Harston Residents Group (HRG)

The Harston Residents Group (HRG) was established in May 2014 in response to a call from the Parish Council for volunteers to create a Village Design Statement. Since then, HRG has worked closely with the Parish Council to develop a Neighbourhood Plan, which was approved by referendum in September 2025.

In 2018, HRG became a constituted group, allowing us to hold funds and define key roles such as Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. Despite this more formal structure, we aim to remain as flexible and inclusive as possible. We welcome all Harston residents to join our meetings – whether regularly or sporadically – and contribute to discussions. Every opinion is valued and everyone is welcome to participate.

Current HRG roles:

  • Jan Nanor – Vice-Chair and Secretary

  • Claire Cock-Starkey – Newsletter

  • Hilary Roadley – Greener Harston & Neighbourhood Plan

  • Brian Williamson – Transport

  • Fabio Puddu – Website

  • Chinnu Alexander – Treasurer & Litter Pick Organiser

  • Irene Richards – Member & Harston Parish Councillor

If you’re interested in learning more about HRG or would like to get involved, you can contact us at harstonresidents@gmail.com.

Greener Harston

The Greener Harston group is an active part of HRG, focusing on improving and maintaining the village’s green spaces. Our activities include planting bulbs, creating wildflower areas, planting hedges, and tidying up overgrown areas to make Harston’s environment more beautiful and wildlife-friendly.

We meet regularly on Saturdays or sometimes mid-week, depending on availability. If you would like to get involved in our gardening initiatives or stay updated on upcoming projects, please reach out to us at harstonresidents@gmail.com.

Harston Litter Pick

The Harston Litter Pick is a community event where we come together twice a year to clean up litter around the village. We provide all the necessary equipment and instructions to help you get involved, and it’s a great way to contribute to the beauty and cleanliness of Harston.

If you’d like to join our next litter pick or be added to the mailing list for updates, please contact harstonlitterpick@hotmail.com. We also want to thank the many residents who regularly pick up litter throughout the year, as well as local businesses like Meteor Inkjet Ltd, whose staff participate in litter collection during their breaks.

What’s Going On in the Community

Harston is home to a variety of community groups and activities that help make our village a lively and welcoming place for everyone. Here’s a list of some of the key groups and events you can get involved in:

Badminton Club

Harston Badminton Club is a friendly group of adult players who meet in the school hall on Mondays from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. We play socially (not competitively), with players of various abilities coming together to have fun. All are welcome to come along and see for themselves!
For more information, contact Hilary Roadley at 01223 871244 or hilary.roadley@hotmail.com.

Better Brew Café @ Harston Village Hall

Better Brew is a volunteer-run community café open on the first Saturday of each month from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. It’s a great place to meet up with neighbours and enjoy a hot drink and a friendly chat. See the village hall calendar for dates and additional details.

Churches

Harston has two churches, each offering services and support for the community:

  • All Saints’ Church (Parish Church, Church of England) – Full details available on their website.

  • The Baptist Church – Details available on their website.

Circle Left – Harston and Haslingfield Folk Dance Club

Enjoy traditional folk dancing? Join Circle Left, a local group offering regular folk dance sessions. For more information, visit their website: www.circleleft.org.uk.

Community Orchard Group

This volunteer group meets on the second Saturday of each month from 9:30 am to 11:00 am to maintain the community orchard and keep it a lovely space for all. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just looking to help out. Stay up-to-date via their Instagram account.

Cubs and Scouts

The 1st Harston Scout Group runs a Cub pack (for ages 8 to 10.5) and a Scout troop (for ages 10.5 to 14.5). Meetings take place at the Harston School Hall on Wednesday evenings (Cubs at 6:00 pm, Scouts at 7:30 pm). The group serves Harston as well as nearby villages such as Hauxton, Newton, and Foxton.
For more details, visit their webpage here.

Harston Painters

If you enjoy painting, join the Harston Painters group that meets every Friday from 9:00 am to 11:30 am at the Village Hall’s Large Committee Room. This is a self-help group for amateur artists. There is no tuition, but members share tips and discuss each other’s work. For more information, contact Harston Village Hall.

Harston Residents Group

The Harston Residents Group (HRG) is the voice of the community, helping to shape decisions about the village’s future. We meet regularly and welcome all Harston residents to get involved. For more information, visit our contact page here.

Harston Threads

Harston Threads is a community-based sewing, knitting, and craft group that meets regularly to share their skills and create beautiful things. If you’re interested in joining or learning more, contact us at harstonthreads@outlook.com.

HATS (Harston Amateur Theatre Society)

HATS is a drama group that performs once a year at the Harston Village Hall. Open to all, HATS is a fun, sociable group that welcomes newcomers. If you’re interested in performing or helping behind the scenes, contact Rupert Dick at 01223 870985 or rupertdick@hotmail.co.uk.

Kiddiwinks Pre-School

Kiddiwinks Pre-School provides a safe and nurturing environment for young children. If you’d like more information, contact Katherine Cobbald at 01223 870345 or office@harstonnewton.cambs.sch.uk.

Local History Group

The Harston Local History Group meets regularly to explore and preserve the history of the village. We offer talks, share photos and memories, and welcome anyone with historical knowledge to contribute. For more details, contact Hilary Roadley at 01223 871244 or via hilary.roadley@hotmail.com. You can also visit our history website.

Lunch Club

The Lunch Club is a great way for residents over 65 from Harston, Newton, or Hauxton to enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal and good company for just £2.00. We meet every Monday in the Village Hall, except during Bank Holidays and in August. To join, contact June Boakes at 01223 870777 or june@boakes.plus.com.

Social Car Scheme

The Social Car Scheme provides volunteer drivers to help residents with transport to medical appointments. For more information, contact Angela Holden at 01223 870647 or visit the Social Car Scheme page.

Women’s Institute (WI)

The Harston WI is a friendly, sociable group that meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 pm at the Village Hall. It’s a great way to meet new people, have fun, and get involved in a variety of activities. For more information, email ml-wi@lloyd-clarke.org.uk.

Get Involved!

There’s something for everyone in Harston, whether you’re looking to be active, creative, or simply meet your neighbours. All these groups are open to new members, and many welcome volunteers. If you’re interested in joining any of these activities, feel free to contact the group directly via the details provided above.