General
Our Lovely Essex: with landscaped gardens out of bounds, it’s back to nature
Friday 5 June 2020
Jackie Damary-Homan graces today’s Our Lovely Essex with a series of shots that take her a little out of her natural habitat. “Normally I am leading coach outings for Saffron Walden Horticultural Society and taking pictures of landscaped gardens, but this year it’s all back-to-nature shots,” says Jackie, who has been a member of CPRE […] Read more >
The Stort Valley: where Essex meets Hertfordshire (part two)
Thursday 4 June 2020
In the first part of his exploration of the Stort Valley, James McVie covered the history of this stunning area, with particular focus on the River Stort Navigation. In this second, concluding, section he goes in search of the elusive Essex-Hertfordshire border. The county line Now let’s look at the exact county boundary line, and […] Read more >
Our Lovely Essex: small is beautiful in Strethall
Wednesday 3 June 2020
Gordon Ridgewell is our guide again for today’s Our Lovely Essex. Take it away, Gordon! “This picture is of St Mary’s Church in Strethall – possibly the smallest church and smallest village in Essex, right in the north-west corner. My wife’s family lived there for more than 200 years. Her family name is Pledger. “Her […] Read more >
The Gregariouness of Rooks
Tuesday 2 June 2020
So many of you enjoyed writer Anne Boileau’s recent piece entitled A Tale of Two Woods, we are thrilled to present another of her works, The Gregariousness of Rooks. A delightful look at a familiar but surprisingly complex bird, this essay will lift spirits and eyes alike… The Gregariousness of Rooks If you see a […] Read more >
The Stort Valley: where Essex meets Hertfordshire
Monday 1 June 2020
In recent weeks, we have been celebrating so much of what is wonderful about our extraordinary county of Essex. But of course all good things must come to an end… yes, Essex eventually stops and is replaced by something else. To the west, that something else is Hertfordshire and here, in the first part of […] Read more >
Our Lovely Essex: the right side of the border!
Saturday 30 May 2020
Ken McDonald returns with some more shots taken within walking distance of his Stansted Mountfitchet home. “I have to be careful with my selection of shots because I live only a mile from Hertfordshire!” says Ken. Read more >
Thousands join Star Count 2020 to show the value of dark skies
Friday 29 May 2020
In February, more than 2,400 people across the country took part in a star-counting survey run by CPRE, the countryside charity. By counting the number of stars visible in the constellation of Orion, it helps build up a picture of the nation’s views of the night sky. CPRE believes that a star-filled night sky is […] Read more >
Our Lovely Essex: from jumbo jets to woodpeckers, all life is here
Wednesday 27 May 2020
A mixed bunch from regular contributor Gordon Ridgewell today… “All were taken at our garden in Littlebury,” said Gordon. “I didn’t even get out of my office chair when taking the green woodpecker through the double-glazed window early one morning. “I always have a 300mm lens on one of my Nikon cameras just in case. […] Read more >
Our Lovely Essex: if these shots don’t cheer us all, surely nothing will
Tuesday 26 May 2020
We have two more photos from Janet Harris today, one of them sure to raise a gentle smile “The lane is near Audley End , going to Littlebury,” said Janet. “It’s everything I love about England. The cows having a king-of-the-castle game are near Stansted Mountfichet.” Read more >
Our Lovely Essex: another rich harvest from Ken McDonald
Friday 22 May 2020
Ken McDonald’s photographs have graced Our Lovely Essex before, and here we’re happy to offer you a bumper crop of five more, taken in the Stansted Mountfitchet area. Enjoy! Read more >