IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Colyn Place, SAFFRON WALDEN, CB10 2DD

In the comparatively recent residential expansion north of the old town.

This photo shows a residential cul-de-sac in Saffron Walden in north-west Essex in February 2007. We awoke to find that it had snowed overnight. With global warming days like this in this part of the country are now less common; by afternoon most of the snow had melted. This road is where the urban area meets the rural area. The back garden of the house is bounded on two sides by a hedgerow and footpath that follow the Saxon Parish boundary. Beyond the footpath arable field stretch for several miles to the nearest villages.

This footpath links Whiteshot Way to Buckenhoe Road. A short distance north it links with the Harcamlow Way: a network of footpaths from Harlow to Cambridge. The hedgerow to the left, or west, appears on maps in the County archives and probably marks the boundary of the parish at least from medieval times. It contains a wide range of species such as spindle and wayfarer.

How a smallish front garden can be a wealth of colour and scent.

Mid-1970s estate off Little Walden Road

These garages are on a lane that leads from Ashdon Road to houses known as Copthall Cottages.

This piece of land is on the junction of Dawson Way and Thorncroft. When Thorncroft was built this was left as a play area for children. The developer left it as rough land. Vegetation moved in and local children, both boys and girls, developed imaginative games. A local busybody kept pressuring the developer to do something with it. The developer returned, levelled the land and erected two sets of small goalposts - the cheapest option. The consequence was that boys played football, girls were banished and imaginative options lost. The local authority financial cuts have meant that the grass has been allowed to grow and a wild-flower meadow is beginning to emerge.

This passageway runs between two houses. It gives access to rear gardens.