Environment, Climate and Hope
Welcome!
Thank you for your interest.
The programme runs from 10:00 to 16:00 and visitors can stay for the day or drop in from time to time as best suits them.
What's it about?
Through illustrated talks, presentations, stalls and displays, the wonderful wildlife areas in easy reach of Hertford will be celebrated.Alongside this, the day will promote an awareness of just how much our wildlife means to our wellbeing, and will also consider other aids to wellbeing.
There will also be suggestions of how to live more sustainably and to protect the environment, taking into account the ravages of climate change, but finding ways to point to hope for the future. Through a panel discussion of climate change, the wider issues will also be considered.
Key times and events are listed below.
| 10:00 | Doors open |
| 10:00 | Guided walk with Donato Cinicolo |
| 10:30 | Talk Peter White RBRA - The River Beane: a habitat more scarce than rainforest |
| 11:10 | Guided walk with Donato Cinicolo |
| 11:30 | Talk Nigel Braggins - Do you want ice with that? A journey through the vertical world of rock and ice, touching on climate change, conserving energy and cherishing limited resources. |
| 12:00 | Lunches will be available |
| 12:00 | Guided walk with Donato Cinicolo |
| 1:30 | Talk Tim Hoskin - Slim Down Your Waste |
| 2:30 | Guided walk with Donato Cinicolo |
| 3:00 | Panel Discussion |
| 4:00 | End of the day |
What's is happening
Talks and stalls/displays in the church, stalls in the churchyard and Guided Churchyard walks.Directions/Parking
Full directions are on our location webpage. The Gascoyne Way multi-storey Car Park SG14 1YY has 340 spaces directly adjacent to the church.Talks
These will take place in church.
| 10.30 | Peter White; Chair River Beane Restoration Asociation |
The River Beane: a habitat more scarce than rainforest . The River Beane is a globally rare chalk stream river. There are only around 250 chalk streams in the world, over 200 of which are in the south and east of England, 20 of those are in Hertfordshire, and four flow through (or very close to) Hertford itself!. Chalk streams are so-called, not because they have chalk riverbeds (generally they don’t) but because they start or ‘rise’ from springs in the chalk hills at the heads of these rivers. The River Beane is one of those. Peter will look at why it’s special, the species it supports, what we (the RBRA) do to monitor it, and, crucially, how volunteers help us protect it.
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| 11.30 | Nigel BragginsRiver Beane Restoration Asociation |
Do you want ice with that? . Using Photographs and Poetry Nigel Braggins takes us on a journey through the vertical world of rock and ice, touching on climate change, conserving energy and cherishing limited resources.
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| 1.30 | Cllr Tim Hoskin, Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability EHDC; Waste Aware |
Slim down your waste .
As a society we now create and have to handle increasing amounts of waste, but is it all waste or could we be throwing away a valuable resource? What choices do we have over what we buy and so the amount of waste that we generate? Where does repair come within the prevent waste decisions?
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| 15:00 | Panel Discussion chaired by Rev Simon Cutmore Priest-in-Charge, All saints hertford. |
Stalls in Church
Stalls will explore many aspects of environment, climate and hope.
- Amber Bees – Solle & Basia Zacharuk
- Energy Hub – TBC
- Hertford Men’s Shed – Paul Hollingsworth
- Hertford Swift Group – Clive Fleming
- Herts Natural History Society – David Utting
- Love Bengeo – Cllr Alex Daar
- Peace through Creation – Rachel Johnston
- Spiders – Christopher Benton
- Take the jump – Madela Baddock
- Walking and Cycling - Julia Gough
Amber Bees is a small, local brand celebrating the magic of the hive. We offer raw honey, hand-poured beeswax candles, bee pollen, propolis, and beautifully curated gift sets - all sustainably sourced and naturally made. Our products reflect a love of nature, a passion for bees, and a commitment to wellness and the environment.
Energy Hub Hertford wants to help you find ways to make your home waste less energy and produce less carbon. Whether you want to know more about small things you can do to save money, or about retrofitting your home, Energy Hub Hertford’s team of volunteers are here to help! Find out how to save energy and money, decrease carbon emissions and increase comfort in your home.
Our mission is to bring the Hertford Men’s Shed initiative to Hertford. To create a place for local people to come together, make, repair and re-purpose, while supporting projects in their local community.e.
The Hertford Swift Group aims to help the number of Swifts in Hertford recover after the sharp decline in recent years. Our main focus is on increasing numbers of breedine sites for the birds across the town, with nest boxes, and Swift bricks on new developments. We have put up over 300 nest boxes in 2024. This work will continue.
Volunteers who enjoy, record and help to conserve our county’s wildlife in our 150th anniversary year. County Wildlife Atlases will be available.
We are delighted to share that the Bengeo Neighbourhood Area Plan Committee has adjusted its status and approach. We are now established as Love Bengeo Community Group and we aim to bring together local volunteers and Bengeo Residents Associations, focusing on two areas:
- reviewing and responding to key planning proposals in Bengeo on behalf of residents’ Bengeo Neighbourhood Area Plan (BNAP)
- driving and supporting local projects and initiatives through smaller working groups of volunteers
Come and learn about Peace through Creation, get updated information on Eco Church/Eco Diocese in this the Diocesan Year of Spirituality where all of the events planned involve the natural world in some way.
Christopher’s stall will provide an introduction to different species of spider, showing how spiders have an essential role in our ecosystem. There may even be some live spiders to have a closer look at.
Take the JUMP is for anyone worried about the state of nature but who may not be sure about how they can make a difference. It describes six shifts in the everyday choices we make to live in balance with the earth's resources and live with joy.
Information about where you can go and how to get around without using a car, with particular emphasis on the public rights of way network and cycle routes. What about making use of bus services?
In the Churchyard
Stalls (inside if wet)
- Electric vehicle display – Marion Oliver, Dave Stokes and Ben Crystall
- Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust – Amy Gillingham, Sarah Organ
- River Beane Restoration Association – Bob Thornton
- SE Herts RSPB Members – Stan Kitchiner
- Sustainable Hertford Heath Repair
- Woodland Trust - Charlotte Cooper
Electric Vehicle Display and Query Centre
Dave Stokes - Hyundai Kona (Medium range; medium battery EV)
Ben Crystall - Volkswagen ID4 (long range; large battery EV)
Chat with local EV owners happy to show you around their vehicles and answer any questions you have about their experience of buying, driving and maintaining an electric vehicle.
Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is a local charity supported by people who care about protecting wildlife, including over 22,000 members. We are the leading voice for wildlife conservation in Hertfordshire and Middlesex.
Our members and supporters protect wildife everyday by supporting the Trust. You can help protect local wildlife by becoming a member of Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust!
River Beane Restoration Association
The focus of the River Beane Restoration Association is to protect and improve the valuable but fragile habitat of the river for the benefit of all. Citizen scientist volunteers regularly monitor the river water quality and macroinvertebrate populations, chart the progress of the water voles and address issues caused by non-native invasive species such as Himalayan Balsam and Giant Hogweed.
The group offers a great way to meet friendly, like-minded people while learning more about birds and wildlife. Their stall will provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the RSPB and the local group and the wildlife available to watch in the local area. 2026 Calendars and greetings cards will also be available.
Repair Shop
A place where volunteers with practical skills will restore damaged items
Come and hear about The Woodland Trust’s work in the UK and local area specifically, offering people the chance to understand more about the charity and find out how they can get involved whether its attending events, local groups, visiting reserves, volunteering or membership.
Churchyard walks with Donato Cinicolo
Donato Cinicolo is offering to take us through the churchyard to get a taste of the properties of the trees and how the wood has enriched our lives through the centuries. He will point out the wide variety of trees growing there and will help us to learn and remember their names, their salient features, and what the timber can be used for. Which tree yields the best wood for chairs? Which for arrows? How strong is it? What is its strength resistance? How far can the arrow travel?
Donato has been practising hedge laying for about 40 years, and has been County Champion 12 times. He also advises on hedges and trees and their maintenance. Passionate about country matters, he repairs and conserves old artefacts.
The walks will be at 10 am, 11:10, and 12:00, with a final walk at 2:30. Each session will take about 20 minutes. The maximum number in each group is 10. To reserve your place, please signup at the back of church. The Church is usually open 8.00 am – 5.00 pm Monday-Thursday, Saturday morning and Sunday from 9.30am to 7.00 pm
Refreshments
Refreshments Served All Day.
Delicious Lunches between 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm.
Cakes & Produce for Sale
Talks and presentations
Stalls/displays in church
Stalls in the churchyard.
Guided walks in the churchyard.
Refreshments including lunch.
How to find us
Information for Hirers
Our Hall may have just the slot you need. For further information and/or to make a booking visit the dedicated website at https://www.stjohnshallhertford.org/.
To book the church contact the Parish Adminstrator: office@allsaintshertford.org
Can't find something?
Please email us office@allsaintshertford.org (office hours are 14-16 Thurs and Sat) or contact our Vicar vicar@allsaintshertford.org.
