Uttlesford
Planning by appeal strikes again as 1,200-home scheme wins permission
Saturday 7 October 2023
There is bitter disappointment over the government’s decision to grant, on appeal, a scheme for up to 1,200 homes between Little Easton and Great Dunmow. The plans had been put forward by LS Easton Park Development, which also wanted to build a care home, business space and primary school at the site, near Highwood Quarry. […] 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 >
‘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 >
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 >
Here’s Hemlock!
Thursday 6 July 2023
Here’s one for the tabloids! Hemlock is a notoriously poisonous plant – indeed it is reputedly what did for Greek philosopher Socrates when he was executed. Gordon Ridgewell, photographer extraordinaire, tells us: “ The hemlock is on the march at Littlebury this year and has reached about 10 feet in height.” No need to panic, […] Read more >
Pollution red alert?
Tuesday 27 June 2023
As we all know, Gordon Ridgewell has a photographer’s eye for the natural world, but it also roves beyond to man-made phenomena, where he clearly has mixed feelings. “I was sat in the garden on Sunday at 5pm and had my own Red Arrows show. They were displaying at Duxford’s summer show – or Pollution […] Read more >
A heavenly word?
Friday 16 June 2023
Gordon Ridgewell: “After doing a few jobs in the garden I fell asleep in the chair outside and was woken by this red kite heckling me. “I looked up, thinking my late wife Megan had floated down from heaven telling me to wake up and get on with it. It was so real. Luckily, I […] Read more >
Leave it for the birds?
Friday 16 June 2023
We’ll just have to take ace photographer Gordon Ridgewell’s word on this one! “I took a ride to Hatfield Forest now the weather has turned better,” he tells us. “I was quite surprised that at 88 I can still pull the birds – they imagined I had something they wanted. “It was more jackdaws than […] Read more >
Wild about rewilding
Tuesday 6 June 2023
A cheery offering from photographer Gordon Ridgewell: “I captured these poppies this morning. Audley End estate has rewilded a small field just off Chestnut Avenue – so-called as it’s really a country road lined on both sides with chestnut trees.” Read more >