General
They don’t build them like they used to!
Tuesday 14 November 2023
A little series of pictures for you today from lensman Gordon Ridgewell, who took himself and his camera to Greensted Church, which Gordon tells us is the oldest wooden church in the world. You can learn more about it here Read more >
AGM 2023: everyone’s a winner!
Monday 23 October 2023
The beautiful town of Thaxted was the delightful setting for this year’s CPRE Essex AGM – and the 23 members and supporters present enjoyed a day to remember. To be precise, Pam’s Place was the venue – and what an ideal choice it proved to be, more than catering for our needs, which of course […] Read more >
Barnstorming!
Thursday 19 October 2023
Gordon Ridgewell has turned his focus on one of our county’s architectural gems. “I had a look at Prior’s Hall Barn – now owned by English Heritage and with FREE entrance,” he tells us. And English Heritage tells us: “Prior’s Hall Barn is one of the finest surviving medieval barns in the east of England. […] Read more >
An eye on the winter ahead…
Thursday 19 October 2023
Be prepared! An age-old adage that has served photographer Gordon Ridgewell well over the years… and one that is clearly held dear across the natural world. Gordon takes up the story: “I had a walk round Bridge End Garden in Saffron Walden on one of the last sunny days to find squirrels stashing away food […] Read more >
Last call! Our AGM is tomorrow (Saturday, October 7)
Friday 6 October 2023
It’s almost upon us! This year’s CPRE Essex AGM is being held in Thaxted on Saturday, October 7. We will be gathering at 2pm for a 2.30pm start. The venue is Pam’s Place, located at the back of the Margaret Street free car park (postcode CM6 2RL). Tea and cake will be provided. After the […] Read more >
With this Ring…
Friday 6 October 2023
Just a simple shot from photographer Gordon Ridgewell to share the very essence of our beautiful Essex… “I had a ride out early the other morning as the mist was rising and captured this shot. “Audley End House stands in the parish of Saffron Walden. The Ring stands in the parish of Littlebury, over the […] Read more >
Beating the beetles
Wednesday 4 October 2023
The seasons they are a-changin’… or are they? Gordon Ridgewell tells us: “The field in this picture looks like it’s springtime, but it was taken in September. “Audley End estate has drilled a companion crop with the rape to attract the flea beetle away from the young rape plants. Government rules do not allow certain […] Read more >
The state our nature’s in! It’s time to acknowledge the desperate plight of our wildlife
Thursday 28 September 2023
We’ll keep this short and (not so very) sweet. Our country needs to decide – and decide soon: we either care about our natural environment and our wildlife or we don’t. All the political waffle, all the pledges, all the sincere looks to camera, all the manifestos and all the good intentions are shown to […] Read more >
‘It’s not what you have, it’s what you do with it’
Thursday 21 September 2023
“Well, you said it – keep ’em coming!” lensman Gordon Ridgewell tells us. “After a really hot day, just as the sun was setting, the sky turned all artistic – mean more than normal. “So I reached for the ever-present mobile phone and snapped it. It’s the old story: it’s not what you have, it’s […] Read more >
‘Green spaces, green infrastructure and rural landscapes enjoyed for their beauty and tranquillity would be scarred by these pylons’
Friday 8 September 2023
CPRE Essex has submitted its response to the second non-statutory consultation on National Grid’s proposals to transmit electricity across the unspoilt rural landscapes of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex to Tilbury. Here planner Michael Hand summarises the concerns we have about the so-called East Anglia GREEN scheme. We question the need for this destructive project and […] Read more >