Housing in Harlow

One of the noticeable things about Harlow is the wide range of differing styles of housing in each area. It was one of the key things when the town was being planned - that varying types of people would live, essentially "mixed together", and of course that each  individual area has that all important green space. At Jane Drew designed Tanys Dell, above, their balconies have a view out over this lovely green with its mature trees, and every flat has its own balcony - even the ground floor. 

The mix of differing tyes of housing is illustrated clearly here at Mistley Road - with family houses and smaller bungalows sitting side by side. Almost all of Harlow's neighbourhood areas have this mix, with housing ranging from tiny bungalows, through houses of varying sizes, to flats, mostly low-rise but with most areas having a single mid-rise block also.

The Main arterial roads through each neighbourhood area keep to the Harlow theme of green spaces too - with wide grass verges and spacious roads. Of course back in the 1950's when these were built they would have appeared even more spacious, as hardly any cars would have been parked along them!

It certainly pays to look past what is obviously in your eyeline in Harlow. As well as all the random Sculptures dotted around the place, often where you least expect them, there are also assorted plaques within the New Town, and in the Old Town in particular the architecture is well worth a second look.

This Plaque appeared in the Water Gardens about a year ago - it balances the one already in place at the opposite end, to Harlow Town Designer Sir Frederick Gibberd.

In Old Harlow, the key is often look up slightly. As well as some fantastic buildings, you can find things like this lurking within the conservation areas:

(More information on the Conservation area that Oddfellows Terrace falls in can be found at THIS LINK)  and as for the Oddfellows, their own website tells us "The Oddfellows has no political or religious affiliations - membership is open to all, regardless of age, sex, political persuasion, religion, race or disability. Quite simply: We encourage members to build upon their friendship networks with others across the UK, and overseas, by socialising and showing mutual support." - how nice! They are a Friendly Society who have been in operation for over 200 years, and as you can see above their Terrace in Old Harlow houses a World War 1 memorial.

I little further on in Market Street we find the Sundial above, with it's very sensible message, and a date of 1759, showing just how much of a baby the New Town really is in comparison to its older sibling.

What have YOU seen when you've been out and about in the town? Tell me about it and I'll see if I can track it down, and photograph it.

Wildlife...

One of Harlow's best features in the sheer amount of open spaces around us, it was one of the major points in the original plans for the new town, and has been strictly adhered to since. Obviously we all know about the wildlife reserve at Parndon Wood, but were you aware that the town also has several other Local Wildlife reserves, and lots of smaller areas, designated as "Local Wildlife Areas"? These are in part tended by a team of volunteers called the Harlow Conservation Volunteers, who cheerfully give up their Sundays to manage these areas - you can find out more about them on their WEBSITE. They are a cheerful bunch who happily turn out in all weathers to get wet clearing streams, get scratched half to death by blackthorn, and drink lots of tea. I think the tea may be a deciding factor...

There is a lot of wildlife to be seen around the town if you stop and look for it. When I stepped outside this morning, the first thing I heard was a Woodpecker - a real indicator that spring is making its presence felt. We also have Treecreepers locally, as well as the more common birds like Blue, Great & Long Tailed tits, Redwings, Sparrows, Blackbirds and Robins of course, Wrens, Collared Doves, Chaffinches....the list could go on! Of course nearly every area of woodland has the squirrels running around - and then there are the Muntjac deer over towards Rye Hill...be cautious approaching Hastingwood roundabout late at night - I've seen the deer crossing the road to get to the green area in the middle!