Author Archives: Anna Bond

Health Walks Summer Timetables now online

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Health Walks New Summer Timetables are now posted alongside current timetables.  Thanks to the dedication of our amazing volunteers, there are more than 100 different walking opportunities, including 27 gentle walks for beginners and 45 evenings/weekend walks.  New walks are starting in Bishop’s Stortford, Letchworth, Hitchin, Hemel Hempstead and Wheathampstead, and taster walks in Stevenage and Waltham Cross.

New walkers are always welcome and there’s no need to be super fit to join.  There is a volunteer at the front and one at the back to ensure everyone stays together.

You can find the new timetables HERE.

The East Herts Summer Timetable is provided below…

east-herts-health-walks-timetable-may-aug-2025Download

Hertfordshire County Council

Advertiser of the Month: Hamlet Builders

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This month, we’re proud to feature Hamlet Builders as our Advertiser of the Month. Hamlet Builders are a family run building company known throughout Essex and Hertfordshire for their quality work, friendly service and strong local reputation.

With over 20 years’ experience, Hamlet Builders offer a wide range of professional building services to both domestic and commercial clients. From small home improvements to large-scale construction projects, they bring the same care, attention to detail and high standards to every job.

WHAT THEY DO

Hamlet Builders provide a complete range of services, including:

  • New builds
  • Extensions
  • Loft and garage conversions
  • Kitchens and bathrooms
  • Plastering, tiling and finishing work
  • Driveways, patios, landscaping and groundwork
  • Demolition and full property transformations

WHY CHOOSE HAMLET BUILDERS?

  • Family run and proudly local
  • Friendly, reliable and professional team
  • Over two decades of experience
  • Free surveys, quotes and estimates
  • Competitive pricing
  • A strong reputation for quality workmanship and customer satisfaction

At Hamlet Builders, no project is too big or too small – and they pride themselves on being able to meet your requirements, whatever your vision.

Why not speak to them today to find out more and see how they can help bring your plans to life?

For a no obligations FREE quote please email or call us:
Belmont/Hamlet Hill, Harlow CM19 5JU.
Telephone: +44 7946 617 060 / +44 1279 792472
E-mail: info@hamletbuilders.co.uk
Website: https://hamletbuilders.co.uk/

📞 Call Hamlet Builders today – your trusted local builders in Essex and Hertfordshire

Come and try lawn green bowling

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Many of you living around Hoddesdon may have memories of the Old Highway Recreation Ground from playing there in your youth or your children and grandchildren enjoying the area. 

At Hoddesdon and Rye Park Bowling Club we have been playing our sport in the grounds since 1937. Along the way we have had a lot of success with members representing England: recently a member represented Disability Bowls England in South Africa. 

Many of own club competitions are still being played for trophies presented by, or in memorium to, past members. Some being recognised as persons of note from the area: Haward, Partfitt, Smailes, Howe, Blackaby, Mascot, Varney and many more. 

Our membership is made up of residents from the local area and nearby towns and villages.

In April we are again hosting free sessions to come and give our sport a try. Bowls is played as competitively as you want, but it is a great game for persons of all abilities with a chance to have a social game and one where you can make many friends.

‘Bowls is not just and older persons sport it is a game that older person can play.’

Please see our flyer showing dates for the free sessions.

Email ryeparkbowling@gmail.com for more information or visit https://hoddesdonandryeparkbowlingclub.co.uk/.

Update at Rye Meads: Pylons and Parking

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National Grid are undertaking works on the pylon in the car park at Rye Meads. This work includes replacing the conductors (lines themselves) as well as the insulators, and maintenance on the pylon structure itself: so major works. You can find out more about the North London Reinforcement (NLR) project  HERE. The same works are also being undertaken on pylons either side of our car park including on the HMWT meadow.

The main effect to the site will be parking at the visitor centre with a large area of the car park closed off as it falls in the work area leaving us approx. 6 parking spaces and no access to the Lapwing Hide. As such, the car park will be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but the Visitor Centre and trails will be open as usual.  On other days there will be a system in place to stack staff and volunteer parking in the coach bays, leaving the 6 spaces free on a first-come, first-served basis.

There will be no coach parking or designated disabled parking available during this time, but there will be a drop off point close to the visitor centre.

Works on the pylon in the meadow have a slightly different timeline and requires a track to be laid across the meadow for access. The track will start being laid on 7 April, so there is likely to be minor disruption to access the reserve during this phase. The aim is for work to begin on the meadow pylon on 18 April and completed with track removed by 24 May, so again expect minor disruption for track removal.

The first stage of 2025 work is the delivery of scaffolding on 7 and 8 April followed by construction of scaffolding gantry over the road on 14–16 April.

Allowing for preparation of works, the maximum timeframe is 28 April–13 June 2025.

This means there will be very limited parking at Rye Meads 28 April–13 June 2025.

Be sure to check the Rye Meads Blog for regular updates: https://community.rspb.org.uk/placestovisit/ryemeads/b/ryemeads-blog

Part-time Children’s & Youth Worker Vacancy

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Broxbourne United Reformed Church is looking for a new Children’s & Youth Worker. Please see below for all the details…

PART-TIME CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH WORKER
Based at Broxbourne URC Mill Lane EN10 7BQ

As a church family we are offering an opportunity for someone with a love of God, children and church. We seek a motivated and enthusiastic Children’s and Youth Worker who can help us nurture and grow the existing work with our young people. We’d love to chat with you about creating a bespoke role that draws on your gifts.

The details: 16 hours a week – negotiable and flexible, including some Sunday mornings and mid-week and evening events. Three-year fixed-term, £16 per hour.

Interested?
Apply for an application pack to our Pastorate Administrator, Mrs. Stepanka Moysey at urcnlvg@gmail.com
For informal inquiries, please contact the Revd Mark Robinson revdmarkr@gmail.com.

The closing date for applications is noon on Wednesday 23rd April.
Interviews will be held in the week beginning 28th April.

If you are interested, please do get in touch with Broxbourne URC directly as above.

Get ready to vote on 1st May!

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Local elections will be taking place across Hertfordshire on 1 May. Are you ready to vote?

Anyone wanting to vote must make sure they are registered. You will need to register if you have not voted before or if you have recently moved house. The deadline is midnight on Friday 11 April.

Find out all of the information you need to get voting, including how to vote in person, acceptable forms of ID, applying to vote by post or how to appoint someone to vote on your behalf (known as proxy) by visiting The Electoral Commission’s helpful webpage HERE: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections

Hertfordshire County Council

Launch of The Hub!

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A community space in Stanstead Abbotts is being launched on Saturday 5th April.

WHEN: 11am to 4pm on Saturday 5th April 2025
WHERE: 2b High Street, Stanstead Abbotts, Herts. SG12 8AB

The Hub is a space for workshops, talks and presentations on various subjects focussed on health and wellbeing, as well as an organic food hub where locals can order organic food, home produce, tins, cleaning products and personal hygiene products. All sourced in the UK.

The pet shop at dog grooming parlous will be a permanent fixture and is run by Jo, who has an established shop in South Woodford, so even your pets will get to benefit from this new space!

At the launch event, there will be…
* The Nestaurant: serving delicious vegetarian and vegan food.
* Phebe’s Bakes: a local pop-up chef serving curries, patties and other tasty dishes.

Please do go along to enjoy some lovely food and find out more about this new venture.

Advertiser of the Month: Christopher the Locksmith

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As part of our commitment to supporting local businesses, every month we will highlight one of our advertisers. This month’s winner is Christopher the Locksmith.

A Family Business Built on Trust and Expertise

Founded by Chris’s father, the company has been a cornerstone of the local community for decades. With nearly 30 years of experience, Chris (photographed on the right here), the current face of the business, continues to provide high-quality locksmith services, making him the go-to expert for lock repairs, replacements and security advice for both domestic and commercial clients.

As a Checkatrade Trader and Police Checked professional, Chris ensures that each service is executed with the utmost care, integrity and efficiency. His reputation as a trusted, independent locksmith speaks for itself, with many clients returning time and time again for his honest and reliable work.

Comprehensive Locksmith Services

Whether you’re locked out of your home in the middle of the night or need to upgrade your security after a burglary, Christopher the Locksmith is always just a call away. Available 24/7, Chris aims to arrive at your location within 15–30 minutes, ensuring that help is never far away when you need it most. Some of the top services offered include:

  • Lock Repairs & Replacements: From snapped keys to faulty catches, Chris quickly repairs or replaces broken locks, offering a no mess, guaranteed workmanship service.
  • UPVC & Composite Door Specialists: As experts in UPVC door lock repairs and composite door lock issues, Christopher the Locksmith saves you the cost of unnecessary replacements.
  • Security Upgrades: For those concerned about their home’s security, Chris offers anti-snap lock upgrades to the latest approved standards, ensuring your property is safe from burglars.
  • Emergency Lockouts & Lost Keys: Locked out or lost your keys? Call Chris anytime for an efficient, caring and friendly emergency locksmith service.

Chris has built a reputation for fast, reliable service. His commitment to the community is reflected not only in his service, but also in his 10% discount for senior citizens and 20% discount for students.

A Personal Touch with Every Service

What makes Christopher the Locksmith truly special is the personal touch Chris provides with every job. Unlike larger chains, you’ll never deal with a faceless representative or automated system. Instead, Chris is the one who answers the phone, provides a free, upfront quote and arrives at your location to carry out the work himself.

Why Choose Christopher the Locksmith?

  • Family-Run & Independent: Offering personal, reliable and trusted services.
  • Fast Response Times: Expect Chris to be there within 15–30 minutes, 24/7.
  • No Hidden Fees: Transparent, upfront pricing ensures no surprises.
  • Security Expertise: Specialising in burglary prevention, UPVC, composite doors and anti-snap locks.
  • Discounts for Seniors & Students: Affordable services for everyone in the community.

For any lock-related concerns, whether it’s an emergency or a simple security upgrade, call 07772 111 222 or 0800 988 2424 anytime!

Congratulations to Christopher the Locksmith for being our Advertiser of the Month! For those who value prompt, reliable and expert service from a trusted local business, this is the name to remember.

Last chance to share your thoughts on sustainability and climate change!

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Hertfordshire County Council are committed to becoming a more sustainable organisation. Since declaring a climate emergency in 2019, they have been working with partners and residents to tackle climate change, and its impacts across the county.

To help deliver their sustainability and climate change ambitions, Hertfordshire County Council want to know your thoughts about climate change, its impacts on Hertfordshire and their efforts to tackle it.

Hertfordshire County Council have prepared a short survey that will help to better understand residents’ priorities around climate change, including how they can better communicate and engage with locals on this important issue.

There are only a few days left to have your say! Complete the survey before Friday 21 March HERE.

An easy-read version of this survey is also available HERE.

Find out more about our work to deliver the Sustainable Hertfordshire Strategy to date, visit their page HERE.

Jim’s Big Walk for Coffee and Coping

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Have you heard about CEO of Coffee and Coping Hertfordshire’s Big Walk on 20th April? Jim is walking the 20 miles from Bath to Wells to raise money for this important charity. Coffee and Coping Hertfordshire’s mission is to combat loneliness, and all that goes with it, through community. They have a number of groups that meet around Hertfordshire and they have achieved an incredible amount in a short space of time, but fundraising is vital to help them continue in their work.

Jim’s story…
Why walk from Bath to Wells? Well, I’ll tell you! These two places played a major part in my childhood, but also are places where community values were instilled in me! My charity is trying to reconnect community values back into everyday life.

Growing up in Somerset I lived a life filled with people I knew, trusted and relied upon! We were in and out of each other’s houses without knocking. We were able to trust the people who lived in the houses around us and we never got lost because someone around us knew where we should be going.

In this life now all that is lost! I’m not saying to blindly trust everyone or listen to the words of strangers without forethought. I am saying, however, it costs us nothing to listen, talk and support our neighbours!

Help me get where I’m going both mentally physically and emotionally!

If you can support Jim in his incredible fundraising effort, all donations are gratefully received. You can find his Just Giving page HERE.

GROUPS

Coffee and Coping Stanstead Abbotts Drop-in: Midday to 1:30pm, Wednesdays and Fridays at The Ashlea Room, Parish Hall, Stanstead Abbotts, Herts SG12 8EZ. A chance to get together, meet new people and build community. Everyone is welcome!

Hope in Action: 5 to 6.30pm, every Wednesday at St Mary’s Church, 33a Hoddesdon Road, St Margarets, Herts SG12 8EG. An addicts, heavy substance and alcohol users’ safe space to talk, get help and break their cycles of addiction.

Coffee and Coping Hertford Heath Drop-in: 2 to 3pm, every Tuesday at The Silver Fox pub, 16-18 London Road, Hertford Heath, Herts SG14 7RH. This group is for anyone who wants to connect with people, talk about life, as well as get real help for any problems that may arise.

 Men’s Communication Collective: 6.30 to 8pm, 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, at the Pioneer Club, Heathlands Drive, St Albans, Herts. AL3 5AY. The chance for all adult men to find a safe space to talk about their issues and also look at the way they communicate with their families, friends and colleagues.

These groups are free to attend. No need to book, just go along!

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