Hertfordshire is set to become a whole lot greener as the ‘Your Tree Our Future’ scheme returns for 2025. This year, over 60,000 trees were available free of charge to residents and they have all been claimed already! That is a real commitment to a greener future by our residents.
Background – planting for tomorrow
Your Tree Our Future is a collaborative project delivered by us (the county council), Hertfordshire’s district and borough councils and voluntary sector partners. It is designed to enable Hertfordshire’s residents, businesses and community groups to help plant more trees across the county.
We set out with a goal to help residents plant 100,000 trees over four years. During its first three years, thousands of residents have taken part and helped plant more than 190,000 trees. In 2025 we planned to increase this number to 250,000 trees.
Residents were able to choose from eight different species and they all went, including a limited number of hedgerow packs are also available, which included 36 trees – enough to plant approximately 6 metres of hedgerow!
All of these trees are:
Great Britain natives and suitable for Hertfordshire’s soil and environmental conditions (this gives them the best chance to grow to maturity)
two years old and approximately 60-80cm tall (except for hawthorn, which is one year old and a little smaller, as they grow very quickly)
grown at a UK tree nursery from seed collected in the UK
beneficial to local wildlife.
We have not included trees that could outgrow a domestic garden, like oaks, or fruit trees that need more complex care.
What next?
As all trees have now been claimed, with trees will be available for collection in December, you are encouraged to sign up for next year.
Sign up to the wait list if you’re interested in taking part in the scheme in 2026. We’ll email you when the tree request window reopens.
We’re excited to share some big news: The Three Villages is now on Instagram!
That’s right – your FREE local community magazine for Great Amwell, St Margarets and Stanstead Abbotts is taking the next step in connecting our wonderful villages by joining the world of Instagram. Whether you’re a long-time resident or new to the area, our Instagram page is designed to bring us all a little closer.
Why follow us? Our new Instagram page is more than just pretty pictures (although there will be plenty of those!). Here’s what you can look forward to:
Local stories – Quick snapshots of village life, community updates and feel-good stories you love from the magazine.
What’s on – Get reminders for local events, markets, talks and activities happening in our villages.
Spotlight on locals – Discover hidden gems and meet local makers, businesses and inspiring people who make our community so special.
Photos old & new – Nostalgic throwbacks and new photos celebrating the beauty and charm of our area.
Help us grow We’re on a mission to reach more residents and local businesses, and your support makes all the difference. More followers help us share community news more widely and support local causes and businesses.
Please give us a follow, like a post or two and share our page with your friends, family and neighbours. It’s a small action that makes a big difference to our growing community.
Thank you for being part of The Three Villages. We’re excited to share even more with you – one post at a time!
Good news for everyone in Stanstead Abbotts and St Margarets – our Neighbourhood Plan is moving ahead.
Our Neighbourhood Plan is now being carefully reviewed by an independent examiner. This is a vital stage in the process, ensuring that everything put forward meets legal and planning requirements, and reflects the wishes of our community.
What’s happening now? The examiner is going through all the submitted documents, including the Consultation Statement and the Evidence Base. He has produced a Clarification Note, to make sure everything is in order to which the Steering Group Members are responding. If you’d like to take a look at the details yourself, all the relevant documents are available on the East Herts District Council website. You can access them by following the link below: Stanstead Abbotts and St Margarets | East Herts District Council
What’s next? Once the examiner completes his review and (hopefully) gives the green light, we’ll move on to the Referendum Stage. This is when you, the residents of Stanstead Abbotts and St Margarets, get to vote on whether the plan should be officially adopted. You will be able to cast your Yes/No decision in a ballot at your usual Polling Station.
Why it matters The Neighbourhood Plan is all about shaping the future of our villages – protecting what we love, guiding appropriate development and making sure that our voices are heard in the planning process.
Thank you to everyone who has taken part so far.
Stay tuned for updates on the referendum date and, in the meantime, we encourage you to take a look at the plan documents.
Stanstead Abbotts and St Margarets Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group
Anyone eavesdropping outside the barn at Stanstead Bury Farm on Friday 30th May during The Three Musketeers – a latecomer, perhaps, or one of the ducks or geese – could be forgiven for thinking the show had a cast of twenty or so, with all manner of accents and the odd Frenchman thrown in for good measure. In reality, there were only four members of the theatre company This Is My Theatre gracing the stage that evening (three actors, supported by Lily Smith – listed as the ‘musician’ in the programme, but deftly contributing so much more than that). I, for one, still can’t quite believe there were so few of them. This multitalented troupe take multitasking to a whole new level: swapping hats, roles and guises slickly and with a knowing wink, they ensure there is never a dull moment in Alexandre Dumas’ epic tale of skulduggery and camaraderie.
If some productions are underdone, this one is cooked to a ‘T’. A key ingredient is the expertly choreographed sword-fighting, which begins in the very first scene. We see the bold but naïve Gascon, d’Artagnan (Elliot Hay) receiving lessons in swordsmanship from his father (Duncan Woodruff), before setting off to make a name for himself in Paris. While en route, he is defeated in a genuine swordfight, and robbed, by the dastardly Rochefort (who bears a striking resemblance to his father). To make matters worse, our blundering hero manages to put three musketeers’ noses out of joint (one of them bears a striking resemblance…you get the idea). The duelling that ensues lands them in trouble with Cardinal Richelieu’s guards, leading to a mêlée between all sides that is a marvel to behold. In this whirlwind of cyan cloakology, it is hard to say which moves more quickly: the characters’ headgear as it is whipped from tête to tête, or their swishing blades. How the cast keep track of who’s who at any given moment is a mystery – it’s a feather in their cap that they do so! The upshot is that d’Artagnan, who helps to fight the guards off, becomes firm friends with the musketeers and is taken under their wing.
One of the musketeers, Porthos, is somewhat different from the others (Athos and Aramis), insofar as he is played by a mannequin atop a tripod. He certainly doesn’t let this hold him back, though. A helping hand wields his sword for him whenever necessary, and his guttural exclamations in French add to the play’s Gallic flair. Another character with an air of mystery to her is Milady de Winter, Cardinal Richelieu’s chief spy: using a hooded robe to good effect, she never lets us catch sight of her face. Dumas’ plot is convoluted, but it is centred around the need to retrieve a diamond necklace from an English duke, so that the French queen can wear it at a forthcoming ball (a ball that is definitely the suggestible king’s idea, and is not in any way dreamt up by the scheming cardinal). The queen will thus avoid embarrassment (the diamonds had been a gift from the king, but have somehow ended up with her secret lover, the duke of Buckingham). The musketeers bravely agree to undertake the journey to London: “En protégeant la reine, nous protégeons le roi!” (“By protecting the queen, we’re protecting the king!”). They travel with a speed that makes any frequent rail passengers in the audience turn green with envy, calling out the stops along the way: “Calais!” “Ashford!” “London!”
Alas, many of the characters in Dumas’ tale lack the loyalty and good character shown by the musketeers and will stop at nothing to foil their plans. The chief villain of the piece is Cardinal Richelieu, and special praise goes to Leon Topley for the stunning set-piece in which he plays both the Cardinal and the weaselly Bonacieux, dashing back and forth from one man’s floppy hat to the other’s red zucchetto. It is a real tour de force, and he repeats the trick later in the play…chapeau! The machinations of the various villains ultimately come to nothing, though, and d’Artagnan is rewarded for his heroics by being made a lieutenant in the King’s Musketeers.
This dazzling, rip-roaring show is a spectacular success. This Is My Theatre was founded with the aim of bringing great theatre to rural areas, and this production certainly fulfils that brief.
The theatre company will be back in Stanstead Abbotts later in the year, performing Pride and Prejudice – don’t miss it!
Have you ever wanted to understand the Bible better?
Whether you’re a lifelong churchgoer, someone who drifted away from church, or just curious about what the Bible is all about, The Bible Course is for you.
What is The Bible Course? Produced by the Bible Society, The Bible Course is a brilliant introduction (or re-introduction!) to the world’s bestselling book. Each session combines video teaching, discussion time and personal reflection. It’s accessible, engaging and genuinely eye-opening – whether you’ve read the Bible for years or are just starting to explore.
You’ll learn:
How the Bible fits together as a whole
Who the key people are, and why they matter
What themes run through Scripture from beginning to end
How this ancient book still speaks to us today
Who is it for? Honestly? Everyone. If you:
Feel curious about the Bible but don’t know where to start
Want to grow in your understanding and confidence
Have big questions about faith, life, and God
Are part of church – or not at all!
When and Where? **The course starts on Monday 23rd June** Alternate Mondays (dates: 23/6, 7/7, 21/7, 4/8, 1/9, 15/9, 29/9, 13/10) 🕕 7.30 to 9.30pm 📍 St Mary’s Church, St Margarets
Interested? Let us know you’re coming by getting in touch. Contact Rev’d Sarah (Email: vicar@3churches.net or Text/Call: 07488 914972)
The Bible Course has helped thousands of people discover the Bible as a living story – one that speaks hope, meaning and purpose into everyday life. Why not come along and see where the journey takes you?
The next Equine Bootsale and Dog Show on Sunday 6th July will be held on Widford Playing Fields (SG12 8SL), 11am to 1pm.
Pitches £10 Horse boxes/trailer £15 PITCHES ON THE DAY £15 (bring your own table/blanket)
Entry for buyers only £1!
Dog Show Entry £2 per show per dog per class
CASH AND CARD ARE NOW ACCEPTED
Dog Show sponsored by Oaks Funeral Directors – Cuffley. Toilet hire sponsored by Jimmy Riddles Toilet Hire.
All monies raised will go to HEART (Heart Animal Rescue Team), which was founded by Hannah Bolton after finding there was a need for support within Harlow, Essex and neighbouring areas for local wildlife. Hannah has been rehabbing and rescuing animals for 3 years. HEART is full of a network of some wonderful people who go above and beyond to make sure animals are safe and cared for. To find out more about this charity, visit their website: https://www.heartrescue.co.uk/.
This month we are featuring NLA Care as our Advertiser of the month!
NLA Care are passionate about offering the best, high-quality home care service that is tailored to meet each individual client’s needs.
Their Mission
To set a standard within the care sector, that is driven by real passion for good quality personal care.
To offer an excellent premium service with the main goals being comfort and quality of life.
Their Values
To care with compassion and empathy
To respect and appreciate my service users
To work with honesty and integrity
Recognition
Investing in development
We asked owner and the heart of the business, Nadine, to tell us a little more about NLA Care:
I started running this business in 2011, initially to just see a couple of people, needing my help and assistance. It barrel rolled quite quickly, and now I am here with a lot of clients and changing people’s lives. I have been doing this job for 15 years, and I will be doing it for another 15 years with honour.
There is nothing more satisfying than helping people, be able to stay at home and within their community, whilst feeling safe and looked after. Nothing is more rewarding than the comments of families who know they have mine and my team’s full support.
We have all kinds of packages available, depending on the individuals care needs, and I love being able to adapt to their needs. My team is person centred and I love the fact, I can give people the reliability, and same carers, who are just as passionate as me about care. My team are unique, and we offer tailored allocated times, so that the client’s needs are met.
I love what we do with a passion, and it shows in our work ethic and dedication.
Find out more about the fantastic NLA Care and how they can help you or a loved one get the home care you need.
If you are in need of some extra support, whether that is palliative care, help with household duties, collecting prescriptions, respite care, or meal preparation, NLC Care is the place to go!
Madrigals at Amwell Pool, the wonderful annual music event is just around the corner!
WHEN: Friday 20th June, 9–10.30pm WHERE: Amwell Pool, Lower Road, Great Amwell
The Haileybury Chamber Choir and Choral Society will sing at this long-established event, by the banks of the river in the beautiful village of Great Amwell. The music and stunning setting makes the evening truly magical. This will be the 85th Madrigals Concert!
All welcome. No tickets required.
As usual, there will be a collection in aid of Isabel Hospice.
The Three Villages 