Living next to the woods, we expected to feel closer to nature, but we didn’t expect to make friends with it. We thought we would spend our mornings listening to the birds and admiring the trees. Instead, we find ourselves checking that Freda the fox, our uninvited but much-loved garden guest has returned safely from her nightly wandering!

Halloween in Hockley has never been so hauntingly good! On Friday 31st October 2025, the Hockley Village shopping area was bursting with spooky excitement as hundreds of families came out to enjoy the Hockley Halloween Trail. With eerie smoke drifting through the streets, catchy Halloween tunes in the air, and friendly ghouls greeting youngsters.

As November draws near, red poppies begin to bloom across lapels, symbolising remembrance, gratitude, and unity. Each year, the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal brings communities together to honour those who have served and sacrificed in the Armed Forces. It’s a time to pause, reflect, and give back and thanks to the tireless RBL volunteers.

As communities across the country come together to honour those who gave their lives in service, our Director Colin MacLean has taken the lead in marking the start of the 2025 Poppy Appeal with a heartfelt act of remembrance at the Hadleigh War Memorial. Colin has unveiled a stunning wall of poppies, the first in a series of moving displays.