The Herts & Essex Border Centre was founded in 1969 to promote and prosper the work of the National Trust. Our current membership of 400 is from the towns and villages in the vicinity of Bishop’s Stortford, Herts, and Harlow, Essex.

Our nearest National Trust property is Hatfield Forest and as well as financial support our members are currently preparing to undertake a survey of visitors to the forest, so as to provide input for the Forest’s proposed interpretation centre. We have recently been instrumental in obtaining a Local Heritage grant of almost £24,000 for the Forest. Also this year, we have raised funds for educational equipment at Hatfield Forest, another wild horse for Wicken Fen, oak benches for Coggeshall Grange Barn and a replacement wheelchair for Wimpole Hall.

The Herts & Essex Border Centre is independent of the National Trust and has its own constitution which has been approved by the Trust. Its affairs are conducted by a committee of officers and members who are elected at the AGM held in February each year.