www.instagram.com/weekendgreenwalks/) Twitter [@KenEvents](http://www.twitter.com/KenEvents) Kens Events also has a Facebook Group that you can join. [[http://www.facebook.com/groups/Kensevents](http://www.facebook.com/groups/Kensevents)](http://www.facebook.com/groups/kensevents) When you arrive at the station look for Ken with Kens Events Badge outside the station. RAIN POLICY: Our walks normally go ahead as planned even if it rains. Light rain is not usually a problem . However if torrentail rain is forecast, please check back to this webpage on the morning of the event around 10am for the latest update. Unfortunately no large dogs and small children are permitted on these walks. **NOTICE of RISKS applicable for all walks:** Please dress appropriately for weather and terrain conditions. Only wear good sturdy shoes, with ankle support, and carry a bottle of water and necessary medication. You need to be moderately fit for this walk and able to walk for at least 8 miles. This walk is suitable for the average experienced hill walker. Expect some hills. Do not attend this walk if you do not fit that description or if you have a medical condition (especially heart and/or lung conditions) that may impact upon your capability of completing the walk. These walks are city walks and countryside walks where all the usual risks of injury during such walks apply resulting from interactions with road traffic, joggers, cyclists, e-scooters,other members of the public, animals (farm, domestic and wild), plants (allergic reactions), uneven surfaces, including portruding tree roots and potholes and there may be low overhanging branches. In these walks we cross busy roads, use towpaths alongside water, bridlepaths, country lanes and sometimes ill defined paths and tracks through woodland, bush and countryside. Some tracks may be muddy and slippery, and conditions may be wet and icy. The walk leader is not and does not purport to be a professional guide, or a medical professional, but is instead a like minded individual who also enjoys hill walking and who is familiar with the intended route. Do not attend this walk unless you accept and consent to the above risks. If you require insurance for these walks then you must arrange this yourself. WANT TO COME ON ANOTHER WALK? For a list of future walks go to[ http://www.meetup.com/KENS-EVENTS-EXPLORE-LONDON-SECRETS/events/](https://www.meetup.com/KENS-EVENTS-EXPLORE-LONDON-SECRETS/events/) **DISCAIMER** All Ken's Events are subject to a disclaimer. Please click here [https://www.meetup.com/kens-events-explore-london-secrets/](https://www.meetup.com/kens-events-explore-london-secrets/) to find out more about Kens Events/Walks and click on 'read more' to see full disclaimer.

Participation in group travel is optional. You may attend the hike using your own transport. The hike itself is free of charge. If you are attending this hike event: \-\-\- **EVENT** Hike from the Sea \| free 35k \(21m\) challenge 💪 \| Eastbourne to Lewes [[Link](https://www.meetup.com/freehiketogether/events/313646291/)] \-\-\- **DATE** Saturday 09 MAY 2026 📍 **LONDON GROUP TRAVEL** The event host **[AdrianB](https://www.meetup.com/members/287692462/)** will be present as a focal point for group travel. 08:00 – Meet at **[London Victoria ticket office](https://w3w.co/gear.deputy.orbit)** 08:15 – Leave meeting point and board the train 08:24 – Train departs London Victoria 09:53 – Arrival at Eastbourne \-\-\- **THIS OFFER APPLIES TO YOU IF** * You want to pay a £13 total travel cost for the entire day * You are happy to travel in a group of four * You understand that individual tickets cannot be issued * You will be travelling from London Victoria to Eastbourne and returning from Lewes to London Victoria \-\-\- **🚨ANYONE WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO GROUP TICKET BUT HAS NOT PAID WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE EVENT TO ALLOW OTHERS WHO ARE READY TO PAY TO TAKE THEIR PLACE.** \-\-\- **HOW IT WORKS** You pay the organiser £13 in advance\*\*. The organiser will purchase\*\* [group tickets](https://ticket.southernrailway.com/daysave/2026-05-09/VIC/4/) once a full group of four has been confirmed. If a group of four is not confirmed, your payment will be fully refunded and you will need to arrange your own travel. \-\-\- **REFUNDS** If a group of four is not confirmed, your payment will be fully refunded and you will need to arrange your own travel. Once tickets have been purchased from National Rail, refunds are not possible. \-\-\- **❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS** Q: What if I want to leave the group and travel on my own later? A: You cannot. You must remain with your group of four for the entire journey. Q: Will the organiser give me an individual ticket? A: No. The ticket issued is a group ticket and is valid only for four people travelling together. Q: Will the organiser give a group of four people a ticket? A: Yes. A group ticket will be provided as long as all four people stay together and travel together. Q: Who holds the group tickets, and how do we get through the barriers? A: The organiser will hold and present the tickets. We will pass through the barriers together as one group. Q: How much will it cost me on the day if I buy a return ticket with a Network Railcard? A: Around £24.95, so you will save about £12. \-\-\- **PAYMENT** Use payment link [https://monzo.com/pay/r/hike-together_daJqyL9Ev3ArvS](https://monzo.com/pay/r/hike-together_daJqyL9Ev3ArvS) Or direct payment to: Adrian Barnett trading as Hike Together Account number: 79677613 Sort code: 04-00-05 \-\-\- After completing payment, please send a private message to AdrianB confirming that payment has been made. Include your transaction ID and Meetup profile name so your bank account display name can be matched to your Meetup profile. \-\-\- **CONTACT** AdrianB: +44 (0) 7438 812 663 \-\-\- **CLOSING DATE** Sales close on Tuesday 5 May at noon, when the tickets will be purchased. \-\-\- **📍 LONDON GROUP TRAVEL MEETING POINT** The event host [AdrianB](https://www.meetup.com/members/287692462/) will be present as a focal point for group travel. 08:00 – Meet at [London Victoria ticket office](https://w3w.co/gear.deputy.orbit) 08:15 – Leave meeting point and board the train 08:24 – Train departs London Victoria 09:53 – Arrival at Eastbourne \-\-\- You may also join the group on the train at an intermediate station, such as Clapham Junction or East Croydon, to avoid travelling all the way to the main meeting point. However, you must first purchase a valid ticket to pass through the barriers at those stations when entering and exiting. \-\-\- **IMPORTANT** Please ensure you arrive at the meeting point on time. If you are not there when we leave to board the train, the group will proceed without you. \-\-\- **Group 1** Adrian - Paid Denise - Paid Emily - Paid Jane - Paid **Group 2** Ana - Paid Angela - Paid Ashvin - Paid Igor - Paid **Group 3** Clair - Paid Marianne - Paid Ranj - Paid Zyerak - Paid **Group 4** Roni - Paid Prabhoo - Paid Shan - Paid Katja - Paid **Group 5** Anne - Paid MimHee Kim - Paid Chris - Paid Ieva - Paid \-\-\- **NOTE** If you prefer to arrange your own group travel, you can purchase tickets directly from National Rail **[HERE](https://ticket.southernrailway.com/daysave/2026-05-09/VIC/4/)**.

**Grade 🥾🥾🥾 Level 3/5** —— **📖SUMMARY:** 24km \(15mi\) \| Ascent: 116m \| Max Elevation 42m 🚆**Train:** Return ticket **London Waterloo** **⇆** **Shalford (Surrey)** 💡For the journey back to London, we will use the **same** ticket but from **West Byfleet**) ⛳️ **Meeting Point:** **2 Options** **1-** London Waterloo station Ticket Office \| **08:40** (Train is at **09:03**) **2-** Shalford \(Surrey\) outside train station \| **10:00** *⚠️*This is a **Point-to-Point (not circular)** Hike **🏁** **Hike** **start:** **Shalford** \(Surrey\) train station \| **10:10** **🔚** **Hike** **finish:** **West Byflee**t \| approx\. **17:00** —— 🚊 **TRAIN TICKET INFORMATION:** I would recommend you get **🎟️Sunday Out Return** ticket London Waterloo ⇆ Shalford (Surrey) with a *Network Railcard* is £12.05 (instead of £18.10). * **➡️ Outbound:** London Waterloo **09:07** **→ 10:01** Shalford \(Surrey\) \| **❗️**We will take the London **09:03** **→ 09:44** Guildford Train, ***with the same ticket, then changing 13min***, Guildford **09:57** **→ 10:01** Shalford (Surrey) ❓Why not the 09:07? It arrives at the same time but with only a 5-min connection at Guildford — too tight if anything runs late. The 09:03 gives us a comfortable 13-min buffer. ⁉️ Buy the 09:07 ticket, board the 09:03 with us. * **⬅️ Inbound:** West Byfleet *Any Off Peak Return* (same ticket) *→* London (Travel is allowed via any permitted route via Woking) 💡If you’d like to join other hikers using a **Network Railcard,** please arrive earlier so we can organise small groups. Note that each card can cover up to 4 people. ℹ️Visit **[National Rail](https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/)** for details —— **📕ABOUT:** **A calm, steady walk with plenty of time to breathe, chat and take it all in 🌿. No one gets left behind and no one’s in a hurry 😇** \- You will meander through open meadows and quiet country lanes before joining the peaceful towpaths of the **River Wey Navigation**. - Along the way, the route passes **historic locks**, narrowboats gently bobbing on the water, and the soothing sounds of cascading weirs. \- One of the standout moments of the journey is the sight of **Newark Priory**, a haunting twelfth century ruin set against wide, open fields. It is a vivid reminder of the area's medieval heritage. \- With abundant wildlife and ever changing riverside views\, this trail offers a perfect balance of natural beauty and historical intrigue\. —— **🌟HIGHLIGHTS:** * **Bowers Lock and Historic Oak:** As you approach Bowers Lock, look out for a 300-year-old oak tree, a silent witness to centuries of river history. Informational boards nearby provide context about the area's significance * **Newark Priory Ruins:** Between Papercourt and Walsham Locks, catch glimpses of the evocative ruins of Newark Priory across the fields. Though on private land and not directly accessible, the view is a poignant reminder of the region's rich past. * **Walsham Lock and Pyrford Place:** Crossing the bridge at Walsham Lock, you'll notice an unusual building on the opposite bank, part of Pyrford Place. This structure is reputed to have been used by Elizabeth I and John Donne * **Pyrford Lock and The Anchor Pub:** A popular spot for walkers. —— 💷 **COST: Free** This hike is completely free to join but participants need to purchase their own transport tickets. —— **🎒WHAT TO BRING:** * 1-2L Water * Packed lunch and snacks * Comfortable walking/hiking shoes * Weather-appropriate clothing (layers, waterproofs, hat, sunscreen) * Optional: trekking poles, camera —— *✅***WHO CAN JOIN:** • ‍‍ Our hikes are open to adults aged 21 and over. • For safety reasons, we’re not able to include children. • We love animals, but pets (including dogs) can’t join our hikes. —— **🚨RSVP & ATTENDANCE**: RSVP only if you plan to attend. Please cancel as early as possible if you can no longer make it so others can join. A no-show means you RSVPed but did not attend or cancelled just before or after the start time. Repeated no-shows or late cancellations without a valid reason may lead to removal. Reliable regulars who end up on a waitlist may message the host for priority consideration. —— **☯️STAYING TOGETHER:** A dedicated back marker is not always present, so please keep others in sight and avoid moving too far ahead or falling too far behind. Faster walkers should wait at junctions. The hike leader will pause at key points to regroup and reduce the chance of anyone becoming separated from the group. —— ⚠️ **DISCLAIMER:** By joining, you confirm that you have read and accepted the group policy on the About page. You are responsible for your own safety, and neither the host nor the group can be held liable for injury, loss, or damage.

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

Join us for 2 loops of the 1.1 mile trail surrounding Civic Park In Reynoldsburg this Thursday (5/7) at 6:30 pm. This is a fully paved trail so no worries about mud after a rainy week. Just come and get some exercise while connecting with others.

**History** The history of [Blendon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blendon-woods/) began long before its 1951 opening, rooted in a landscape of rugged ridges and deep ravines that made the land unsuitable for traditional farming. In 1945, a report proposing a metropolitan park system for Franklin County specifically highlighted these cliffs of Bedford Shale as some of the "wildest land in the vicinity". Following this recommendation, the recently formed park district purchased the first 229 acres in early 1949. Because the terrain was so uneven, developers had to cut a mile-and-a-half-long roadway through dense woods just to bring in heavy equipment. This initial preservation effort ensured that the mature second-growth hardwood forests remained largely untouched by the urban expansion spreading toward Westerville. Opening day arrived on Labor Day, September 3, 1951, marking Blendon Woods as the second park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. The final push to open was a frantic race; the State Highway Department only finished the primary gravel access road four days before the gates opened. Early staff members, consisting of just four full-time employees, had to hand-dig pit toilets and learn construction skills on the fly to build the first picnic shelters. Despite the dusty conditions and limited facilities, the park was an immediate success, drawing massive crowds from across Central Ohio. By the end of the 1950s, annual visitation had already climbed to over 190,000 people. As the surrounding suburbs grew in the 1960s, the park faced severe overcrowding that threatened its natural habitats. In response, Franklin County voters passed the first Metro Parks levy in 1960, providing the funds necessary for a decade of steady expansion. During this era, the park nearly doubled in size, growing from 264 acres to over 570 acres by 1968. Planners also addressed a critical water shortage by collaborating with the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service to build a lake in 1964. This body of water originally served as a temporary reservoir before its role shifted toward conservation and wildlife support. The 1970s marked a transition toward the specialized wildlife and educational focus for which the park is known today. In 1971, the Walden Waterfowl Refuge was established around the 11-acre Thoreau Lake, creating a sanctuary that remains restricted to provide a quiet habitat for migratory birds. A formal nature center was also developed during this period, expanding on the guided Sunday walks that had been a park staple since the early 1950s. The park’s famous "Monarch Mansion" also became a prominent fixture, starting a long tradition of raising and releasing thousands of monarch butterflies each September. These initiatives cemented the park’s reputation as a premier destination for birders and nature enthusiasts. In more recent decades, Blendon Woods has continued to modernize while maintaining its wilderness character. The 10-acre Natural Play Area was added in 2017, encouraging kids to explore the ravines and woods off-trail. This was followed by the opening of a $1.5 million inclusive playground in April 2025, designed to accommodate children of all physical abilities. The nature center also underwent major renovations to include immersive, three-dimensional exhibits and a new butterfly house. Today, the park encompasses 653 acres, preserving a unique geologic and biological corridor amidst the bustling Westerville and Northeast Columbus area. **Map of the Park** Here is a map of [Blendon Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BLN_map_Inclusive-Playground-and-Butterfly-Trail_May-2025_1980px.png). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Lake View, Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook, Brookside, and Sugarbush Trails. This sounds like a lot, but it will really be only a little over five miles. Blendon Woods has a few hills here and there, but it's not one of the more strenuous metro parks. **Where We'll Meet** We'll meet just in front of the Nature Center. This is about a mile into the park from the main entrance. You have to go past the Ranger Station and the Shadblow Reservable Area to get to it, so don't stop too early at the Ranger Station and get it confused with the Nature Center. **After the Hike** Afterward, we will head over to [Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/) at Easton for [drinks](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/#dinner-menu) and [food](https://forbiddenroot.com/wp-content/uploads/Cbus-Food.pdf). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks. The brewery's actual address is [4080 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88388a86d10b6619:0x4d42b470a5cf11d3?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111); however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the [Worth Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Worth+Garage/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388b4df6082825:0x17582f0eccd9dda1!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11rzfvvv8b?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) across the street. Parking in this garage is free as long as you're not on the first floor, and it is literally right next to the brewery.

[The Board Walks](http://www.theboardwalks.com/) are for curious people who love deep conversations. If that sounds like you, **bring a thoughtful topic** and join us for a 5-mile walk (10,000+ steps!). **HOW IT WORKS** **Step 1: Bring a topic** Before you arrive, think of **one** topic you want to explore. A question. A thought that's been on your mind. An obsession you want to geek out on. This is your ticket to the event. **Step 2: Circle up & share** We gather in a circle. Your friendly walk host gives a speech to set the tone. Everyone shares: your name, what you're grateful for, and your topic. That's it. 60 seconds. **Step 3: Walk, talk & float** We walk 5 miles. You naturally drift into conversation with 2-3 people at a time, pulled by topics that spark your curiosity. When you're ready to move on, just say: "I'm going to float!" **Step 4: Feel more alive** Two hours flies by. You're back where you started — but you feel different. More alive. More energized. More connected to yourself and others. That's why regulars join 20+ times. *For more details, read our [Orientation Guide.](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation)* **HOW TO BRING A GREAT TOPIC** A great topic = something you're genuinely curious about. Recent topics include: * "What are you passionate about right now?" * "What makes a good friend?" * "What's a belief you used to hold that you've completely changed?" * "How do you want to be remembered?" * "What would you do if money wasn't a factor?" Think of your topic like the dish you're bringing to our conversational potluck. If everyone brings an A+ dish (i.e. energizing, uplifting, expansive), we'll all walk away feeling lighter and brighter. **WHAT TO EXPECT** This isn't a fitness event with casual chitchat. It's a walking think tank where we explore life's big questions together, beyond small talk. *If you're looking for light banter or a standard networking event, this probably isn't the right fit.* But if you crave depth, genuine connection, and conversations that make you feel alive? You'll love it here. **FAQ** * Wear casual athletic attire and sneakers. It's a long walk! * We have multiple first-timers at each event. We work hard to create a welcoming, inclusive, clique-free space. * We welcome people of **all** ages, backgrounds, and industries who align with the [intention](https://www.theboardwalks.com/ground-rules) of this space. * Rain or shine, we've been out here nearly every week since July 2022. If the event is cancelled, we'll let you know. * Dogs, babies in strollers, parents, and friends are welcome — please text/email them the event link so they can RSVP and prepare a topic! **LOGISTICS** * If you'll arrive over 10 minutes late, we suggest skipping the event. It's hard to find us once we start walking, and your host can't answer messages during the event. * This walk is designed for everyone to *move together at the same steady pace* (about 20 min/mile). This format works best when the whole group moves in unison. If you have mobility limitations, we kindly encourage you to find an event better suited to your needs. * Read our [Orientation Guide](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation) for full details. * If you enjoy the event, send **[this](http://www.theboardwalks.com/)** to a friend or sign up for our **[newsletter](https://theboardwalks.beehiiv.com/)**. We're in multiple cities with more on the way. 🤠👋 **IF YOU WANT TO GO DEEPER...** [The Board](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board) is the next step: a high-trust collective for renaissance people devoted to creating, connecting, and building lives that light us up. * This is a global HQ for people who crave big talk, deep connection, and dream collaborations with people across industries. If the walks feel like a spark... The Board is the fire. Apply [here](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board).