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.
We are delighted to reveal the cover of the first issue of 2026!
It features this amazing photograph by local resident, Annette Hannah, showing the Meridian Stones sculpture, which was commissioned to celebrate the centenary of the Meridian Line that dissects Stansted Abbotts. The blossom really adds to the spring feel!
Annette Hannah is a local author of romantic comedies, the first of which was inspired by St Margarets signal box and is called Wedding Bells at the Signal Box Cafe. The picture of the beautiful cherry blossom trees depicts where the opening and closing scenes of the book are set.
You will be able to pick up your copy of The Three Villages Magazine: Issue 17 at the start of March across the three villages. Don’t forget that our magazine is now FREE!
If you can’t get out to get a copy, please text (07488 914972) or call us (01920 870009) and we will get one to you.
Thank you for your continued support, The Three Villages Team
EVENT DETAILS Date: Sunday, 15 February 2026 Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Location: Cheshunt Register Office, Bishops College Churchgate, Waltham Cross, EN8 9XH Parking: Available on-site (please note parking charges apply) Public Transport: Convenient local public transport links are nearby.
Are you planning your big day and looking for the perfect venue, suppliers and inspiration? Look no further! The Cheshunt Register Office is hosting an open day on Sunday 15th February, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. This is your chance to explore one of Hertfordshire’s hidden gems while connecting with local wedding suppliers to help bring your dream wedding to life.
Located in the heart of Bishop’s College, a former 18th-century theological college, Cheshunt Register Office boasts a stunningly beautiful setting that exudes history and charm. The venue’s showpiece, the Octagonal Suite, is a bright and welcoming ceremony room with a gorgeous wooden vaulted ceiling and plenty of natural light – ideal for exchanging vows.
Photo by Jeremy Wong Weddings on Unsplash
But that’s not all! The grounds surrounding the Register Office offer picturesque gardens complete with a small lake and a bridge over the New River, providing couples with beautiful backdrops for their wedding photos. Whether you’re just beginning your wedding planning or looking for those last few finishing touches, this open day is the perfect opportunity to explore all that Cheshunt Register Office has to offer.
You’ll also have the chance to meet a selection of top-tier local wedding suppliers, each ready to help you create your dream day. Among the suppliers in attendance are:
Darling Buds – Local florists who can provide everything from delicate bouquets to full-scale floral arrangements.
Dress it Yourself – Event hire and styling experts, helping you add those personal touches to your celebration.
Jodie Allen – A talented wedding photographer who will capture your day in timeless style.
These are just a few of the incredible suppliers who will be there to answer your questions and discuss your wedding plans.
The event is completely FREE to attend, but you need to register your interest in advance via a short registration form. REGISTER HERE
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
Once again, The Three Villages Magazine is inviting local photographers to help shape the look of our next issue. We are currently seeking a cover image for Issue 17 (March 2026).
Are you a local photographer – amateur or professional? Do you have a photograph that captures the beauty and character of our three villages? This is your chance to have your work featured on the cover of our free community magazine.
For our March issue, we’re especially looking for a Spring-inspired image that highlights a recognisable local landmark or scene. We also welcome seasonal photographs that could be considered for future covers in June, September, or December.
Submission Guidelines
Orientation: landscape images work best for our cover or portrait images that can be cropped to fit the aperture.
Image size: High-resolution images required (21.6cm wide at 118ppcm or the largest image files you can send)
Format: JPEG/TIFF files are ideal
Editing: Light editing is fine, but please avoid heavy filters
Credit: Photographers will be credited, so please provide your preferred wording
Caption: Please include a short caption with the location and your name
If you’d like to submit a photograph and showcase your work, please email your image to threevillagesmagazine@gmail.com
Submission deadline for March Issue: 26th January
We can’t wait to see the three villages through your lens!
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?
East Herts Council have approved our plan and we now move to the final stage (Referendum).
The Polling Station will be set up in January 2026 ready for your vote, so keep an eye out for your voting card.
In the meantime, and before you vote, please visit the website and read the final plan HERE to find out the advantages of saying yes. The final plan is supported by all three Parish Councils and East Herts District Council.
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.
