Sophie England

Maldon District Council is introducing the free Xplorer family navigation programme at Promenade Park in Maldon and Riverside Park in Burnham during the summer holidays. Created by British Orienteering, the activity uses maps and markers to teach children basic orienteering while encouraging outdoor exercise. Weekly engagement sessions will be held at Promenade Park, with Riverside Park dates to follow, and funding will be available for parish and town councils that want to introduce the programme locally.

Five swimmers—James Cliff, Clare Boston, Stuart Sargeant, Maddy Raymond and Drew Bell—are preparing to attempt a 21-mile English Channel relay crossing to raise funds for Havens hospices in Essex. The challenge is expected to take 13–16 hours and may involve a longer distance because of tides and currents, with risks including cold water, unpredictable weather, jellyfish and heavy shipping traffic. The team has raised more than £7,000, while the charity needs over £225,000 in donations each week to maintain its specialist care services. Cliff and Bell have previously completed solo Channel crossings in support of Havens hospices.

Dandara Eastern has completed the first phase of its partnership with housing association Home Group at a 25-acre development in Latchingdon, transferring the first 80 of 160 planned affordable homes. The scheme includes bungalows and family homes, green spaces, walking and cycling routes, ponds, a linear park, an office hub and land reserved for a nursery. Homes will include electric-vehicle charging points and energy-efficiency features, while landscaping is intended to improve biodiversity. Company representatives said the project will address local housing needs and create a sustainable community.

Cadent will replace 265 metres of ageing gas mains in Heybridge from August 19, with the work expected to last about seven weeks. Broad Street Green Road will be closed, although residents will retain property access and gas supplies should continue with limited planned interruptions. The project is part of a £123 million East of England investment programme covering more than 395 kilometres of pipe upgrades, intended to improve reliability, reduce methane emissions and support future biomethane use.

A climate-change-inspired installation called “Jetty” has been unveiled on Northey Island in the Blackwater Estuary. Created by artist Sara Hayes from recycled oak conservation mats, the artwork is designed to show how projected sea-level rises of up to one metre could transform the island’s landscape over the next century. The launch was attended by more than 80 people and forms part of the National Trust’s wider saltmarsh restoration and coastal adaptation work.

Essex smokehouse Lambton & Jackson has won three stars at the 2026 Great Taste Awards for its Maldon Cure Smoked Salmon, repeating its 2019 success. The product also received a Gold award at the Farm Shop and Deli Product Awards earlier in the year. Founded in 2014 by Darcy Lambton and Sean Jackson, the company produces small-batch smoked seafood for luxury hotels, clubs, farm shops and restaurants, and plans to launch a subscription service later this year.