Hi John

With the year drawing to a close, I wanted to share our highlights of 2023. We couldn’t have achieved any of it without you. Thank you for all the support you have given CPRE this year.

We got off to a flying start with the government announcing hedgerow planting targets. Although lower than our recommendations, it was still a landmark decision, and our hedgerow campaign was recognised later in the year with a first prize at the Charity Awards.

We’re into our third year of the Hedgerow Heroes project, with nine local groups working hard to restore hedgerows in the countryside. Together with our Hedgelife Help Out activity, we’ve truly demonstrated the value of hedgerows for nature and our countryside this year.

As winter gave way to spring, we called for a ‘rewilding’ of our night skies and the results of one of our biggest Star Counts yet showed only 1 in 20 in England enjoy a truly dark sky. Following the results, almost 2,000 of you put pressure on MPs to stand up for starry skies.

Soon after, we co-funded an explosive report which laid bare the hidden homelessness crisis in our countryside, backing this up only last month with an impactful report on the rural affordable housing crisis. With rural homelessness increasing, along with disgraceful 89-year social housing waiting lists, it’s clear that rural communities are being left behind. That’s why we’re calling on the government to act urgently to deliver homelessness support services and truly affordable housing in our countryside communities.

There are many pressures on our countryside; none greater than the climate emergency. This summer, we launched an ambitious campaign calling for a common-sense approach to renewables: rooftop solar. Our report showed that the roofs of car parks, warehouses and industrial buildings can provide more than half of our solar energy targets while protecting the countryside for food and nature. With almost 30,000 of you signing our petition, we’ll be campaigning strongly for a rooftop revolution as we head into election season.

Our countryside and green spaces can be part of the solution too, which we demonstrated abundantly in our 2023 Green Belt report. However, our Local Green Spaces report revealed a strong link between designated green space access and deprivation, and we’re calling for a more streamlined process to help people protect these crucial spaces. Together, these green spaces are crucial for nature recovery, climate resilience and mental health.

Our hard-fought campaign for local democracy in the Levelling Up Bill came to a close in autumn when the Bill became an Act. Along with local CPREs and partner organisations, we have scrutinised the Bill, and were able to ensure that the public would be consulted on all new national planning policies unless in exceptional cases.

We couldn’t have achieved any of this without the backing of supporters, like you. Thank you for all you do.

The general election will be monumental for our countryside, and we’re going all out to make sure our manifesto is at the heart of the new government’s priorities. From delivering more rural affordable housing, to enhancing our Green Belt and rolling out rooftop solar, we’re determined to give the countryside a powerful voice.

Finally, may I wish you all the very best for the festive season, and for 2024.

With best wishes,

Roger

Roger Mortlock
Chief Executive | CPRE The countryside charity