diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-30_publish_release_draft.yml b/.github/workflows/release-30_publish_release_draft.yml
index 430b1e266467..a9e521051d04 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-30_publish_release_draft.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-30_publish_release_draft.yml
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ jobs:
   post_to_matrix:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: publish-release-draft
+    environment: release
     strategy:
       matrix:
         channel:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-99_notif-published.yml b/.github/workflows/release-99_notif-published.yml
index 05c9d6a47f55..b5b2ed38e845 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-99_notif-published.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-99_notif-published.yml
@@ -48,5 +48,3 @@ jobs:
             Release version: [${{github.event.release.tag_name}}](${{github.event.release.html_url}})
 
             -----
-
-            ${{github.event.release.body}}
diff --git a/scripts/release/build-changelogs.sh b/scripts/release/build-changelogs.sh
index d9a1f11d01e9..d73f06c8cd6b 100755
--- a/scripts/release/build-changelogs.sh
+++ b/scripts/release/build-changelogs.sh
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ for tuple in "${aud_desc_array[@]}"; do
 
     echo "Processing audience: $audience ($audience_id)"
     export TARGET_AUDIENCE="$audience"
-    export AUDIENCE_DESC="**These changes are relevant to:** $description"
+    export AUDIENCE_DESC="**ℹ️ These changes are relevant to:** $description"
 
     tera -t "${TEMPLATE_AUDIENCE}" --env --env-key env "${CONTEXT_JSON}" > "$OUTPUT/relnote_${audience_id}.md"
     cat "$OUTPUT/relnote_${audience_id}.md" >> "$PROJECT_ROOT/scripts/release/templates/changelog.md"
diff --git a/scripts/release/templates/_free_notes.md.tera b/scripts/release/templates/_free_notes.md.tera
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c4a841a99251
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/release/templates/_free_notes.md.tera
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+
+{# This file uses the Markdown format with additional templating such as this comment. -#}
+{# Such a comment will not show up in the rendered release notes. -#}
+{# The content of this file (if any) will be inserted at the top of the release notes -#}
+{# and generated for each new release candidate. -#}
+{# Ensure you leave an empty line at both top and bottom of this file. -#}
+
+<!-- Such a comment will be rendered but remain invisible in the rendered markdown -->
+<!-- Edit below this line -->
+<!-- Edit above this line -->
diff --git a/scripts/release/templates/docker_image.md.tera b/scripts/release/templates/docker_image.md.tera
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..273635670e17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/release/templates/docker_image.md.tera
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+
+## Docker images
+
+The docker images for the `polkadot` node binary and the `polkadot-parachain` binary can be found at Docker hub (will be available a few minutes after the release has been published):
+- [Polkadot image](https://hub.docker.com/r/parity/polkadot/tags?page=1&ordering=last_updated)
+- [Polkadot-Parachain image](https://hub.docker.com/r/parity/polkadot-parachain/tags?page=1&ordering=last_updated)
+
+
+You may also pull it with:
+
+```
+docker pull parity/polkadot:latest
+```
+
+or
+
+```
+docker pull parity/polkadot-parachain:latest
+```
diff --git a/scripts/release/templates/template.md.tera b/scripts/release/templates/template.md.tera
index 39bc1c744021..0211cafb428b 100644
--- a/scripts/release/templates/template.md.tera
+++ b/scripts/release/templates/template.md.tera
@@ -2,8 +2,14 @@
 
 This release contains the changes from `{{ env.REF1 | replace(from="refs/tags/", to="") }}` to `{{ env.REF2 | replace(from="refs/tags/", to="") }}`.
 
+{# -- Manual free notes section -- #}
+{% include "_free_notes.md.tera" -%}
+
+{# -- Automatic section -- #}
 {% include "changes.md.tera" -%}
 
 {% include "compiler.md.tera" -%}
 
 {% include "runtimes.md.tera" -%}
+
+{% include "docker_image.md.tera" -%}