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Around 450 trees are to be planted to create a community Orchard and the first new commercial Orchard in Hertfordshire for decades. Since the 1950’s, more than 60 per cent of Orchards in England have vanished – largely down to housing or industrial developments taking over.

16 of the Foundation’s 30 Governors are elected by the people of, and organisations operating in, Letchworth Garden City.

Six are elected every five years through a postal ballot of electors. One is appointed by the County Council and another by the District Council.

Eight are directly elected by Letchworth Garden City clubs, charities and organisations. At the present time, there are over 130 such organisations ‘registered’ with the Foundation for this purpose.

The Foundation has agreed terms with Packington Estate Enterprises Ltd on a 150 year long leasehold letting of the former Opalion Plastics site in Works Road.  Comprising approximately one acre, planning permission has been granted for the construction of five new business units totalling 18,760 sq ft.  These will be available on long leases, bringing new industry and new jobs to the Garden City.

Around 600 visitors attended the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation’s ‘Get Involved’ North Hertfordshire Volunteers Fair at the Spirella Building last weekend.

The second phase in the world’s first Garden City’s regeneration of its town centre has taken a major step forward.

Work is underway on vital ‘Street Scene’ improvements for Letchworth Garden City’s two main shopping streets.

Major changes on Eastcheap and Leys Avenue will transform their ‘look and feel’.

Leys Square is being extended with new landscaped seating areas, attractive water features and sculptures between the ‘square’ and The Colonnade, opposite Letchworth Garden City railway station.

Using high quality materials and finishes, the improvements will also redefine the relationship between the pavements and the roadways.