Supporter groups in Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

The aims of the group are to:

• Promote the work of the National Trust.
• To raise funds to support National Trust projects.
• To make membership of the National Trust more enjoyable and effective.

The Havering and District Association arrange a series of monthly talks in the winter months on a variety of topics, outings during the summer and usually a holiday in the autumn.

Here is their programme of forthcoming events. They meet at Ardleigh House, Hornchurch, RM11 2LG at 2.30pm. You do not have to be a member to come along. Admission £3, tea/coffee £1.

2025 Talks:

22 February - An Amusing Account of life in Our Schools

22 March - Eastbury Manor

26 April - The Art of the Botanical Illustrator

17 May - Experiences from a London Taxi Driver’s 50 Year Career

25 October - War Time Havering

22 November - The Wonder of Norway

Events:

April - Spring Lunch : Local garden centre

August - Cream Tea : Local garden centre

11-15 September - Holiday: The Historic Houses & Heritage of Shropshire

For more information and to join the Havering and District Association, please contact the secretary by email.

Hertford Association organise monthly talks and a range of outings and holidays.

Properties that they support include Wimpole House, Anglesey Abbey, Shaw’s Corner and Hatfield Forest.

Monthly meetings:

Monthly meetings are held at Fletcher's Lea in the grounds of Ware Priory, High Street, Ware (SG12 9AL) at 8pm on the third Thursday of the month - except August and December. There is plenty of free parking on site. Visitors are welcome £3. Fore more information, please call 07954 416628

2025 meetings:

16 January: 'Theatre Royal, Drury Lane - Mark Fox

20 February: 'On the Beat in Kings Cross' - Chris Foster

20 March: 'Slavery In and Around Hertford' - Clare Gittings

17 April: AGM & talk by Paul Miller, NT Assistant Director, Operations, Midlands & East of England

15th May: 'First Forensics' - Chris Truron

19 June: 'Midshires Search & Rescue' - Tim Perkins

17 July: 'The Shaws in Hertfordshire' - Philippa Parker

18 September: 'The South Bank & Festival of Britain' - Diane Burstein

16 October: 'My Life with the Princes' - Graham Craker

20 November: 'The Liberator Disaster' - David Parnell

For more information and to join the Hertford Association, please contact them by email or phone 07954 416628 .

They strive to create a friendly atmosphere at meetings. As well as listening to a speaker, members can socialise whilst browsing the National Trust product stall and the raffle table.

During the summer months, they arrange coach outings to National Trust places further afield, such as Basildon Park, Ightham Mote and Osterley Park.

They also arrange a two-day flower festival at St Peter’s Church, Aldborough Hatch as an opportunity to fundraise and showcase their programme to local people.

For more information and to join the Ilford Association, please contact membership enquiries by email or by calling 07828 885439.

North Hertfordshire members support local National Trust places not only by fundraising for them, but by giving their time as volunteers, thus widening the circle of friends they are making through their involvement with the National Trust.

As well as enjoying a varied programme of talks, outings and social events, members of the group can enjoy a range of short break holidays, enabling them to explore a wide mix of interesting places in new locations.

If you are interested in supporting the National Trust and would like to join our group, you would be very welcome. It is no longer necessary to be a National Trust member or volunteer to become a member of the North Herts Association.

Monthly meetings including a talk are at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday in the month at Christchurch, Bedford Road, Hitchin, SG5 1HF. Coach outings leave from pick-up points in Hitchin and Letchworth. Any additional pickup points will be notified.

Outings

During the summer, the group have had a lovely afternoon tea at Letchworth Golf Club, a visit to the Belton Estate, a holiday to the Cotswolds/Stratford area, and a recent visit to Waddesdon. They hope to continue organising such events, however, these can only take place if they have sufficient people taking part.

Talks 24/25 Season

A full description can be found on the 'NHertsANT' Facebook Page. Please note that the title of a talk can be subject to change if the speaker becomes unavailable. In this case another speaker will be substituted.

02 October 2024 - at Christchurch - 200 Years of Saving Lives at Sea: The RNLI Story

06 November 2024 - on Zoom - Theatrical London

04 December 2024 - at Christchurch - Knebworth House

08 January 2025 - on Zoom - Discover Britain's most surprising town!

05 February 2025 - on Zoom - Posted in the Past

05 March 2025 - at Christchurch - My Everest Trek and Marathon

02 April 2025 - at Christchurch - Wilder Futures - Conservation of Nature in Hertfordshire

07 May 2025 - at Christchurch - AGM 7.30 - 8 pm followed by a talk - Our top forty in the North Herts Museum

04 June 2025 - at Christchurch - Hatch, Match and Dispatch - my life as a Registration Officer

For more information about us or our events, or to join the Association, please contact us at nhertsant@gmail.com. We are also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nhertsant

They have a programme of talks and visits to enhance members’ understanding of the work of the Trust and to make membership more enjoyable and enriching. They have at least one holiday a year and usually an event around Christmas.

They meet at The Salvation Army Hall, Bullpond Lane, Dunstable on the first Monday of the month at 1.45 for 2pm.

The best way to get full value of the Association is to become a member, which is open to National Trust members, volunteers and people interested in their activities. Membership is £15 per person.

Members receive a newsletter four times a year to keep them informed of activities of nearby Trust properties. They support their local properties:

• Chiltern Gateway Centre on Dunstable Downs
• Ashridge Estate
• Whipsnade Tree Cathedral

Some members either work or volunteer at local properties.

For more information and to join South Bedfordshire Association, please contact the membership secretary on 07931 919860 or visit our Facebook page, South Bedfordshire Association of National Trust.

Their objectives are to promote the National Trust locally, raise funds in its support, and provide a programme of events and activities to enrich National Trust membership and the understanding of its work.

Membership is open to all National Trust members, volunteers and members of affiliated organisations.

Their programme of events runs throughout the year and includes a lecture series which allows the opportunity for members to socialise with likeminded people.

For more information and to join the Southend-on-Sea and District Centre, please contact them by email.

They raise funds for National Trust enterprises in the Eastern area, through days out in the summer, visits to London sites and talks during the winter, plus an annual holiday to places in the UK. The trips and holidays provide an ideal opportunity to meet new people in a relaxed setting, at the various venues and at the hotels in the evenings.

In their 50-year existence we have contributed over £200,000 to various National Trust projects.

Whether you are a National Trust member or not, everyone is welcome to join their series of local talks, outings and even holidays.

Meetings are held at All Saints Church Hall, Inmans Row, Woodford Green IG8 0NH, unless indicated differently below.

Visitors entrance fee is £3, members of Woodford and District Centre and volunteers get free entry. New members can register at arrival with their entrance fee to the meeting being refunded.

Talks commence at 2.30pm

2025 :

24 September : Wildlife in Epping Forest by Peter Warne

15 October : John Constable, the man and his landscape by Patricia Hodgkins

12 November : Walthamstow – A Place full of History by Peter Lawrence, Branch AGM

3 December : William Burges and the 1860s Restoration of Waltham Abbey Church by Granville Weltch

2026

21 January : Mercy Ships by Dr. Leo Cheng (Branch Annual Charity Talk )

18 February : Podiatry Practice and Common Foot Problems by Mark Freedman

18 March : 10 Tales of the National Trust by David Simmonds

15 April : Clavering Castle – the Dig by Simon Coxall

13 May : Why Gardens ? Anne Luder

10 June : An Introduction to War Memorials by Richard Speller

Full details and bookings can be found on their TicketSource webpage : Woodford & District National Trust Centre event tickets from TicketSource

For further details, please email the group

If you would like more information or would like to join as a member to the Woodford and District Centre, please email them.