News
Join us for a free talk: ‘How the planning system works, and how to influence it’
Wednesday 10 May 2023
We have something rather special for you this month – a FREE planning seminar. Andrew Wood, former CPRE planner, will be giving a talk entitled How the planning system works, and how to influence it at the Essex Record Office Conference Centre, Chelmsford, on Friday, May 19. For the event we will use real-world examples […] Read more >
Housing matters: CPRE Essex chairman in the media spotlight
Monday 24 April 2023
It isn’t always easy to attract the attention of our written media – indeed sometimes you’re grateful just for a response to a press releases or suggested story – so we’re delighted to report that David Knight, CPRE Essex chairman, has been quoted at length in a national newspaper. David was talking to the Express […] Read more >
Six of the best planted at Coggeshall’s Grange Barn
Tuesday 11 April 2023
Six apple trees have been planted in the grounds of the National Trust’s Grange Barn in Coggeshall as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy project. The trees, currently no more than a metre tall, join the already flourishing fruit trees to form a small orchard in the garden at Grange Barn, which will provide fruit […] Read more >
The spring glory of the lesser celandine
Tuesday 11 April 2023
Arguably no flower heralds spring more than the lesser celandine – and image wizard Gordon Ridgewell photographed “masses” while walking around the Holy Trinity churchyard in Littlebury. Read more >
Out to the colourful borderlands
Monday 10 April 2023
Photographer Gordon Ridgewell is clearly ready for the opportunities provided by spring. He tells us: “I had a ride out to Chrishall – you can see the Cambridgeshire border from there. “Having picked up a real camera, I was looking for a good viewpoint and realised I could get a better shot if I reached […] Read more >
Finchingfield and the proposed new bridge that would ruin a wonderful setting
Wednesday 22 March 2023
CPRE Essex is backing an appeal to have Finchingfield given World Heritage Status… in the face of unpleasant plans for a new bridge that would have a deeply detrimental impact on the lovely village. Member Petra Ward sets out the case… “The Finchingfield Conservation Area was designated by Braintree District Council in recognition of its […] Read more >
Might spring finally be here?
Wednesday 22 March 2023
Hope springs eternal, as photographer Gordon Ridegwell demonstrated with a wander around Littlebury… “I just ventured out as it is a little warmer and found sheep grazing in the meadow near the mill.” Thank goodness for that hint of warmth – it has seemed a long winter. Read more >
Talk proves a winter winner… trust us
Monday 20 March 2023
The date… Wednesday, February 22. The time… 6.30pm. The place… your laptop. Yes, it could mean only one thing: the CPRE Essex winter talk. Choosing to do things a little differently this time round, we elected to have just the one talk over the season – and so it fell to Dr Andrew Impey, chief […] Read more >
Lower Thames Crossing faces two-year delay even if it wins planning permission… is this the beginning of the end?
Friday 10 March 2023
The beleaguered Lower Thames Crossing project has been delayed by two years… should it even be granted planning permission in the first place. With the Planning Inspectorate only having accepted the National Highways application for a Development Consent Order in December, yesterday’s (Thursday, March 10) announcement by Mark Harper, Secretary of State for Transport, represents […] Read more >
Small phone, big skies…
Friday 10 March 2023
Love ’em or loathe ’em, mobile phones are a big part most people’s lives, but surely none of us can begrudge their existence when see pictures like this. Gordon Ridgewell put his mobile on to a night setting and took this dramatic image of a big Essex sky to give us all some cheer during […] Read more >