More colourful...

...planting.

This was one of the first raised beds to receive attention - it had become just a piece of packed dirt because folk had trampled through it. The addition of the large planter has certainly deterred folk...

...and with a bit of mixed planting (shrubs & bedding)...

 ...it looks wonderful next to the pedestrian crossing outside the Old Regent Ballroom.
Although Stanford-le-Hope was technically a small farming town, many of our older residents (born & raised in the area) refer to it as 'the village'...

 ...this building covered in ivy & Virginia creeper, is the pub that is directly across the road from the church at the end of my road. This section of the town is called "The Green" but in all the years I have lived in the area, there hasn't been a blade of grass to be seen. When I first moved here, the pub was called the Village Inn but when it was renovated some years later the name was changed to "The Inn on the Green" - namewise, technically correct but there hasn't been a green there for many, many moons.
The Green, King Street and the High Street all benefit from hanging basket posts that were installed a number of years ago...

 ...they all have varied coloured baskets which help to brighten the area and if you are wondering what those balls are...

...they are plastic topiary balls that contain fairy lights. They put in an appearance last Christmas but the lights weren't very bright. My photos don't show it but someone has crocheted woollen sunflowers (about 4" in diameter) and there are a couple tied around the hanging basket posts at about waist level - someone has obviously been very busy trying to add a bit of colour to the plain black post.

So there you have it, a bit more of the planting that brightens up my home town

There is a lot of history connected with this part of Essex. Much of the land that was turned into an oil refinery and is now part of the new Gateway Port development once belonged to the Boleyn family (the family of King Henry VIII's 2nd wife - Anne) and was part of an extensive deer park - perfectly located for the King to enjoy a ride down the Thames on the royal barge and then participate in some deer hunting.

A lot of our historical buildings were lost during the 1960s when little thought was given to history and heritage but if you take the time to have a wander round you can still locate a few gems. I love history and despite the continuing development of the area there is still a lot to appreciate (although there are times when this can be forgotten - especially when you see some of the eyesores that have been given planning permission). There are fields & woodland all within short distances and the Thames can be seen from the park just across the road.

So what do you like about where you live?...........................................................