Paradise Maintained

Whether or not we have a white winter, there is a green heart to Colchester that is always a wonderful place to visit. Petra Hornsby meets the Park Rangers helping to keep these unique spaces special

MANY PARTS of Essex are seeing a sharp rise in housing, as young people and families look to move away from London for a more affordable way to live but still within a commutable distance from places of work. Colchester is no exception to this and has seen many new developments built in the town (on old army barracks land) and also on its edges – including the regeneration of the former Severalls Hospital.

It isn’t hard to see the attraction for those contemplating a move to Colchester. The town, situated in the north of the county and close to the Suffolk border, has plenty to offer its residents. It has a vibrant town centre with plenty of historical places of interest, from its famous Norman Castle and solid walls that embrace this former Roman settlement, to buildings that tell the tale of Colchester’s part in the English Civil War.

The town centre has earned a deserved reputation as a retail hot-spot too – featuring the shiny new Fenwick department store on the High Street – yet there are more than just retail reasons to visit the town with a few pounds burning a hole in your purse or wallet.

Culture and the arts are thriving with the Firstsite art gallery and The Minories offering exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, while music and comedy can be enjoyed at the Arts Centre and the Mercury Theatre which both provide a varied programme of entertainment throughout the year.

Education provision is very good too with some highly regarded and top-rated state and private schools, plus the Sixth Form College and the Institute of Further Education, all in addition to the University of Essex.