Coffee and Coping are starting something that’s been needed for a long time.
On Monday April 13th, Coffee and Coping launches its first ever women’s talking group. It will run every second Monday of the month, 7:30–9pm at The Farmers Boy, Brickendon.
This is a free space for women of all ages. No pressure. No judgement. Just a place to sit down and talk about what’s really going on – whether that’s menopause, life changes, stress, or just the build-up of everything we all carry.
It’s about sharing real experiences, real conversations and helping each other feel a bit more steady walking back out than when you came in.
The group is run by a woman who has been through menopause herself and brings a wealth of life experience – not theory, not textbook – real understanding and the ability to guide the room in a way that feels safe and honest.
It’s held in a pub, so yes there’s access to drinks, whether that’s a tea, coffee, soft drink or something stronger. But the space itself is set aside, so you can talk properly.
This is another step forward for Coffee and Coping – making sure there’s somewhere for everyone in the community.
If you know someone who might need this, send it to them. Share it into women’s groups, mum groups, anywhere it might reach someone who’s been keeping things in.
Because the truth is simple – everyone deserves a place where they can just be seen and be heard.
If you’re a local business looking to grow your visibility in 2026, there’s never been a better time to partner with The Three Villages.
Over the past year, we’ve been focused on one thing: reaching more people across our community and helping local businesses like yours get seen.
In 2025, we made some big changes:
We made the magazine completely FREE, opening it up to more readers than ever
We doubled our print run, expanding our reach across the area
We introduced a delivery request service to ensure accessibility for all
We launched and grew our social media presence, with steadily increasing engagement across Instagram, Facebook, and our News & Events blog
What does that mean for you? More eyes on your business. More local awareness. More opportunity.
Why advertise with us?
When you advertise with The Three Villages, you’re not just placing an ad, you’re becoming part of a trusted, growing community platform.
Our readers actively support local businesses and our advertisers benefit from:
Consistent visibility across print and digital channels
A strong, community focused reputation
A targeted local audience that values independent businesses
What’s included?
For just £90, you’ll receive:
A slot in every remaining 2026 print issue
Inclusion in our online advertiser directory
A place in our website’s scrolling advert panel
Plus some added extras to boost your exposure:
A monthly prize draw to win a full-page, full-colour advert in the magazine
The chance to be featured as our Advertiser of the Month, promoted across our blog and social media
Limited spaces available
To make sure every advertiser gets real visibility and value, we keep our advertising spaces limited.
If you’ve been thinking about promoting your business locally, now’s the time to get involved.
📩 Email us at threevillagesmagazine@gmail.com to find out more or secure your spot 🗓 Deadline: 20 April for inclusion in the June issue
Let’s grow together
At The Three Villages, we believe strong communities are built on strong local businesses. By advertising with us, you’re not just growing your brand, you’re helping support a platform that connects and celebrates the area we all care about.
On 11 February 2026, the Cabinet Panel approved plans to introduce a new E-pass system and enhance options on how waste generated from DIY is managed at Recycling Centres across the county.
With access restrictions already in place in many neighbouring local authority areas and with rising service costs, these changes will prioritise access for residents, strengthen controls to prevent misuse, and provide an improved option to pay for disposal of DIY waste.
The plans are set to be implemented gradually from spring 2026 when residents will need to apply for an E‑pass to access the centres. The process will be quick to register and there would be no need for residents to book a specific day or time of arrival like in some other areas. Updated DIY waste arrangements will allow residents to pay for any material above the ‘free’ legal limits, rather than being refused access at the centres.
The feedback gathered through consultation on these proposals showed strong positive support from 67% of residents for the E-pass and 65% of residents positively supported a new option to pay for excess DIY waste, instead of refusing to accept the material.
Cllr Paul Zukowskyj, Executive Member for Environment, Transport and Growth at Hertfordshire County Council, said: ‘The plans were agreed yesterday as part of the Council’s wider programme to manage rising service pressures across the Recycling Centre network which has been receiving more waste, more visits, and an increase in operating costs each year. We know how important the service is to residents and, back in the summer of last year, we scrapped proposals to introduce a booking system and reduce the days of operation at four of our centres. The plans approved yesterday were options that residents supported as part of a public consultation we ran last year and will provide better controls on waste that should not be entering our Recycling Centres, meaning we can prioritise use by Hertfordshire residents. We’re also providing an improved offer for residents who need to dispose of waste from DIY work at their homes by allowing them to pay a small charge, rather than turning away quantities that are higher than the current lawful limits. We believe that these changes will improve the customer experience for Hertfordshire residents as well as helping contribute to the wider council savings required.’
Further communication to ensure residents understand what the E‑pass is, how to register, and what the updated DIY waste policy means will be provided as part of the phased roll out from the spring.
Hertfordshire County Council
You can sign up to get updates directly from Hertfordshire County Council! Visit hertfordshire.gov.uk/UpdateMe
Hunsdon Church has booked Stefan Smart to perform his Edinburgh Fringe show, ‘I am Mark’.
He is a professional storyteller and the story he tells is Mark’s Gospel (word for word from the NIV – from memory!).
THE DETAILS
Date: 28th March, 2026 Time: 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Location: Hunsdon Village Hall, 45 High Street, Hunsdon, Ware SG12 8NJ
One man. One chair. One incredible true story
‘I am Mark’ is a dramatic staging of one of the most explosive books of all time – the Gospel of Mark.
Join actor and storyteller Stefan Smart as he draws a uniquely intimate and provocative portrait of the Son of God and breathes new life into the greatest story ever told.
A sell-out at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019, we are pleased to welcome Stefan to Hunsdon.
This month, we’re delighted to shine the spotlight on Hertford TV Service Ltd, a trusted local business that has been serving our community for over four decades.
One of their standout services is professional Starlink installation. For those living in rural areas or parts of town where broadband can be slow or unreliable, satellite internet is proving to be a game-changer.
We asked Hertford TV Service Ltd to tell us more…
High-speed internet, wherever you are. Yes, even Great Amwell!
Starlink is an excellent broadband internet option via a satellite dish should you live in an area that suffers from slow broadband speeds and connectivity without the option of getting a Fibre internet connection direct to the home from the likes of Gigaclear, Sky & BT Openreach.
Starlink brings fast and consistent internet connection to even the most remote places. You may be in town but in a place where your phone service and broadband is in a rough patch, or you could be in a more rural area like Great Amwell, St Margarets, Stanstead Abbots & Wareside.
Where internet connection is practically non-existent. You could even be living on a boat and on the move. Either way, Starlink can not only help, but bring you some of the fastest internet speeds available.
Starlink is brought to you & engineered by SpaceX, Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world. As the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using a Low Earth Orbit, Starlink delivers broadband internet capable of supporting HD Streaming, Online Gaming, Video Calls and more. As the world’s leading provider of launch services, SpaceX is leveraging its deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations to deploy the world’s most advanced broadband internet system.
Starlink satellites are over 60 times closer to Earth than traditional satellites, resulting in much better lower latency and the ability to support services typically not possible with other traditional older satellite internet services like Tooway & SES.
Users can expect to see data download speeds typically from 50Mb/s to 220Mb/s and latency from 20ms to 40ms in most locations across the UK, Upload Speeds are Typically between 5 & 20 Mb/s. Latency is the time it takes to send data from one point to the next. When satellites are far from Earth, latency is high, resulting in poor performance for activities like Video Calls, Facetime, Zoom, HD Streaming/Catchup and Online Gaming.
Hertford TV Service has been installing and setting up Starlink Broadband Systems on a range of local properties since 2021. We work to ensure that you have the best set up, taking advantage of the positions of the satellites above, to give you the best internet connection, while ensuring the integrity of your property with discreet bespoke installations and hidden cables where possible. The Starlink dish installation position will require a clear North West view of the sky, with no big over hanging trees or tall buildings nearby in that direction.
Free site surveys are available on request. Starlink Equipment & The Monthly Data Subscriptions has to bought directly from Starlink themselves via their website (www.starlink.com), but we will handle the full Installation and all connectivity thereafter.
Weighing in excess of 5kg, Starlink dishes need to be installed correctly, with the right equipment and bracketry to support the dish in even the most extreme weather conditions. Hertford TV has the experience and access to the correct equipment for you to get the best possible Starlink signal today and in the future.
We can also help with improving WiFi coverage over your property by adding WiFi access points to improve signals to blackspots that the main broadband router does not reach, this is very common with larger older style properties that have thick stone solid walls. Or we can even hard wire your internet devices with Cat5e/Cat6 Network Ethernet Cables to get the best possible and most reliable fixed direct connections.
We’re proud to feature Hertford TV Service Ltd as our Advertiser of the Month and thank them for their continued support of our local community magazine.
The Government has launched a seven‑week consultation on proposals to change how local government is structured in Hertfordshire. The consultation closes on 26 March 2026.
Full details of the three proposals, including business cases, financial analysis, maps showing the proposed boundaries and a link to the Government’s consultation are available at: www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk.
Currently, services are split between district/borough councils and the county council. Under the Government’s plans, these would be replaced by new unitary councils delivering all services.
Following a series of engagement events for residents and stakeholders, plus an online survey, Hertfordshire’s 11 councils, together with the Police and Crime Commissioner, submitted proposals for two, three and four unitary council models for the Government to consider.
We are very excited to announce that we are hitting the road with… Jane Eyre!
That’s right! We cannot wait to kickstart 2026 with our heartwarming and magical adaptation of Brontë’s beloved novel – packed with scandal, song and suspense! And we are so excited to be bringing our production to Stanstead Bury Farm in Stanstead Abbotts on Friday 20th March following our previous visits with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Three Musketeers and Pride & Prejudice and more!
About Jane Eyre Orphaned and alone, Jane Eyre grows up in a world that seeks to silence her spirit. Defiant in her search for freedom, belonging and love, she finds herself at Thornfield Hall – where the enigmatic Mr Rochester hides dark secrets behind its walls…
Passion, mystery and resilience collide in this sweeping story of self-discovery and courage, brought to life in a bold new adaptation!
Written by Charlotte Bronte Directed by Sarah Slator Assistant Direction by Chloe Bond Music by Simon Stallard Adapted by Ethan Taylor
Reviews “An enchanting production of Jane Eyre brilliantly performed by talented actors who manage to convey the drama and poignancy of the original novel!” – Sussex Local Magazine
“A lovely production with an enchanted feel… This Is My Theatre are certainly worth looking out for!” – ingenu/e magazine
More information This performance will take place indoors at the Hay Barn, so please dress warmly. Doors Open from: 6.30pm Running time: Approximately 85 minutes What3Words Location: twin.porch.rock Parking: There is audience parking outside the venue. Seating Provided: Yes. Food and Drink: Refreshments will be available before the performance for donations towards church funds. Dogs: No dogs other than guide dogs will be admitted to this performance. Wheelchair User Access: There is step-free access into the venue. If you have any access requirements before your visit, please contact the Box Office via email or phone (07981 227790) ahead of the performance date.
So why not join us for what we are sure will prove to be a very special evening for all ages!
Join us this Mothering Sunday on 15th March as we celebrate and give thanks for our mothers, and all those who nurture and care for us.
We especially invite those with children to our family friendly services, designed to be creative, engaging and suitable for all ages:
💜 9am – Mothering Sunday Service at St John the Baptist, Great Amwell 💜 4pm – Mothering Sunday Make Church at St Andrew, Stanstead Abbots
We also have more traditional services: 🌸 10.30am – Morning Prayer at St Andrew, Stanstead Abbots 🌸 10.30am – Holy Communion at St Mary’s, St Margarets
There will be flowers given out at every service as a small token of appreciation and love.
Mothering Sunday can bring many different emotions for different people and we are here for all of them. Wherever you are on your journey, you are warmly invited to join us.
If you hear bells ringing this morning (on Friday 6th March), they are coming from St John the Baptist, Great Amwell – and there’s a special reason why!
A talented team of bell ringers will be attempting a pealto celebrate Roy’s 90th birthday. Seventy years ago, Roy rang the very first peal on these bells after they were augmented to six, so this is a particularly meaningful occasion.
The band will be splicing together 15 different methods, with beautiful names such as Cambridge, Primrose, Hull, Ipswich and Norfolk. We don’t often hear a full peal here, making this a rare and special event.
Bell ringing is an ancient and highly skilled art form, practised in around 5,000 towers across England and a further 500 worldwide.
And if you’d like to have a go at bell ringing yourself, new ringers are always welcome! We practise every Thursday from 7:30pm to around 9:00pm at St John the Baptist Church, Great Amwell. Please contact Frances Adams (fmadams750@gmail.com) for more information.
The March Issue of The Three Villages Magazine is here and is now available to pick up FOR FREE across the villages.
In our first issue of 2026, we have the latest updates from our local schools; meet local artist, Oliver Combellack; take a look at incredible local charity, All Sorts Dementia Group; we have the next in our new series, ‘Glimpses into our Past’; a fascinating article about The Maltings; and lots more!
You can get The Three Villages Magazine from, but not limited to, the following locations: The Village Pharmacy St John the Baptist Church, Great Amwell St Mary’s Church, St Margarets St Andrew’s Church, Stanstead Abbots The Bridge Shop The Maltings Café St Margarets Train Station
Also, if you can’t get out to get a copy, you can text (07488 914972) or call us (01920 870009) and we will get one to you.
Looking ahead… We would love to hear from you if you have an interesting story or an upcoming event to promote. The approximate deadlines for 2026 are: 3rd April (June Issue), 3rd July (September Issue) and 3rd October (December Issue). Alternatively, we can also promote your upcoming event/share your news on our News & Events blog. Please do get in touch!
Thank you for your continued support, The Three Villages Team
The Three Villages 