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The Parish Council is pleased to be taking the lead on a new nature‑recovery and sustainability initiative for the village. The project began in February, when we delivered leaflets inviting households to get involved. This was followed by our first community meeting, which helped shape the next steps.
To make it easier for residents to find information, stay updated, and take part, we have now created a dedicated Wilder Walkern website. This will be the central place for all news, background information, guides, and details of upcoming activities.
The Parish Council will continue to support the project as it develops, and further updates will be shared through the website and our usual communication channels.
https://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.png00RFOhttps://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.pngRFO2026-03-30 10:26:182026-03-30 10:26:18Wilder Walkern – Project Update and Website Link
The Parish Council Meeting was held on Thursday 5th March 2026 at Walkern Sports and Community Centre. This report covers some of the issues we have been dealing with over the last few months. The full minutes of the meeting are available on the Parish Council website and on the Parish Council Notice Board outside Budgen’s shop.
A Wilder Walkern
We held a very constructive meeting with Tim Hoskin, head of Environmental Sustainability at East Herts District Council, on February 18th. We discussed various initiatives that might interest residents and be achievable in the short term. He confirmed our idea that an assessment of areas within the Parish where wilding could take place is an important first step. We held a very useful meeting with Tim Hill, Conservation Manager at the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust in January and his organisation is able to help with such an assessment but it would need funding.
The Council has received over 70 responses from residents expressing their interest in supporting the project. Of course, we understand that not all of those who responded are able to offer practical help but we were very pleased that 38 people attended the kick off meeting on 11th March.
There was a short presentation from Steve Mason about a Terra Carta project that residents might like to be involved in. The project includes core themes such as caring for nature and wildlife, reducing waste, saving energy and supporting local and sustainable choices. Each theme has 2 to 4 simple commitments, some of which residents might be doing already such as avoiding using pesticides in the garden or switching off lights when leaving the room.
As well as giving an overview of what we have achieved so far, the meeting gave residents a chance to share ideas on how they could participate within their own gardens as well as in village areas; small is just as important as large projects. There were some lively group discussions and a feeling emerged about priorities and what our immediate aims should be. Participants expressed strong interest in focusing on nature and ecology as well as community and well-being, including activities for both children and adults. Ideas on how projects could be funded were also discussed
It was felt that a regular dedicated page in the Walkern Journal and a new Wilder Walkern website would be helpful to promote interest in the project. Until the website is developed updates and information about Wilder Walkern can be found in the Wilder Walkern section of the Parish Council website. Parish Websites, who already host our Parish Council website, have said they could also host an additional site for us. It may be that someone attending may have the skills to design such a website.
A more detailed report on the meeting is in the article entitled Wilder Walkern within the journal.
Planning
Councillors discussed with Tom Deffley, District Councillor, our growing concerns regarding the way our representations are being handled within the East Herts District Council planning process.
The Council responds in detail to many of the applications which we receive and we are not confident that these comments are adequately taken into account or even accurately reported in the summaries given by the Planning Department.
We are also troubled by recurring issues with the planning portal, where attachments submitted as part of the application have not been visible to us.
We have contacted EHDC expressing our concerns and await their response.
Street Lighting
The Parish Council is responsible for the cost of repairing some of the High Street lamps, though these repairs must be carried out by Ringway, the recommended contractors. We have contacted Ringway to repair a lamp in the High Street with an LED fitting at a cost of £777.78 including VAT , a large proportion of our funds.
There are also two other lamp posts in the Village where the Victorian fittings have been stolen. The clerk will contact Ringway for a quote for the repair.
National Association of Local Councils
In February, Peers in the House of Lords continued their scrutiny of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, raising concerns about the government’s proposals for neighbourhood governance. NALC is backing their commitment to “emphasise the need to protect and strengthen parish and town councils as the most local tier of democratic representation”.
Last week the Chief Executive of the association spoke at a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs training day for civil servants working on climate adaptation and rural policy. He briefed them on the work of parish and town councils, developments in the sector and our role in helping to tackle climate change and asked them to help raise understanding of the sector across Whitehall. They agreed to consider visits to parish and town councils.
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday 2nd April 2026 at the Walkern Sports and Community Centre commencing at 7.00 pm.
Christine Nudds, Parish Councillor
https://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.png00RFOhttps://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.pngRFO2026-03-16 08:19:402026-03-16 08:19:40Walkern Parish Council Report - March 2026
The Parish Council Meeting was held on Thursday 5th February 2026 at Walkern Sports and Community Centre. This report covers some of the issues we have been dealing with over the last few months. The full minutes of the meeting are available on the Parish Council website and on the Parish Council Notice Board outside Budgen’s shop.
A Wilder Walkern
The Wilder Walkern leaflet inviting all residents to become part of this community project have now been delivered and it’s been great to see such an enthusiastic response from residents via email and written replies. Many want to be involved and share their thoughts on how we can manage green spaces around the village, helping native species and encouraging biodiversity.
We have also been in contact with Tim Hoskin, head of Environmental Sustainability at East Herts District Council, and hope to meet him to discuss our project and find out what practical support and funding might be available to help us.
We are planning to hold an open meeting to kick start the project at 7.30pm onWednesday 11th March at the Walkern Sports and Community Centre. We will be sending out invitations to the meeting via email. All are welcome but so that we can manage numbers, set out enough chairs and buy enough biscuits please respond to the email invitation to confirm attendance.
Peace Garden
This project has been work in progress for several years! The main difficulty stems from the fact that no conveyancing trail from the owners of the graveyard in Froghall Lane to East Herts District Council could be found so that presented a problem with land registry.
We were delighted to hear from Abi, the Clerk, that the transfer of the land has now been completed and has been passed to Land Registry to complete the transfer of title deeds.
Funding for Local Councils
Our Finance Officer attended a presentation hosted by The National Association of Local Councils looking at ways of raising funding for large projects which are unaffordable from a council’s normal funds.
Funding for any project that the Council undertakes is difficult. The Parish Council has worked hard in recent years and has been successful in getting grants from East Herts District Council to put towards the Fitness Trail at the Walkern Sports and Community Centre. We were also successful in getting funding from Hertfordshire County Council’s Locality budget to put in play equipment and fencing in the same area. The Council applied for and received many free trees and hedging to put around the play area.
Along with the WSCC we very much want to make this area a place where all ages can relax, exercise and enjoy themselves.
National Association of Local Councils
NALC has secured exemption for parish and town councils having to hold referendums on council tax increases. The report from NALC states, “responding to the consultation they made the case that councils at all tiers should be able to set council tax and precept levels without the constant risk of government intervention. This principle is particularly important for local councils whose precept is their primary and often only source of income.
“Parish and town councils account for just around 2 per cent of England’s total council tax in 2025/26 but they deliver a wide range of essential local services and community support. The exemption from referendum principles therefore provides much needed stability, enabling parish and town councils to plan and continue to serve their communities effectively.”
Walkern Crime Report, January 2026
Section 4A Public Order, Rookery Close
Sending Threatening Communications, Moors Ley.
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday 5th March 2026 at the Walkern Sports and Community Centre commencing at 7.00 pm.
Christine Nudds, Parish Councillor
https://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.png00RFOhttps://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.pngRFO2026-02-16 15:56:592026-02-16 15:56:59Walkern Parish Council Report - February 2026
Walkern Parish Council is exploring an exciting new initiative to boost local wildlife, restore habitats, and make our parish greener and healthier. But it can only happen with community support. If residents show interest—and get involved—we can bring this plan to life.
We’re inviting local people to help shape and potentially deliver this project. Whether you’d like to share ideas in a Working Group or volunteer on the ground, your involvement matters.
As a first step, to measure interest and establish the viability of this initiative, we are putting leaflets through the doors of Walkern residents seeking a positive response from those who might wish to participate.
You can respond by filling in and returning the leaflet to 97 High Street, Walkern or on-line here.
The Parish Council Meetings were held on Thursday 4th December 2025 and Thursday 8th January 2026 at Walkern Sports and Community Centre. This report covers some of the issues we have been dealing with over the last few months. The full minutes of the meetings are available on the Parish Council website and on the Parish Council Notice Board outside Budgen’s shop.
The Parish Council would like to wish all the residents a happy and healthy 2026.
A Wilder Walkern
The Hertfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy has been published and is available online. The Parish Council own and manage green spaces in and around the village and encouraging biodiversity locally was an important part of the recently updated Neighbourhood Plan.
We held a very useful meeting with Tim Hill, Conservation Manager at the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, in order to discuss how we move forward with the project. The Trust has developed a number of nature plans for parish and town councils and local authorities in Hertfordshire. We were looking for advice on the kind of actions we should try to undertake and information about funding that might be available.
As previously reported, the Council is anxious that this should be a community project as well as helping native species and habitats within the Parish. Therefore, our first action will be to leaflet residents asking if they are willing to give their practical support towards rewilding. Tim assured us that it’s possible for everyone to do something even within their own gardens and together we can make a difference.
National Planning Policy Framework
The government published the new version of the NPPF for consultation on 16th December 2025.The draft framework represents the most significant overhaul of national planning policy since the NPPF was first introduced in 2012.
It is possible to look at various websites for information about this draft framework, using your web browser to search the new NPPF. YouTube has several helpful videos where the major changes are discussed, for example, “Have we got planning News for You” 17th December 2025.
Although this is a draft document, as a Council we are informing ourselves of its contents, trying to assess its possible effects on the village in terms of planning.
National Association of Local Councils
An open letter from the newly elected chair, Cllr Iain Hamilton, recognised the growing expectations and increasing responsibilities faced by parish and town councils. He states these local councils are an “invaluable asset to our country” and “the bedrock of community life across England”.
We are a small council and our monthly meetings are open to all. There is an opportunity for members of the public to raise issues or ask questions.
We are aware that family life is busy and demanding but we know that there is a public concern for the Parish and its residents, so do think about coming to the meetings and finding out about what we do.
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday 5th February 2026 at the Walkern Sports and Community Centre commencing at 7.00 pm.
Christine Nudds, Parish Councillor
https://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.png00RFOhttps://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.pngRFO2026-01-15 10:01:522026-01-15 10:01:52Walkern Parish Council report - January 2026
https://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.png00RFOhttps://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.pngRFO2025-11-19 16:15:232025-11-19 16:15:23East Herts Council Supports Three Unitary Option for Hertfordshire
The Parish Council Meeting was held on Thursday 6th November 2025 at Walkern Sports and Community Centre. This report covers some of the issues we have been dealing with over the last few months. The full minutes of the meeting are available on the Parish Council website and on the Parish Council Notice Board outside Budgens shop.
Peace Garden
This project has been work in progress for at least a year! The main difficulty stems from the fact that no conveyancing trail from the owners of the graveyard in Froghall Lane to East Herts District Council could be found so that presented a problem with land registry.
We were delighted to recently receive an email from Tollers, our solicitors, stating that the title for the property registered at the Land Registry is satisfactory and the form of transfer has been approved.
Abi, our clerk, has asked for information regarding the signing and witnessing of the deeds and we are waiting for a response.
Aubries Play Area
We know that the updating of the equipment at the High Street Playground has been a great success and the majority of families will choose to spend most time there. However, the Council is also responsible for the small area at Aubries and we are aware that it is looking in need of a refresh. Several Councillors met onsite and agreed that we should get quotes to refurbish the bench, that is rub down the metal frame and slats, treat the rust and repaint. Also to place paving stones under the bench, where the grass has disappeared and is now a muddy patch.
The slide on the toddlers’ climbing frame is also slightly damaged so we have contacted Wicksteed, the manufacturers, to find out the cost of a replacement.
High Street Playground
The majority of residents using the playground do so with great care and appreciation but we still have problems with users who seem to delight in leaving their rubbish on the ground or tucked between the slats of the benches, anywhere other than in one of the three bins available.
Recently I reported that someone was dumping their unwanted and completely inappropriate books in the Book Box and only yesterday a fold up deck chair was left on the picnic table, presumably because the owner is aware that litter is regularly cleared from the park and they didn’t want the bother of disposing of it themselves!
We know there is very little we can do to stop this kind of behaviour but it is frustrating that the Council has to pay for rubbish to be collected and disposed of in a responsible manner when there are many calls on the money that we have available.
The Hertfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy
The Council is anxious that this should be a project for the community so that, as well as helping native species and habitats, it will bring residents together in an enjoyable and worthwhile experience.
We discussed what our next steps should be and decided it was important to discover how many residents would be interested in being involved in a practical way, and also where the Council could get funding to support the projects.
We plan to deliver a leaflet to all households setting out our vision to restore and enhance the natural environment of Walkern Parish for the benefit of the wildlife and residents. We will be asking residents to let us know if they would like to be involved, so that we can judge the community’s response and decide whether to continue with the plan.
Also, councillors will approach various organisations such as The Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and Herts County Council to see whether funding would be available.
Crime Report
The police report for October notes an attempted theft from a motor vehicle in Moors Ley and a case of criminal damage at Manor Farm on the High Street. There was also a truck stolen from outside premises in Stevenage Road.
The Council urges people who see anything suspicious to contact the police:
Phone 999 or101 for non-urgent cases.
Planning Applications
The Council receives notice of the various planning applications made within the Parish. However, residents can also view, comment and object to applications on the East Herts Planning Portal by either searching Walkern or a specific road within the village.
For searches online use https://publicaccess.eastherts.gov.uk
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday December 4th 2025 at the Walkern Sports and Community Centre commencing at 7.00 pm.
Christine Nudds, Parish Councillor
https://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.png00RFOhttps://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.pngRFO2025-11-15 12:09:472025-11-15 12:09:47Walkern Parish Council Report - November 2025
The Parish Council Meeting was held on Thursday 2nd October 2025 at Walkern Sports and Community Centre. This report covers some of the issues we have been dealing with over the last few months. The full minutes of the meeting are available on the Parish Council website and on the Parish Council Notice Board outside Budgens shop.
The Hertfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy
As reported last month several Councillors have been making themselves aware of the aims and hoped-for outcomes of this strategy. A decision was made at the last Council meeting that we would draft a Walkern Nature Recovery Strategy to restore and enhance biodiversity across the Parish through community-led action. We felt that we needed specific targets where the residents could take action and see progress being made ,for example, no-mow zones, bat and swift boxes and hedgehog highways.
The Council is anxious that this should be a project for the community so that, as well as helping native species and habitats, it will bring residents together in an enjoyable and worthwhile experience.
Meeting of Hertfordshire Parish, Town and Community Councils and Hertfordshire County Council
In late 2024 the Government set out plans to change how local councils operate. This means that areas like Hertfordshire that operate a system with a County Council, District and Borough Councils etc are being asked to reorganise. The meeting that several of us attended in September was to hear and comment on these suggested changes, The Plan for reorganisation will be sent to the Government in November 2025.
Key provisions include:
Creation of new Strategic Authorities
Greater Local control over major areas including transport, housing and environment
Reorganisation of local government
At the time of the meeting no decision had been made as to the number of Unitary Authorities that should cover the County; 2, 3 and 4 were being considered.
The government has said that they want to promote Neighbourhood AreaCommittees to provide a simplified and standardised system of local governance These could include existing parish and town councillors on their board as well as representatives from other community organisations.
Some of the questions parish councillors were asked to consider included:
How will we represent the views of our community to the Unitary Authority?
How might we work with other town and parish councils?
What is our approach to asset transfers? What would we want/not want to manage?
A Government decision on the proposed plan is expected in Spring 2026.
Planning Applications
The Council receives notice of the various planning applications made within the Parish. However, residents can also view, comment and object to applications on the East Herts Planning Portal by either searching Walkern or a specific road within the village.
For searches online use https://publicaccess.eastherts.gov.uk
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday 6th November 2025 at the Walkern Sports and Community Centre commencing at 7.00 pm.
Christine Nudds, Parish Councillor
https://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.png00RFOhttps://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.pngRFO2025-10-15 12:05:392025-11-15 12:10:12Walkern Parish Council Report - October 2025
An application has been submitted to North Herts District Council for the installation of a large-scale solar farm on land south of the A507 near Cumberlow Green. This proposal lies adjacent to a separate planning application submitted to East Herts District Council for a solar farm between Cromer and Cottered.
Although these developments are outside Walkern Parish, local parishioners may wish to comment on the proposals.
Walkern Parish Council has formally responded to the application raising concerns about the effect these applications will have on the local landscape.
Details of the application can be found here on the North Herts District Council website.
https://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.png00Walkern Parish Councilhttps://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.pngWalkern Parish Council2025-09-25 12:56:572025-09-26 09:05:53Planning Application for another large Solar Farm
Hertfordshire’s 11 councils have launched the second phase of public engagement on the future of local government in the county. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for residents, community groups, businesses, and stakeholders to help shape how services are delivered in the years ahead.
Why This Matters
In December 2024, the Government announced plans to simplify local government in England. The aim is to:
Make services easier to access
Improve efficiency
Reduce costs
What’s Changing?
Currently, Hertfordshire has two types of councils:
District and Borough Councils: Responsible for housing, planning, bin collections, car parks, and leisure services.
County Council: Oversees schools, libraries, roads, children’s services, and adult social care.
Under the proposed reforms, these will be replaced by new unitary councils that deliver all services under one authority.
How You Can Get Involved
Your views are vital. Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or part of a local group, you’re invited to share your thoughts on:
How services should be delivered
What matters most to your community
How local government can better serve Hertfordshire
The link below provides more information about how you can get involved.
Let’s ensure Walkern’s voice is heard in shaping the future of our county.
https://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.png00RFOhttps://walkernparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/walkern-new-logo.pngRFO2025-09-18 14:49:352025-09-18 17:25:07Have Your Say on the Future of Local Government in Hertfordshire
