A 5km walk under Chelmsford's twinkling Christmas lights is happening on Thursday 9 December at 7pm to raise money for the Mayor's chosen charities: Helping Hands, Mind and Sanctus.

A swathe of purple crocuses will appear in Chelmsford's Central Park next spring. The bulbs were donated by the Chelmsford Rivermead Rotary Club in recognition of World Polio Day and were planted by the Mayor of Chelmsford, Cllr Jude Deakin, and representatives from the Rotary Club.

Help was given by the Council's parks team, who prepared the flowerbed. The arc-shaped planting area is near the park's tennis courts, just before you reach the railway viaducts when walking towards Admirals Park from the lake.

This winter, people who are facing the prospect of sleeping rough in Chelmsford will have more help available to them than ever, with an array of support offered by members of the city's Homelessness Forums.

The single person's Homelessness Forum was formed by the Lib Dem-led city council in 2020, with a Families' Forum now also underway.

Chelmsford Garden Community is set to be the greenest neighbourhood in Chelmsford. An agreement has just been signed to deliver around 80 homes as Net Zero Carbon-ready.

Lib Dem-led Chelmsford City Council, developers Countryside Zest and the Government's housing agency, Homes England, have agreed the funding of the first stage of work for a significant phase of the Chelmsford Garden Community to meet the Government's emerging Future Homes Standard.

Hundreds of local councillors from across the country have called on the Government to give more power to local councils, to help them tackle climate change. Chelmsford Liberal Democrat Leader Stephen Robinson was one of many Councillors who wrote to the Prime Minister during the COP26 climate change summit.

Hylands Estate in Chelmsford is getting ready for its most magical Christmas season yet, with everything from an expanded outdoor light trail and an artisan shopping evening, to yuletide afternoon teas and festive productions at Hylands House.

"Enlightened" light trail returns

"Enlightened" came to Hylands last year and the imaginative light show was a big hit with visitors. It brings its sparkle back to Hylands Estate later this month with a new longer route and even more dazzling installations, transforming the historic parkland and elegant gardens of Hylands House into a twinkling Christmas trail.

This year's Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service in Chelmsford will take place on Sunday 14 November at the War Memorial on Duke Street, at 10.50am. The Mayor will join veterans and members of the public to pay respect to all those who continue to serve our country's Armed Forces, as well as those who gave their lives during previous wars.

A project to help homeless young people has been launched by Chelmsford City Council, in partnership with the national youth homelessness charity Depaul UK, (and Essex CC and Colchester Borough Homes). They have launched 'Nightstop Essex' and are urgently looking for local volunteers with a spare room in their house to support the initiative, particularly in Chelmsford.