coronavirus
Snap, snap, jab! Camera wizard Gordon takes the fight to Covid
Tuesday 22 December 2020
It’s clear photographer Gordon Ridgewell, of Our Lovely Essex fame, is intending on sticking around and entertaining us with his images for some considerable time yet! He informs us: “I had the jab at 1.30 on Saturday. It was like a military operation at Saffron Walden Leisure Centre. About 50 volunteers were helping, with six […] Read more >
Inspector dismisses developer’s pandemic claim in appeal against Tiptree homes refusal
Thursday 17 September 2020
A developer has failed in its appeal against Colchester Borough Council’s refusal of plans for 255 new homes in Tiptree. Bloor Homes had argued that the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic meant the council could not demonstrate it had a five-year housing land supply, claiming important sites were now “undeliverable”. However, the planning inspector […] Read more >
Marking time in Coggeshall
Friday 3 July 2020
The Covid-19 lockdown is, it would appear, easing before presumably coming to an end. It has unquestionably been a difficult time – tragically so for many – but there has been light amid the gloom. In this delightful essay, writer Anne Boileau reflects on what lockdown taught us and is thankful for the good people… […] Read more >
Our Lovely Essex: it’s time to draw the feature to a close and remember those we have lost to the pandemic
Thursday 2 July 2020
Back in April, in response to the Covid-19 lockdown, we asked the people of our extraordinary county to send us images and thoughts of what made Essex so special to them. The idea was to dream and share memories of happier times that we knew would ultimately return once that troubled period came to an […] Read more >
‘A once-in-a-generation chance to unleash potential of the countryside’: CPRE launches regeneration manifesto
Wednesday 1 July 2020
The government must invest in the ‘countryside next door’ to ensure we all have access to quality green space near to where we live as we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, according to CPRE, the countryside charity, as it launches its regeneration manifesto today. Regenerate our countryside, regenerate ourselves: A manifesto for a resilient countryside after […] Read more >
Our Lovely Essex: another winning treble from Ken McDonald
Tuesday 30 June 2020
Ken McDonald is another supporter whose photographs have helped make Our Lovely Essex such a success. Here are three more. As ever, thanks Ken! Read more >
Planning and democracy during the Covid-19 pandemic: letter to the county’s planners
Thursday 25 June 2020
Among so many issues we have all had to confront during the Covid-19 lockdown, the manner in which the planning process is conducted has been of particular concern to CPRE Essex. To ensure our local authorities are aware that we are as alert as ever, and hopefully to encourage them to engage in full, open […] Read more >
Our Lovely Essex: a productive stroll with the camera
Thursday 25 June 2020
Ken McDonald took this series of shots “while out recording some new walking routes that will be added to the Hundred Parishes website in due course”. Read more >
Our Lovely Essex through a (smaller) lens
Monday 22 June 2020
Manuden Church has featured before in Our Lovely Essex, but this shot taken from the bridleway between Stansted and Manuden by Janet Harris proves you don’t need hugely expensive cameras with giant lenses to capture something rather special. “I used my Panasonic TZ70 for this shot,” says Janet. “I can’t take my Olympus camera – the […] Read more >
Our Lovely Essex: how things have changed in Saffron Walden!
Friday 19 June 2020
Gordon Ridgewell’s shot of Castle Street in Saffron Walden reminds us how much things can change. “In the early 1900s, 1,200 people lived in this street and it had five pubs, according to the 1911 census,” says Gordon. “When I was at school in the 1940s I was told not to walk here and policemen […] Read more >