What: Florist’s Day When: Monday 15th June 2026, 11am to 12.30pm Where: Sweet Bower Flower Farm, Foxholes Farm Park, Hertford
If you’re looking for a gentle, inspiring way to spend a summer morning – or you work with flowers yourself – Florist’s Day at Sweet Bower Flower Farm could be well worth a visit.
Taking place on Monday 15th June, from 11am to 12:30pm, this special event invites both the local community and professional florists to step into the world of seasonal, locally grown flowers. Hosted at the beautiful Foxholes Farm Park, the morning promises a relaxed and welcoming opportunity to see what a local flower farm can offer.
Visitors will be able to explore the farm, take in the beauty of freshly grown blooms and learn more about how flowers are cultivated just a short distance from home. For local florists in particular, it’s a valuable chance to discover a potential nearby supplier – offering seasonal stems that are fresher, more sustainable and often more distinctive than imported alternatives.
The event also takes place during British Flowers Week, an annual celebration of British-grown flowers and the florists who champion them. With increasing interest in sustainable floristry, many designers are turning to local growers like Sweet Bower Flower Farm to source unique, field-grown varieties while reducing environmental impact.
For hobbyists, gardeners and flower lovers, it’s simply a lovely way to spend a summer morning surrounded by colour and scent. But for those working in floristry, it could also spark new ideas, relationships and inspiration for the seasons ahead.
Whether you come to browse, learn, or connect, Florist’s Day offers a chance to celebrate the beauty and value of locally grown flowers – and the people who bring them to life.
For more information or to get in touch, visitors can contact the farm directly. Website: www.sweetbriarflowerfarm.co.uk
This month we are delighted to feature Little Blue Van Nursery as our Advertiser of the Month. Based in Great Amwell, the nursery provides early years education and childcare for children aged from two years up to school age, alongside wraparound breakfast and after-school clubs for local school communities.
Little Blue Van Nursery is set in a welcoming, rural environment with access to a variety of indoor and outdoor learning spaces. Children benefit from a secure outdoor area as well as a larger field and playground space, encouraging regular opportunities for physical play, exploration and connection with the natural world. Indoors, the nursery offers a range of thoughtfully designed play areas including construction zones, creative and sensory spaces, a cosy reading corner and areas for imaginative play.
The nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, ensuring children’s learning and development is supported in line with national standards. Learning is delivered through a play-based approach, with activities designed to reflect children’s interests and encourage curiosity, independence and social development. Staff plan both child-led and adult-guided activities, alongside structured group times such as story sessions and themed learning experiences.
A key feature of the setting is its emphasis on outdoor learning. Children are encouraged to explore, climb, balance and engage with nature through regular access to outdoor equipment, open space and nature-based activities such as planting and seasonal exploration.
The nursery team is made up of qualified early years practitioners, many holding Level 3 or higher childcare qualifications. Staff are trained in safeguarding and first aid, and each child is supported by a designated key person who helps to build strong, consistent relationships and tailor learning to individual needs.
Alongside its nursery provision, Little Blue Van also runs breakfast and after-school clubs for local school children, offering families flexible childcare options that support working parents.
With its combination of experienced staff, engaging learning environments and a strong focus on play-based development, Little Blue Van Nursery continues to provide a nurturing and stimulating start to early education within the local community.
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.
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.
** POSTPONED ** Please note that this event has been postponed until March 8th…
Join us for a relaxed and family friendly community event this Sunday 11th January, combining an Equine Table Top Sale with a fun Dog Show, all in support of a wonderful cause.
The event will take place from 11am until 1pm at Albury Village Hall, SG11 2JD, and is entirely indoors, so you can enjoy the day whatever the weather brings. Even if conditions outside aren’t great, the event will still go ahead as planned. In the event of bad weather, the dog show will also be held indoors.
🐶 Dog Show
The dog show is all about having fun and getting involved, rather than serious competition. There will be prizes awarded from 1st to 5th place, kindly sponsored by Essex Cooling. It’s a great opportunity to show off your dog, have a laugh and enjoy the community atmosphere.
🐴 Equine Table Top Sale
Browse a variety of equine-related items and other small business-holder stalls, meet fellow enthusiasts, and pick up some great finds in a warm, indoor setting.
❤ Supporting a Great Cause
All funds raised from the event will go towards Rose Cat Rescue, helping to support their important work caring for cats in need. You can find out more about this great charity on their website: https://www.rosecatrescue.co.uk/
Whether you’re an equine enthusiast, a dog lover, or simply looking for something enjoyable to do on a Sunday, this event promises a lovely couple of hours for everyone.
As you know, here at The Three Villages one of our primary goals is to champion and support local businesses, especially for those that choose to advertise with us!
In 2025, we implemented some significant changes, which have proved a success: * Our print magazine became FREE! * We increased our print run by 100% to boost our distribution * We offered a text/call service for delivering magazines to those that might not be able to get out and collect a copy * We launched our Instagram and got to over 125 followers in the first two months, with numbers on the increase, and average monthly views of over 700.
With each issue we are seeing increased engagement through our social media platforms (Facebook, News & Events Blog, Instagram), and we are confident that things will continue to rise.
So why not join us? * BE RECOGNISED AS A TRUSTED LOCAL TRADER * * SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE * * REACH CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA *
The fee of just £120 includes a slot within every 2026 issue of the print magazine AND inclusion in our advertisements directory and scrolling adverts panel on the website.
PLUS * We offer the chance to win a FREE full-colour, full-page prime advertising spot within every print issue! * We also feature an Advertiser of the Month on our News & Events blog, shared to our Facebook and Instagram.
This month, we’re thrilled to shine the spotlight on The Red Lion, the heart of Stanstead Abbotts, where great food, warm hospitality and a vibrant community spirit come together.
Nestled in the village centre, The Red Lion offers more than just a meal – it’s an experience. Whether you’re enjoying a sunny afternoon in their pub garden or catching up with friends over a drink in the bar, this is the place to relax, unwind and soak up the welcoming atmosphere. For those of you with four-legged companions, the pub is dog-friendly, so your furry friends can join the fun too.
At the helm of the kitchen is Head Chef Michael Duckett, bringing a wealth of experience and a passion for fresh, imaginative dishes. From Wednesday to Sunday, guests can enjoy a menu crafted with love, featuring seasonal ingredients, 100% certified grass-fed beef, locally sourced vegetables and fresh pasta. And don’t forget the Sunday Roast – a village favourite served from 12–4 pm, featuring a mouth-watering trio of meats. Booking ahead is always recommended to secure your spot.
But the delights don’t stop at food. The Red Lion regularly hosts special events and celebrations, and their beautiful marquee is available for hire, perfect for birthdays, Christmas parties and all kinds of gatherings. Whether you’re planning an intimate get-together or a grand celebration, the team is on hand to create a bespoke event tailored just for you.
For sports enthusiasts, The Red Lion is the place to catch the action, showing Sky Sports on all screens, whether you’re inside the bar, outside on the patio, or enjoying the garden.
With so much on offer, The Red Lion is more than just a pub – it’s a cornerstone of our community. Make sure to join their mailing list to stay up to date with the latest news, events and seasonal specials.
If you haven’t yet experienced The Red Lion, now is the perfect time. Book a table, bring your friends (and dogs!), and discover why this Stanstead Abbotts gem is our Advertiser of the Month.
Looking for a relaxing way to end the week and nourish your mind, body and soul? Join us for a Wellbeing Evening at The Hub on Friday 21st November from 6.30pm to 10.30pm.
This uplifting community event will feature taster sessions of holistic and healing therapies, giving you the perfect opportunity to try something new in a calm, welcoming space. Whether you’re curious about alternative therapies or simply want an evening to unwind, this is the perfect place to start.
Alongside the treatments, you can enjoy a delicious selection of hot and cold drinks, cakes and other yummy food – all designed to make your evening extra special.
Come along, relax and connect with others in the community while discovering new ways to enhance your wellbeing.
📍 Venue: The Hub, 2B High Street, Stanstead Abbotts, SG12 8AB 🗓 Date: Friday 21st November 🕡 Time: 6.30–10.30pm
For more information or to book a taster session, contact Joanne: 📞 07884 292323 📧 joannelyon662@hotmail.co.uk
Let’s make this evening one of relaxation, connection and positivity. Everyone is welcome – come along and give yourself the gift of wellbeing!
This month, we’re delighted to shine the spotlight on Farrelly Plumbing, a trusted local business providing high-quality plumbing and heating services with professionalism, reliability and attention to detail.
From beautifully designed bathrooms to efficient central heating installations, Farrelly Plumbing offers a complete range of plumbing and heating solutions. Whether you’re dreaming of a modern new bathroom, need a boiler replacement, or require urgent maintenance and repairs, Neil and his experienced team are here to help.
Their services include:
All types of plumbing work, including bathrooms, en-suites, showers and hot water cylinders
Full central heating installation, boiler exchanges and servicing
Ongoing maintenance and repairs
Fully Gas Safe registered and fully insured, you can have complete confidence in the safety and quality of their workmanship. Plus, they offer free quotations, so you can discuss your project with no obligation.
Contact Farrelly Plumbing today! 📞 Call Neil on: 07792 838564 or 01920 421799 📧 Email: neil@farrellyplumbing.co.uk
Visit Farrelly Plumbing for reliable service, expert advice and beautiful results every time.