60,000 free trees available to green the county

Hertfordshire County Council is preparing to give away 60,000 trees to residents in the second year of a scheme aimed at creating a greener county.

Planting trees has a positive impact on air quality, helps reduce the carbon in our atmosphere, supports biodiversity and can help communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.

In addition, access to natural features has been linked with benefits to physical and mental health.

The Your Tree, Our Future scheme was created as part of the county council’s Tree and Woodland Strategy which sets out how the council will increase tree cover.

In its inaugural year last year, the initiative was so popular that the council increased the number of trees it had intended to make available from 10,000 to 46,000 to meet demand.

At hertfordshire.gov.uk/yourtree you can choose from a selection of eight different native species, all of which have been chosen for their suitability for planting in Hertford-

August opening date for Ware’s new Post Office shire (crab apple, field maple, hawthorn, hazel, hornbeam, rowan, silver birch and wild cherry). There are also limited numbers of hedgerow packs that include 30 trees, enough to plant five to six metres of hedgerow. Trees will be provided on a first come first served basis and resi- dents who have successfully requested trees will receive an email from the council with details of when and how to collect them from a local pick-up point. After this year the initiative will continue for a further two years with 30,000 trees available each year.

Ware Post Office is to reopen at the beginning of next month bringing postal and banking services back to the town.

New campaign launches to highlight issue of air pollution

Easts Herts Council marked Clean Air Day on Thursday 15th June with the launch of its Breathe Clean initiative that is set to run across the district over the coming 12 months.

The project will work with schools, workplaces and community groups to highlight things that everyone can do to protect ourselves from air pollution while reducing our personal contribution to the problem.

The launch took place at Abel Smith School in Hertford, where a clean air workshop was held for pupils.

Other initiatives with schools are set to include outdoor classroom days, car-free days, walk to school weeks and scientific experiments to measure air quality.

Working with businesses, the project will focus on how workplaces can encourage greater use of public transport and higher levels of

Funding will double pothole repairs

Hertfordshire County Council has received a multi-million pound boost from the Government to help it tackle potholes across the county.

The allocation of nearly £4million from the Government’s Pothole Fund will double the amount of pothole repairs carried out, taking the total expected repairs to 40,000 this year.

The council also intends to replace or protect existing surfaces on hundreds of roads in the county to extend their lifespan and prevent thousands of potholes developing. To report potholes online so that they can be added to the repair and maintenance programme visit hertfordshire.gov.uk/highwaysfaults. walking and cycling to work. The project team will also work with community groups to help them raise awareness of air pollution through their own networks and neighbourhoods, and to set up sustainability events. Schools, businesses and community groups interested in taking part should contact MP Smarter Travel who are running the programme with the council by emailing info@mpsmartertravel.co.uk.

The town centre lost its Post Office in January with the closure of Martin’s convenience store in which it was based, prompting an urgent search for a new operator who could provide services in the town.

Postmaster Elliot Jacobs, who already operates Herford Post Office in Maidenhead Street and a further six other branches, has taken on half of the former Martin’s premises, which is currently undergoing a refit.

From Tuesday 1st August the new-look shop will be home to a UOE stationery store as well as Post Office services.

UOE (or Universal Office Equipment) sells stationery, packaging materials, greeting cards, design-led gifts and novelties and also offers services such as copying, printing, binding, laminating and ID photos. The premises at 9 High Street will be open be open from Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5.30pm daily with the exception of Thursday which will have a later opening time of 10am.

Corporate Hire

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Whether it is a blue-sky session, a game-changing presentation, dynamic learning and development, or a team building meeting, Hertford Castle could be the perfect venue for your next corporate event.

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Email: corporatehire@hertfordcastle.co.uk www.hertfordcastle.co.uk