News
Happy Christmas from all at CPRE Essex
Thursday 23 December 2021
Well, that was a year! It was of course tough on many for any number of reasons, but the Covid-19 pandemic has continued to dominate proceedings and our thoughts go to those who suffered personal loss. Through it all, CPRE Essex has been here fighting to keep our county special and we thank everyone who […] Read more >
A trio of treats…
Friday 10 December 2021
It’s the end of the week, which means it’s time for a Gordon Ridgewell treat of three pictures for the price of one! And there is of course a wry commentary from the man himself… “Even the seagulls have gone to Plan B. Perhaps there are no free fish and chips at the seaside in […] Read more >
Sowing the Seeds of Hope
Thursday 9 December 2021
Writer Anne Boileau relates the wholly uplifting tale of a rewilding project in north Essex Alex Stevenson lived in Coggeshall until recently. But now she has revealed herself as an Essex Isabella Tree. A landscape architect and award-winning garden designer, she helped draw up the Coggeshall Neighbourhood Plan and recently organised an eco-fair in the […] Read more >
Councillors go against officers’ advice and approve Herongate solar farm
Thursday 2 December 2021
Essex is to get another solar farm. The scheme, targeted for Herongate, west of Dunton Wayletts, was approved by Brentwood Borough Council’s planning committee on Tuesday, November 23. Councillors rejected their officers’ advice to refuse permission on the grounds that the solar farm was against the local authority’s policy and “unacceptable” on Green Belt land. […] Read more >
Nature shines through whatever the weather
Wednesday 1 December 2021
Driving along B1383 near Audley End House on a damp and misty morning I just had to park up and get a few pics. This is normally quite a dark stretch of road when the leaves are out. It was overcast but bright, so I was able to record all the colour and detail that […] Read more >
‘A powerful and memorable campaign’: CPRE wins award for response to planning proposals
Tuesday 30 November 2021
CPRE has broken new ground and won an award for its campaign responding to the government’s proposed reform of the country’s planning system. Our first award for campaigning and policy work in living memory was announced on Wednesday, November 24, and represents a striking triumph for the combined national and local approach of CPRE. The […] Read more >
Tragic waste of green fields as undeveloped brownfield hits new high, CPRE research reveals
Friday 26 November 2021
• New figures show a continued increase in the amount of brownfield land suitable for housing across England • Despite the boom in brownfield, fresh analysis shows planning permission has stagnated, with long-term trends pointing to soaring use of greenfield sites • The proportion of brownfield housing units with planning permission is the lowest since […] Read more >
Make a date for Plough Sunday service at Thaxted
Thursday 25 November 2021
We like to be ahead of the game at CPRE Essex, so here’s advance warning of a special event early next year… Plough Sunday is the traditional English celebration of the start of the agricultural year – it generally involves the bringing of a ploughshare (cutting blade) into a church, where there will be prayers […] Read more >
Hare-coursing: if you see it, report it! You really can make a difference
Friday 12 November 2021
Hare-coursing can sometimes seem an interminable problem in parts of our countryside – and indeed the practice brings misery to many as well as threaten populations of one of our most endearing mammals. However, the rural engagement team at Essex Police are encouraging us all to do our bit in helping tackle this scourge. “If […] Read more >
Time to ditch London Resort: wildlife charities call for withdrawal of theme park application after Swanscombe wins special protection status
Wednesday 10 November 2021
Wildlife charities are calling for the withdrawal of the London Resort theme park planning application that would destroy a nationally important wildlife site in north Kent, after the site was awarded special conservation protection today (Wednesday, November 10). Swanscombe Marshes, which sits on the bank of the River Thames, has now received confirmation of official […] Read more >