General
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 >
Our AGM is on October 7… read the documents here
Thursday 7 September 2023
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 event, we will enjoy […] Read more >
Back in business!
Wednesday 6 September 2023
You might have been missing Gordon Ridgewell’s photographic talents over recent weeks, but fear not… here are a couple he’s taken during the recent early autumn (or is it late summer?) heat. He tells us: “I’ve not had much chance to get out and about with the camera for the last few weeks, but looking […] Read more >
Green Belt is indispensable solution to climate, nature and food security
Thursday 24 August 2023
The Green Belt is being overlooked as a pivotal solution to climate change, the decline of nature and food security vulnerabilities, a new report from CPRE, the countryside charity, shows. The report argues that the Green Belt, which protects 12.5 per cent of England’s land area from development, should become greener, wetter and more biodiverse. […] Read more >