Author Archives: Anna Bond

Equine Bootsale and Dog show on 26 July!

Posted on by Leave a comment

Looking for a fun family morning out this July? The popular Equine Bootsale and Dog Show is returning to Widford Playing Field on Sunday 26 July, with plenty to enjoy for animal lovers, families and bargain hunters alike.

Taking place from 11.00am to 1.00pm, the event combines an equine bootsale with a relaxed and friendly dog show, alongside a variety of stalls and activities. General entry is just £1, with all proceeds supporting HEART (Heart Animal Rescue Team).

Founded by Hannah Bolton, HEART provides rescue and rehabilitation for animals and wildlife, helping those in need across the local area. Find out more about this amazing charity on their website: heartrescue.co.uk.

The fun dog show is open to all, with entries taken on the day for £2 per class. Rosettes will be awarded for first to fifth place, and classes include Waggiest Tail, Pretty Lady, Gorgeous Fella, Best Rescue, Best Trick, Best Junior Handler (under 16s) and the Judge’s Favourite. The dog show will take place beneath the tree line, providing welcome shade for competitors and spectators alike.

There will also be plenty to see and do throughout the morning, including Shetland grooming, donkey rides, a children’s stall, sweet treats, natural dog treats, resin crafts and a range of small local businesses selling horse-related and general goods.

Event Details

📅 Sunday 26 July
🕚 11.00am – 1.00pm
📍 Widford Playing Field, SG12 8SH
💷 General entry: £1 | Dog Show: £2 per class

Come along, enjoy the day and help raise money for a fantastic local animal rescue charity.

Community Hub Drop-in: a Warm Welcome Every Wednesday

Posted on by Leave a comment

Sometimes all we need is a friendly face, a cup of tea and someone to listen.

The Community Hub Drop-in offers exactly that – a welcoming space where anyone is invited to pop in for a chat, enjoy a free cuppa and find a little support if they need it.

Held every Wednesday from 10.30am to 11.30am at St Mary the Virgin Church, St Margarets, the drop-in is free to attend and open to everyone. If you’re feeling isolated, worried about your finances, finding life a little overwhelming or simply fancy some company, you’ll be greeted with a warm welcome.

The team is also able to help people access additional support where needed. A private telephone is available for contacting organisations such as Citizens Advice, Mind, Age UK, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and Alcoholics Anonymous. There is also a Chromebook available, providing a quiet, private space for visitors to search online for information and support services.

No appointment is needed, and there’s no pressure or expectation – just a chance to sit down, have a chat and explore any support that may be helpful.

If you think a friendly conversation over a cup of tea could brighten your week, why not drop in?

Community Hub Drop-in
📍 St Mary the Virgin Church, St Margarets
📅 Every Wednesday
🕥 10.30am – 11.30am

FREE AND OPEN TO EVERYONE!

From London to Hertford: Supporting Coffee and Coping’s 32-Mile Fundraising Walk

Posted on by Leave a comment

Three local fundraisers are preparing to take on an impressive challenge in support of Coffee and Coping Hertfordshire.

Following their successful 26-mile charity walk last year, Jim, Lee and Paul are going even further in 2026 by walking 32 miles from Tower Bridge in London to Hertford. Their challenge, From Our Capital to Our Community, aims to raise funds for Coffee and Coping, a local charity that provides support for people affected by addiction, their families, and those experiencing loneliness, while also helping to build a sense of community through regular drop-ins and events.

The charity offers a welcoming, non-judgemental space where people can find friendship, encouragement and support. Through its community sessions, Coffee and Coping helps people facing addiction, isolation and other life challenges to connect with others and know they are not alone.

Every donation, whatever the amount, will help Coffee and Coping continue providing opportunities for people to connect and receive support when they need it most.

If you would like to support Jim, Lee and Paul in their fundraising challenge, donations can be made via their JustGiving page HERE.

We wish Jim, Lee and Paul every success with their 32-mile walk and thank everyone who is able to support this worthwhile local cause.

The 3 Churches Benefice: fun for kids this summer!

Posted on by Leave a comment

The 3 Churches Benefice has a few different sessions running especially for children and their adults over the summer!

Make Lunch

Make Lunch is back this summer and we’d love to welcome you!

Join us on Mondays throughout the school holidays – 28th July, 4th August, 11th August, 18th August and 25th August – from 12pm to 2pm at The Wilshere Hall on Cappell Lane.

Alongside a free lunch, there will be games, crafts and activities for children, and a relaxed space for families to spend time together during the summer holidays.

Run in partnership with Transforming Lives for Good (TLG), Make Lunch is open to families with school-aged children who receive free school meals, or for anyone finding things a bit stretched financially at the moment. Younger siblings are very welcome too.

If you would like to join us, please email makelunch@3churches.net to book your space.

PLUS…

Make Church

Over the summer, we also have two Make Church sessions on 21 June and 19 July, and we’d love to see as many of you there as possible!

Make Church is a relaxed, joy-filled space where children and their adults can explore faith together through movement, music, creativity and sensory play. There’s no expectation to sit still or be quiet – just come as you are and join in as much or as little as you like.

📍 St Andrew’s Church, Stanstead Abbots
🗓 Every 3rd Sunday of the month at 4pm
💡 Designed for children of all ages and abilities
🎶 Expect songs, movement, hands-on activities, and a warm welcome for parents and carers too

We’d really love your help in growing this special community. If you know a family – friends, neighbours, or school contacts – who might enjoy something like this, please do pass this information on to them. 

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch!

A Celebration in Miniature: Art Exhibition & Silent Auction at St Mary’s

Posted on by Leave a comment

Tiny artworks will be taking centre stage this summer as St Mary’s Church, St Margarets hosts its Summer Art Exhibition: A Celebration in Miniature.

This unique community event will showcase a collection of miniature artworks inspired by the theme ‘Stanstead Abbotts & St Margarets’, all created by local artists. Visitors will also have the opportunity to take home a favourite piece by placing bids in a silent auction, with all proceeds supporting the work and ministry of St Mary’s Church, St Margarets.

The exhibition begins with a Preview Evening on Friday 31 July from 7.00pm to 9.00pm, where guests can enjoy cheese and wine while being among the first to view the artwork. The exhibition then continues on Saturday 1 August and Sunday 2 August, from 2.00pm to 5.00pm, with refreshments available.

The organisers are also inviting artists of all ages and abilities to get involved. Whether you paint, draw, stitch, print, photograph or create in another medium, this is a wonderful opportunity to share your creativity with the community. The challenge is simple: create a piece of artwork on a canvas A6 size or smaller, inspired by our beautiful local area of Stanstead Abbotts & St Margarets.

This promises to be a delightful celebration of local creativity in the beautiful setting of St Mary’s Church. Whether you’re submitting a piece of art, placing a bid, or simply coming along to admire the miniature masterpieces, everyone is warmly invited.

Artist submission deadline: 27 July 2026.
Entry fee: £5 per artwork.

For more information or to request an artist entry form, please contact admin@3churches.net.

Cocktails & Chaos with THECOLLINSON

Posted on by Leave a comment

A new kind of art experience. Chaos, colour and pure creative energy.

Step inside a real working art studio and gallery, surrounded by seven local artists and seven completely different styles. The space hums, the walls breathe and you’re part of it the moment you walk in.

Come with a spark of an idea just a feeling, a colour, a mood and build it into something real with a little nudge of giddy encouragement from me, The Collinson.

Everything you need is provided. Every direction, every colour suggestion, every “go on, trust it” moment is there if you want it.

And you leave with a piece of art that you made raw, honest and entirely yours.

This isn’t your typical paint-and-sip. This is a night that actually means something.

—

Cocktails & Chaos — Hertford’s most expressive night out

  • £75.00
  • Doors open at 6:30.
  • Painting kicks off at 7.
  • Food lands at 8.
  • Brushes down at 9.
  • Dancing until the room decides it’s done. 💃🕺

🖌️ Live painting by The Collinson — unfiltered, unapologetic, electric.
🍸 Complimentary cocktail on arrival.
🥘 Half-time charcuterie board to refuel the chaos.
🍷 Fully licensed bar flowing all night.
🎨 All materials included — acrylics, charcoal, crayons, pencils, spray paint. Go feral.
🖼️ Take home a 40×30cm original artwork you created.
💬 Guidance available on colour, technique, and creative flow — only if you want it.
🛋️ Relaxed, informal, rea l— a working gallery and studio, not a staged workshop.
✨ Bold, messy, unforgettable. A night out that actually hits.

CHECK AVAILABLE DATES AND BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE

Explore Bishop of St Albans’ hidden two-acre city centre oasis!

Posted on by Leave a comment

Bishop Andrew has graciously agreed to the Bishop’s Garden being open to the public for four Sundays in the summer.

The garden will be open from 2 to 4pm on the following Sundays in June and July:

Sunday 28 June
Sunday 5 July
Sunday 12 July
Sunday 19 July

The two acres of garden is an oasis in central St Albans and visitors frequently comment on the fact that they did not know the garden was here or how extensive it is.

Entrance is £5 per person (children free) and dogs on leads are welcome.

All money raised is donated to the Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust.

The Bishop of St Albans Garden

Abbey Gate House, Abbey Mill Lane, St Albans AL3 4HD

Advertiser of the Month: D. Sparwell Roofing Ltd

Posted on by Leave a comment

This month, we are pleased to feature D. Sparwell Roofing Ltd as our Advertiser of the Month.

A trusted local business with more than 15 years’ experience, D. Sparwell Roofing Ltd provides a wide range of roofing services across the local area. Whether it’s a complete roof replacement, a flat roof repair, chimney work, lead work, fascias and guttering, or simply replacing a slipped tile, the team prides itself on delivering reliable workmanship with a friendly and professional approach.

The company offers free estimates, drone surveys on request and a 24-hour emergency call-out service, giving customers peace of mind when roofing problems arise. D. Sparwell Roofing Ltd also provides a 10-year guarantee on all new pitched and flat roofs.

As a local business, the team understands the importance of providing a dependable service and building lasting relationships with customers. Their focus on quality workmanship, clear communication and reliability has helped them establish an excellent reputation within the community.

If you would like to find out more about D. Sparwell Roofing Ltd or arrange a free quotation, you can contact the team on 07852 576194 or 01279 492048, or email sales@dsparwellroofing.co.uk.

Please remember to mention The Three Villages when making an enquiry!

Have Your Say in the 2026 Residents’ Survey

Posted on by Leave a comment

Residents across Hertfordshire are being encouraged to take part in the 2026 Residents’ Survey and share their views on the issues that matter most to them.

The survey asks for feedback on local services, the area where you live and how you prefer to receive information. The results will help provide a better understanding of residents’ priorities and experiences across the county, helping to shape future services and decision-making.

The more people who take part, the more accurate the picture will be, so we would encourage as many local residents as possible to complete the survey and share it with friends, family and community groups.

The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and is open until Sunday 12 July.

This is an opportunity to have your voice heard and help influence the future of services in our area, so if you have a few minutes to spare, please consider taking part.

Complete the survey HERE.

Illustration by Sayyam Abbasi on Unsplash

Can You Solve the Mystery? Join the Scouts for a Night of Murder, Mystery and Fun

Posted on by Leave a comment

You are warmly invited to an interactive evening of intrigue, laughter and suspense at our Scout HQ as we host a very special event.

Murder at the Golden Woggle

A big local Scouting award night is about to begin, tensions are running high, and then everything takes a dramatic turn. You will help solve the case by listening for clues, asking questions from your table, and making your best accusation later in the evening.

What follows is a brilliantly entertaining, interactive murder mystery where everyone becomes part of the investigation. Expect twists, rivalries, secrets and plenty of opportunity to test your detective skills as the story unfolds around you.

This fantastic production is being brought to you by Hunsdon’s Quintessence Drama Group in support of fundraising for Bex’s World Scout Jamboree, and we are delighted to be hosting it here in Stanstead Abbotts.

Event details

  • Date: Saturday 11 July 2026
  • Doors open: 7.00 pm
  • Start: 7.30 pm 
  • Finish: 9.30 pm
  • Location: Stanstead Abbotts Scout HQ, Marsh Lane, Stanstead Abbotts, SG12 8QT (please do not park on Marsh Lane, use the village car park or other parking in the area)
  • Recommended age: Cubs (8.5yr) and above.

Tables and teams
To make the table detective work fun, we suggest booking in groups of around 3 to 7 people, we can fit up to 7 on a table.  Smaller groups are welcome, and we will help combine tables on the night if needed. If you are booking as a group please let us know. We will do our best to arrange groups together but cannot guarantee this due to the setup.

It is a relaxed, social evening so please:

  • Bring your own drinks
  • Visit the cake stall and take part in the raffle
  • The organisers will provide some small table nibbles to keep your brain active

Tickets
There are only 70 tickets available, so we strongly recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.

Tickets are £10 each (+80p booking fee) only available online. Book tickets HERE.

This promises to be a memorable night for the whole Scout community, full of fun, mystery and a great cause.

We very much hope you can join us.

Stanstead Abbotts Scout Group
stansteadabbottsscouts.org.uk

« Older Entries Recent Entries »