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.
Your Tree Our Future is a collaborative project delivered by 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.
They 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 this number was increased to 250,000 trees. In 2026, there are 60,000 trees up for grabs!
You can choose from eight different species while stocks last. A limited number of hedgerow packs are also available, which include 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.
Trees that could outgrow a domestic garden, like oaks, or fruit trees that need more complex care, have not been included.
The young trees may seem small at the time of collection, but they’re easier to transport and more likely to establish well in their new homes, as their roots are under less stress.
Sign up to the wait list HERE if you’re interested in taking part in the scheme in 2026. The trees do go quickly, so sign up while they are available.
Health Walks Summer Timetables (May to August) 2026 are now online alongside current timetables. Thanks to the dedication of our amazing volunteers, there are more than 100 different walking opportunities. Taster walks are starting in Welwyn Garden City (6 May), Bengeo near Hertford (7 May) and Baldock (22 May).
Walks are suitable for a range of fitness levels. Look out for our gentle walks for beginners, graded FS or G2. New walkers are always welcome and there’s no need to be super fit to join. Nervous about joining a Health Walk? Read our Advice for walkers.
Tune in to Mix 92.6FM on Tuesday 5 May between 11am and 12 noon for a live chat with Elly about Health Walks:MixFM_Your radio Your Hertfordshire
View Hertfordshire Health Walks East Herts timetable below.
If you are passionate about walking and want to help others who are not so confident about being outside, why not set up a group walk in your neighbourhood?
You would be joining more than 300 Hertfordshire residents who are delivering free walks in their neighbourhoods. Health Walks offers a nationally recognised walk leadership qualification, insurance and marketing to get you started. On completion of the classroom and practical training, you will receive branded Health Walks kit – including a high vis, rucksack, whistle, water bottle and polo shirt!
Spaces are available on our upcoming new volunteers’ training workshops – 21 May in Stevenage and 10 July in Hatfield. Why not come along to find out more? Contact us on 01992 555 888 or healthwalks.cms@hertfordshire.gov.uk to book your space.
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
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.
Hertfordshire County Council is inviting residents, community partners, businesses and stakeholders to help shape a cleaner, healthier future for the county as it launches a public consultation on its draft Air Quality Strategy.
You can view both the full draft strategy and a summary when completing the online survey before the consultation closing date on 22 March 2026.
Find out more about the consultation and have your say at: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/AirQuality26 You can view a one-page summary of the strategy below.
With the cost of living continuing to put pressure on household budgets, a new initiative across Hertfordshire is helping residents stretch their weekly food shop further.
Community supermarkets offer good-quality food and everyday household essentials at very low prices – often under £1 per item. They are designed to support people who may not need a food bank but are finding it harder to manage rising costs.
Although there isn’t currently a community supermarket based in Great Amwell, St Margarets or Stanstead Abbotts, there are eight locations across Hertfordshire, with plans to open more in the future. Some residents may find it possible to travel to an existing site, and the scheme is expected to expand as demand grows.
To use a community supermarket, residents need to sign up and complete a simple eligibility assessment. Once registered, the first eight visits are free, thanks to funding from the Household Support Fund. After that, a small membership fee applies alongside the cost of the shopping.
The scheme is run by Community Help Hertfordshire, working with Hertfordshire County Council, and is now open to self-referrals, meaning you don’t need a professional referral to apply. As well as affordable shopping, visitors can also receive information about other types of support that may be available to them or their family.
Get active for free! We have a range of great walks with a variety of lengths to suit all abilities and backgrounds. And there’s no need to worry about not being fit enough. There is a volunteer at the front and one at the back, no-one gets left behind.
For those of you just getting started, there are more than 30 short walks to choose from. Our shortest walk lasts around 20 minutes. It is ideal for people with long-term health conditions looking to improve their activity levels and those recovering from an injury or illness. Our friendly volunteers in their bright yellow jackets will welcome and support you all the way.
If you are a new walker, you can register HERE in advance and save time on the day.
Advice for walkers joining a walk for the first time
If you are thinking about joining a free Health Walk, the first thing to do is find a walk that is suitable for your fitness level and starts near where you live. We make it easy for you by grading our walks by how long they last and the terrain covered. Walks graded 3 and above are aspirational/progression walks. First Steps are our shortest. Other things to consider are:
Start gradually – join a short walk first
Communicate – arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the start to listen to the pre-walk briefing
Be prepared – wear sturdy footwear and warm clothing. For longer walks, bring essentials like water, snacks and rain gear even if the weather looks fine.
Are you a parent or carer of an autistic child or a child on the autism pathway? This FREE course delivered for the Early Years SEND Team is designed just for you!
Gain essential knowledge
Learn practical strategies
Access valuable resources to support you and your child in everyday life
Course Topics:
Week 1: Understanding Autism Week 2: Sensory Week 3: Communication Week 4: Play and Social Interaction Week 5: Emotional Wellbeing and Behaviour Week 6: Using My Rucksack
The Hertfordshire SEND Local Area Partnership has developed a new SEND Strategy for 2026–2029, which sets out their shared ambitions to improve outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This strategy has been shaped by the voices of children, young people, families, and professionals across education, health, and social care.
Local people are being invited to have their say on the ambitious new draft strategy for SEND that has greater collaboration at its core by completing a short online survey.
The consultation seeks to find out:
Do the ambitions reflect what matters most to children and young people with SEND and their families?
Are there any parts which are missing, unclear or need strengthening?
What do you think is the single most important priority for us to focus on?
The Three Villages 