Held on Thursday, 31 July, the event drew in residents from across the district who enjoyed a wide range of free activities, including story time and rhyme time hosted by Bishop’s Stortford Library, crafts, a hands-on archaeology sandpit, and of course, the highlight for many—our friendly community dog show.
Councillor Sarah Hopewell, Executive Member for Wellbeing, said: “It was fantastic to see Castle Park buzzing with activity. From crafting shields to dogs showing off their charm, the day was a perfect celebration of what our parks offer. We’re so pleased to have welcomed so many residents to enjoy the newly transformed park and I for one am glad the weather held up for us all!”
Thank you to everyone who entered their pups into the friendly dog show—it was a joy to see such a wide variety of lovable dogs and proud owners taking part.
Here are this year’s top dogs:
Prettiest Girl
1st – Hoshi
2nd – Millie
3rd – Lady
Handsome Boy
1st – Basil
2nd – Spock
3rd – Riley
Best Rescue
1st – Ron
2nd – Riley
Championship Dog (Best in Show)
1st – Basil
2nd – Riley
3rd – Ron
Councillor Martin Adams, Chairman for East Herts Council and head judge of the dog show, said: “Congratulations to all of the winners—and thank you to every dog and owner who took part. Whether you walked away with a rosette or just a wagging tail, you helped make the show a real crowd-pleaser.”
East Herts Council would like to thank all the organisations and volunteers who contributed to the event, including Bishop’s Stortford Library, Herts Boat Rescue, Everyone Active, Herts Police, Glendale, CMS, Friends of Castle Park, Friends of Pishiobury Park, Friends of Southern Country Park, and everyone who helped bring the day together.
The next annual Love Parks event will take place on Thursday, 30 July 2026. Residents can find more information nearer the time on the council website: www.eastherts.gov.uk/love-parks-week
