The world feels unsettled right now. The conflict in the Middle East is escalating and de-escalating almost simultaneously, and it is exhausting to watch. Beyond the headlines, the real signal is closer to home: the price board at your local petrol station tells you everything you need to know about how all of this lands on ordinary people.

Closer to home, schools are back today after Easter, which means the morning routine has returned whether parents were ready for it or not. And somewhere between the chaos, there was a genuinely brilliant moment last week: Artemis II returned safely to Earth after its lunar journey. A reminder that humans are still capable of extraordinary things when they are not busy shouting at each other.

On that note, we have kicked off a project to map out restaurants across Hertfordshire that take group bookings, ready for summer. If you know a great spot in your area, hit reply and tell us. We want to hear from you.

Today's edition is a full one. Every part of the county has something going on, whether that is news, events, or both. Oh, and AI has somehow made it into the Hertfordshire County Council agenda this week. If that sounds like your world, there is even a free online AI Workshop session for Small Businesses coming up locally. More inside.

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Hertfordshire County Council has exceeded its target of planting 101,000 trees in 2025/26, with 128,245 new trees established across the county by the end of December. The bulk of those came through the Your Tree Our Future scheme, which distributed 94,000 free trees to more than 5,000 residents to plant on their own land. A further 24,547 trees are being delivered through 19 confirmed landowner projects.

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Hertfordshire County Council is only meeting its 20-working-day FOI response target in 71% of cases, down from the previous quarter, with officers citing a surge in AI-assisted requests as a key factor. In the last three months of 2025 alone, the council received close to 600 FOI requests, up from around 400 in the previous quarter. The council's own report notes that AI is making requests "more wide-ranging and difficult to respond to."

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A 1.1-hectare plot on Leggatts Way in Watford, held by Hertfordshire County Council since a community centre was demolished there in 2014, is set to be declared surplus and offered for sale. Education officials confirmed there is no expectation the land will be needed for a new school for at least the next decade, clearing the way for potential residential redevelopment. The UK Nagara Shiva Temple has already expressed interest in acquiring the site as a place of worship, though the council says it will welcome bids from all parties.

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To mark National Pet Day Hertfordshire County Council published a curated list of pet-friendly eateries, green spaces and activities across the county to mark National Pet Day. The K9 Capers guide covers dog-welcoming venues from Bishops Stortford to Watford, including pub chains, independent cafes, park cafes and restaurants. Whether you are in Hertford, Hitchin, St Albans or Tring, there is somewhere nearby to take your four-legged companion this week.

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North Herts and East Herts councils have rolled out 60 new waste and recycling vehicles running on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a renewable fuel that cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared to standard diesel. More efficient collection routes have also been introduced to reduce the time each vehicle spends on roads, and 24 smaller vehicles including street cleansing vans and ebikes will run on fully electric power. No action needed from residents, but your bin collections should get cleaner and quieter from here.

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Local elections on Thursday 7 May cover St Albans City and District Council, with one seat up for election in 18 of the 20 wards, plus two seats each in St Stephen and Sandridge and Wheathampstead wards. The deadline to register is midnight on Monday 20 April, and you must bring valid photo ID to your polling station on the day. You can register in five minutes at gov.uk/register-to-vote, or call Electoral Services on 01727 819294 if you need a paper form.

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Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council is celebrating its tenth year of supporting Sport England's This Girl Can campaign, with a week of free sport and activity sessions for women and girls running from 15 to 21 June. Sports clubs, leisure providers, community organisations and schools are invited to offer an activity as part of the week by completing the online form at one.welhat.gov.uk/thisgirlcan by Friday 29 May. Activities from previous years have included kayaking, skiing, volleyball and yoga, and all events will be listed on the council's events calendar.

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Hertsmere Borough Council has confirmed a by-election for the Bentley Heath and The Royds ward on Thursday 7 May, with the full list of nominated candidates now published online. To vote, you must be a registered elector in the ward by midnight on Monday 20 April, and you will need to bring photo ID to the polling station. Residents without accepted photo ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate, but the deadline to do so is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April.

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Hertsmere Council Leader Cllr Jeremy Newmark hosted Marco Steffens, Lord Mayor of Offenburg, for discussions covering economic development, energy security, climate action and sustainability. Offenburg has a long-standing twin-town relationship with Borehamwood, with the visit hosted at Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council. The visit was supported by the Borehamwood and Elstree Twin Town Association, which maintains the partnership between the two boroughs.

A Watford resident has received two consecutive suspended 12-month sentences and a five-year ban from the food industry after being convicted of running an illegal fish processing operation from his home. The investigation began after cooked and smoked fish products were traced back to the address and found being sold in Watford town centre, with a Fire Service tip-off helping officers identify the source. The judge described the evidence as overwhelming and awarded £2,500 in costs to the council rather than a fine, reflecting the length and complexity of the two-year investigation.

Veolia's Sustainability Fund has supported 15 community projects across Watford with £8,871 in funding since its launch in 2021, with six projects backed in 2025 alone. Projects funded include the Watford Repair Cafe, which offers free repairs of broken or damaged items to extend their lifespan and share skills across the community. Applications for the next round of funding are expected to open in Spring 2026.

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Watford residents have until midnight on Monday 20 April to register to vote in the Mayoral and Local Elections on 7 May, with young people, students and recent movers the groups most likely to be unregistered. Voters will need to show photo ID at the polling station, and anyone without an accepted form of ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate through the council. Register in five minutes at gov.uk/register-to-vote, or contact the Elections Team at [email protected] or 01923 278369.

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East Herts Council held an information event at Pishiobury Park this month ahead of grazing cattle returning to the site in May. Visitors were encouraged to check the council's website for guidance on sharing the space safely with livestock, particularly given newly introduced livestock worrying laws. The council says grazing helps sustainably manage the park's landscape and supports local biodiversity.

East Herts Council is offering traders a no-charge trial at Hertford Farmers' Market, covering four monthly events, as it looks to grow the market's offer. Traders interested in a trial stall should email [email protected]. Weekly markets also run across the district, including Buntingford Chartered Market on Mondays, Ware Retail Market on Tuesdays, and Bishop's Stortford Chartered Market on Thursdays.

Broxbourne Borough Council is seeking sponsors for its upcoming St George's Family Fun Day, with packages available covering birds of prey displays, medieval reenactments and a family puppet show. Sponsors will receive on-the-day visibility and promotional inclusion across the event's communications. Interested businesses or individuals should contact [email protected] for more information.

Several locations in Dacorum appear in the new BBC One drama series Babies, now available on BBC iPlayer, which follows a couple navigating pregnancy loss. Starring Paapa Essiedu and Siobhan Cullen, the series aims to break the silence around miscarriage, which affects roughly 1 in 4 women. Watch the trailer at orlo.uk/JdJy7.

AI Workshop for Local Small Businesses

Most local businesses are sleepwalking into a disadvantage.

Your competitors are already using AI to save time, cut costs, and move faster.
If you’re not, you’re falling behind. Simple.

This hands-on workshop is for local businesses and entrepreneurs who want to build real applications using AI tools, not just talk about it.

No fluff. No theory. Just practical ways to gain an edge before someone else takes your market.

⚠️ Learn it now, or compete with those who did.

👉 Register your interest: https://tally.so/r/woYA6b

🌿 Herts Go Green and Grow — Monthly Online Workshop
📍 Online
🗓️ Monday 13 April 2026
⏰ 12:00pm – 1:00pm
💷 Free for members | Small fee for non-members
👉 Learn more: hertschamber.com

💼 Men's Drop-In Session
📍 Hertfordshire Studios, Studio 1, Brewery Road, Hoddesdon EN11 8HF
🗓️ Monday 14 April 2026
⏰ 6:00pm – 9:00pm (drop-in)
🎟️ Free entry

🏃 NHS Health Check Drop-In (Ages 40–74)
📍 Oxhey Library, Bridlington Road, South Oxhey WD19 7AG
🗓️ Thursday 16 April 2026
⏰ 11:30am – 3:00pm
🎟️ Free entry — booking required
👉 Learn more: https://orlo.uk/QU6IY

🎵 The Sound of Watford
📍 Pondside Event Space, Watford Town Centre
🗓️ Saturday 18 April 2026
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4moDVdt

🌿 Hoddesdon Spring Fayre and Heritage Day
📍 Hoddesdon Town Centre
🗓️ Saturday 18 April 2026
⏰ 10:00am – 5:00pm
🎟️ Free entry

🌿 Hertford Mayor’s River Walk to Ware
📍 BEAM Hertford, Hertford
🗓️ Sunday 19 April 2026
⏰ 10:30am
🎟️ Free entry — donations welcome

💼 Women in AI and Data — Panel Discussion and Book Launch
📍 Theobalds Enterprise Centre, Cheshunt
🗓️ Thursday 23 April 2026
⏰ 10:00am – 12:00pm
🎟️ Free entry — booking required

💼 Funding Applications Workshop
📍 Nigel Copping Community Building, Stanstead Abbots
🗓️ Thursday 23 April 2026
⏰ 1:30pm – 4:30pm
🎟️ Free for members — free membership available

💼 Broxbourne Landlord and Letting Agent Forum
📍 Council Chamber, Bishops' College, Churchgate EN8 9XG
🗓️ Tuesday 28 April 2026
⏰ 5:30pm
🎟️ Free entry — booking required
👉 Learn more: https://ow.ly/6eqO50YGTFw

🎨 Shop Small Pop Up Creative Market
📍 St Albans Museum + Gallery, Assembly Room, St Albans
🗓️ Saturday 9 May 2026
🎟️ Free entry

🌿 Eco Fest and Family Fun Day
📍 Hertford Castle, Hertford
🗓️ Sunday 10 May 2026
⏰ 12:00pm – 4:00pm
🎟️ Free entry
👉 Learn more: hertfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

💼 Community Alliance: Using Tech to Budget, Write and Report Smarter
📍 Nigel Copping Community Building, Stanstead Abbots
🗓️ Thursday 21 May 2026
⏰ 1:30pm – 4:30pm
🎟️ Free for members — free membership available

🌿 Hertfordshire County Show — 140th Anniversary
📍 Hertfordshire Showground
🗓️ Saturday 23 – Sunday 24 May 2026
💷 Paid ticket — advance discounts available

🎸 Rock at the Castle 2026 — Musician Applications Open
📍 Hertford Castle, Hertford
🗓️ Sunday 2 August 2026
⏰ 12:00pm – 7:00pm
💷 Paid ticket — details TBA
👉 Apply by Monday 1 June: https://ow.ly/ZqEr50YCc2p

BROXBOURNE

Monday 13 April 13°C 🌡️ 4°C | 🌦️ Sunshine with an afternoon shower possible | ☀️ Sunrise 6:11am | Sunset 7:52pm

Tuesday 14 April 14°C 🌡️ 9°C | ⛅ Some sun, then turning cloudy | ☀️ Sunrise 6:09am | Sunset 7:54pm

Wednesday 15 April 15°C 🌡️ 8°C | ☁️ Cloudy | ☀️ Sunrise 6:07am | Sunset 7:56pm

Thursday 16 April 16°C 🌡️ 7°C | ☁️ Thick cloud cover | ☀️ Sunrise 6:05am | Sunset 7:57pm

Friday 17 April 17°C 🌡️ 7°C | ⛅ Rather cloudy with some brighter spells | ☀️ Sunrise 6:03am | Sunset 7:59pm

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Wishing you a fantastic rest of your day!

Cheers,
Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya

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