Environment

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.

👀 Something is happening… The best way I can describe it is like one member said to me: ‘Tim - It’s like freshers week, every week, but better, with bands and stuff…’ and that’s how it’s been over the last 7 years since we created this group. It’s honestly the most fun we’ve had and I’m inviting everyone of you because something’s been happening for a while now and you just don’t know about it…It’s a Showcase of some of the Best London bands playing their music in London - and it’s also a MEETUP group, so you can watch the gig with a mix of regular members and newcomers. Feel free to come on your own or bring your friends and meet new people. Look for the ‘MEETUP SIGN’ or ask the Host on the Door when you arrive. It’s an awesome line-up and at one of the Top Venues in London - Great place for a beer, meet new people and see some amazing unsigned bands! 🔥🔥🚒🍻 \* **‼️ THE ULTIMATE LONDON GIG MEETUP! ‼️** **LONDON MUSIC SHOWCASE Presents:** STRONGROOM in OLD STREET - FREE ENTRY May 6th WEDNESDAY [PLEASE](https://www.instagram.com/_.pleaseband/) \- Headliner [CAMPBELL](https://www.instagram.com/campbellmusic__/) [ALIA](https://open.spotify.com/artist/35hR5p0dIS6tgZZQNdMPvQ) BRIGADOON \* There aren’t enough emojis for this, so I’ll keep it simple: BE THERE. If you’ve been to the MEET-UPS over the last 7 years, you’ll know what it’s all about so come down, bring your friends, bring your foes, cancel your wedding, book Granny out of the retirement home. Whatever it takes, she won’t want miss it 😄🍻 \* WHATSAPP GROUP: We’re a friendly mix; English, French, Australian, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish and Japanese people so I’m sure you will meet someone that shares a passion for Rocking Music. Don't worry if attendance looks low, we are meeting other Meetup / WhatsApp / Facebook Groups and a lot of my friends don't RSVP. I can also add you to the Event’s WHATSAPP GROUP if you are interested in joining - Just message me your number. \* \*\*\*IMPORTANT\*\*\* This is a Free Entry Event however it’s best to download a Ticket from DICE as these events are popular and sell out fast. \* TICKET LINK HERE: [https://link.dice.fm/n615d58207e6](https://link.dice.fm/n615d58207e6) \* DISCLAIMER: I work for the Venue / Promoters. It’s just for fun nights and meeting people. We are not responsible for you or your belongings. By attending this event you agree to waiver liability for the Host :) Please bring ID to events as some are 18+. You may appear in photos/videos of the gig. Thank you \* All Gig Meetups here 👀‼️👇 [https://dice.fm/promoters/london-music-showcase-6ko3](https://dice.fm/promoters/london-music-showcase-6ko3) [https://www.instagram.com/londonmusicshowcase/](https://www.instagram.com/londonmusicshowcase/) [https://www.meetup.com/London-Music-Showcase-Gigs-Drinks/](https://www.meetup.com/London-Music-Showcase-Gigs-Drinks/) [https://www.facebook.com/LondonMusicShowcase](https://www.facebook.com/LondonMusicShowcase)

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.*

👀 Something is happening… The best way I can describe it is like one member said to me: ‘Tim - It’s like freshers week, every week, but better, with bands and stuff…’ and that’s how it’s been over the last 7 years since we created this group. It’s honestly the most fun we’ve had and I’m inviting everyone of you because something’s been happening for a while now and you just don’t know about it…It’s a Showcase of some of the Best London bands playing their music in London - and it’s also a MEETUP group, so you can watch the gig with a mix of regular members and newcomers. Feel free to come on your own or bring your friends and meet new people. Look for the ‘MEETUP SIGN’ or ask the Host on the Door when you arrive. It’s an awesome line-up and at one of the Top Venues in London - Great place for a beer, meet new people and see some amazing unsigned bands! 🔥🔥🚒🍻 \* **‼️ THE ULTIMATE LONDON GIG MEETUP! ‼️** **LONDON MUSIC SHOWCASE Presents:** STRONGROOM in OLD STREET - FREE ENTRY May 6th WEDNESDAY [PLEASE](https://www.instagram.com/_.pleaseband/) \- Headliner [CAMPBELL](https://www.instagram.com/campbellmusic__/) [ALIA](https://open.spotify.com/artist/35hR5p0dIS6tgZZQNdMPvQ) BRIGADOON \* There aren’t enough emojis for this, so I’ll keep it simple: BE THERE. If you’ve been to the MEET-UPS over the last 7 years, you’ll know what it’s all about so come down, bring your friends, bring your foes, cancel your wedding, book Granny out of the retirement home. Whatever it takes, she won’t want miss it 😄🍻 \* WHATSAPP GROUP: We’re a friendly mix; English, French, Australian, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish and Japanese people so I’m sure you will meet someone that shares a passion for Rocking Music. Don't worry if attendance looks low, we are meeting other Meetup / WhatsApp / Facebook Groups and a lot of my friends don't RSVP. I can also add you to the Event’s WHATSAPP GROUP if you are interested in joining - Just message me your number. \* \*\*\*IMPORTANT\*\*\* This is a Free Entry Event however it’s best to download a Ticket from DICE as these events are popular and sell out fast. \* TICKET LINK HERE: [https://link.dice.fm/n615d58207e6](https://link.dice.fm/n615d58207e6) \* DISCLAIMER: I work for the Venue / Promoters. It’s just for fun nights and meeting people. We are not responsible for you or your belongings. By attending this event you agree to waiver liability for the Host :) Please bring ID to events as some are 18+. You may appear in photos/videos of the gig. Thank you \* All Gig Meetups here 👀‼️👇 [https://dice.fm/promoters/london-music-showcase-6ko3](https://dice.fm/promoters/london-music-showcase-6ko3) [https://www.instagram.com/londonmusicshowcase/](https://www.instagram.com/londonmusicshowcase/) [https://www.meetup.com/London-Music-Showcase-Gigs-Drinks/](https://www.meetup.com/London-Music-Showcase-Gigs-Drinks/) [https://www.facebook.com/LondonMusicShowcase](https://www.facebook.com/LondonMusicShowcase)

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.

See https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cycling-group-tickets-433505435427 Booking required via organiser. Attempted bookings via Hubbub will not be processed.

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/)**.

Come anf try your first taster session. Receive tools from an expert and practice in front of others in a friendly and supportive environment, and then receive feedback. Become confident and influence others with communication skills.

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.

Join me for a relaxing Art Workshop at St George's Gardens 🌷🦋 THIS WEEK; I'll be at **St George's Gardens**, off Gray's Inn Road, from **3pm** to **6ish, maybe later** \~ the gardens are small, so I'll be easy to spot with my art stuff on the grass 😊🦋🌷 Explore your creativity no matter what your skill \~ we'll take inspiration from our surroundings, each other, I'll provide tips, advice, and arty postcards from my own collection 😊 Just £5 suggested donation, or pay what you feel ; I provide all the Art materials, just bring your imagination, plus plenty of water & vegan snacks/picnic stuff 😊 \~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Details \~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Each week, the workshops will be at different locations, a park in warm weather, a pub in cold/rainy weather 😊 Generally they'll be in the late afternoon into the evening, occasionally from around lunch time 😊 See you soon 😊

Weekly cycling club open to members of that club only. Membership enquiries to creativewellnesswon@outlook.com

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.

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.

We are recruiting new group leaders for virtual men's groups! Our primary groups are outdoor movement groups, but we are launching virtual groups for the state of Ohio and beyond and the groups will move outside in the spring, creating room for men's groups, women's groups and coed groups all over the country. Read below to learn about our groups and click the links at the bottom to apply. ### **What is an Outdoor Empowerment Group?** Our Outdoor Movement & Community Empowerment Groups are simple, guided experiences designed to help people reconnect with nature, themselves, and others. We combine some form of movement (hike, walk, run, bike, yoga, workout) and meaningful conversation within a simple community circle to create a space where individuals can support each other while prioritizing mental and physical well-being. Whether you’re seeking stress relief, personal growth, or community, our groups offer everyone a unique and welcoming environment. ## **Why Join?** * **Improve Mental & Physical Well-Being** – Movement, nature, and supportive conversations reduce stress and promote balance. * **Feel Less Alone** – Build genuine connections with like-minded people in a safe, welcoming space. * **Gain Clarity & Perspective** – Step outside daily routines and into a space designed for personal growth and reflection. ## **The Ideal Group Leader** The ideal group leader * Has a born-in passion for mental health, movement, connecting with nature and building community. * Has 5 extra hours per week to dedicate to a meaningful cause for at least one year. Yes, you can leave any organization at any time and we can also ask you to leave, but we are building with legacy in mind and we need people who can commit and be ALL IN on this mission to build with us. * Is independently financially stable with the ability to volunteer with no expectation of pay. This is a deeply beautiful journey of service that all participants commit to at Speak Your Mind. * An ability to manage groups with high emotional intelligence and desire for human connection. * An ability to self-motivate and market/promote their group on Facebook and other social platforms. * Nature informed therapy or clinical therapists/psychologists a plus. ## **Our Impact**  Since launching, we have helped thousands find support, connection, and healing through our Outdoor Movement Groups. 100% of participants surveyed have reported: * A noticeable improvement in mental clarity and emotional well-being. * An increase in social connection and a sense of belonging. * Said they would return again. We believe mental health should be accessible, community-driven, and rooted in nature. Join us and take the first step toward a more connected, grounded, and supported version of yourself. ### **Why Our Groups are Donation-Based** Our Outdoor Movement Groups are made possible through a donation-based model. This approach allows us to keep our events accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances, while also ensuring that we can continue expanding our reach. It’s a great way to pay it forward and support the growth of this beautiful mission! Every contribution helps us: * **Cover Essential Costs** – Donations allow us to pay essential legal, marketing, insurance, and admin costs as well as nourish the important people who run the organization. * **Grow Our Mission** – With your support, we can bring these healing experiences to thousands more people in the future and execute our long term plan to expand across the USA, affecting up to 500,000 people per year. By choosing to contribute, you’re not just leading an event—you’re helping build a mental health movement that supports long-term well-being and connection for all during a severe mental health epidemic. ## **Come Join Us!** We’d love to have you be part of this growing community of people prioritizing their mental health, movement, and connection. 🔹 **Visit Our Website to Learn More:** https://speakyourmind.men/joinusoutside 🔹 **Apply Here to Lead Your Own Group!** – https://form.jotform.com/taketimespeakyourmind/sym-group-leader-application 🔹 **Support the mission**: If you resonate with the mission and want to support, feel free to join a group before applying or donate to help us reach our goals to help more people! You can donate here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/angels-for-angels/speak-your-mind Please text Mario with any questions: (808) 855-8831

Open to public: Friday, 5/15/26: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday 5/16/26: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Hosted by OSU The 2026 Chadwick Arboretum Spring Plant Sale and Auction Fundraiser Location: Lawn area south of the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center 2201 Fred Taylor Dr, Columbus, OH 43210 Spring Plant Sale Spring into greenery at Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens! Join us for our annual Spring Plant Sale Fundraiser and dive into a lush world of botanical delights. With over 16,000 fresh, exotic, and time-tested edible and ornamental plants, there's something for every green thumb! Experience the thrill of our tree and shrub auctions, where you can bid on unique specimens to enhance your garden sanctuary. Step into our Learning Lab, where engaging educational demonstrations on various garden topics will unfold throughout the three-day sale, enriching your knowledge and inspiring your green endeavors. Take part in an exciting, live auction offered each day, as well as a silent auction on Thursday and Friday. Explore vendor booths brimming with gardening essentials and delightful treasures. And while you shop 'til you drop, indulge in delectable treats from a delicious, local food truck. Proceeds from this event go directly to The Ohio State Chadwick Arboretum, student organizations, and local businesses alike. Come one, come all! Let's cultivate a brighter, greener future together. Credit/debit cards only.

Are you passionate about supporting other men on their mental health journey? We’re building a movement of virtual and in-person men’s groups across Ohio — and we’re looking for group leaders who want to make a real difference with us. As a group leader, you’ll create a safe space where men can connect, reflect, and grow together. Training and support are provided — you just need heart, presence, and a willingness to lead. **Apply now to lead a group in your area:** 👉 https://form.jotform.com/taketimespeakyourmind/sym-group-leader-application Speak Your Mind is a mental health non profit dedicated to bringing our community together to end the isolation that leads to mental struggle and suicide. Learn more about them here: https://linktr.ee/taketimespeakyourmind

The number of ticks and tick diseases in Ohio have quickly multiplied over the last 10 years. Dean Kreager discusses tick species, tick pathogens, tick-borne diseases, tick bite prevention, and proper tick removal. Kreager is an Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator with OSU Extension in Licking County * Lakewood Public Library (in Hebron)- May 26 at 7pm [https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/tick-talk-29621](https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/tick-talk-29621) * Johnstown public library at 7:00 pm June 8 [https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/ctick-talk-29622](https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/ctick-talk-29622) Free to attend, no RSVP needed

Community Backyards Workshop Join us at the Ohio Herb Center in Gahanna to learn about sustainable home gardening. We can make small changes in our yards to make a BIG impact for a better environment and healthier waterways while saving money. This workshop is presented by Friends of Alum Creek and hosted by Ohio Herb Center. By attending, any participating community resident can receive a voucher for a rain barrel, compost bin, or native plants for attending. Vouchers are limited to one per household per year. Registration in advance is encouraged but NOT required. Click here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/65f65aw (Free Workshop Registration: Registration is free. Registering in advance provides your information to Franklin Soil and Water ahead of time, so when you come to the workshop, we will have your voucher ready for you when you arrive) * Location: Ohio Herb Center, 110 Mill St, Gahanna, OH 43230 * Date and time: Sat, May 23, 2026 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM * Organizer: The Community Backyards Program, (614) 486-9613, communitybackyards@franklinswcd.org **FAQs** **Our Community Backyards workshops are FREE and a great way to participate in the rebate program. Our workshops are typically 1 to 1 and a half hours long and held in-person. Our workshops cover the same content as the online course, but they are more detailed and allow the chance to ask questions and have discussions with the presenters and other residents. We occassionally have "advanced topics" classes where you dive deeper into one topic of Community Backyards such as invasive vs. native plants or rain gardens.** **Registration is encouraged but not required.** You can register in advance to receive your voucher at the workshop. If you don't register in advance, that's okay - you can still show up (unless otherwise noted - which is very rare) and sign up for a voucher at the class, and we will send you one via email or mail within a few business days after the workshop. **"Do I have to be a resident of that community to attend that workshop?"** Nope! Our workshops are open to everyone (unless otherwise noted - which is extremely rare). You can attend a workshop that best suits your schedule even if it is in a different community than your own. **"Why is registration closed?** Can I just show up?" Yes, you can show up without registering! We close registration typically 1-2 days before the workshop to give the vouchers and materials to the presenters. However, you are always welcome to just show up and fill out a short form to request a voucher at the workshop. If eligible, we will send one to you within 1-2 business days after the workshop. **Voucher note**: Classes are free for everyone but vouchers are for residents of Franklin county or participating community (list here: https://www.communitybackyards.org/participate) 2026 Participating Vendors: City Folk's Farm Shop, Fisher's Gardens, Leaves for Wildlife, Scioto Gardens, Hoover Gardens & Gift Center, and the FSWCD/SWACO Compost Bin Sale. *when redeeming your voucher at a vendor, Please bring a physical copy of your voucher to receive an immediate discount on your purchase. Additionally, to keep up with number of vouchers that are given out, we have changed the expiration date on the vouchers to 30 days