Dear John,

I’m Jackie. You may not have had an email from me before, but you might have seen me on TV. This year, I have appeared on BBC’s Countryfile, news features on various channels, as well as interviews for radio and in the press, making CPRE’s case for a thriving and beautiful countryside for everyone.

As a town and country planner acting for CPRE Lancashire, Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester group for over 10 years, I have helped stop harmful development, such as the loss of irreplaceable habitats and farmers from losing their homes and livelihoods by convincing decision makers that there were better alternatives for building needed development.

Now in a campaigns role at national CPRE, I am seeking better planning rules from the government to guide future decisions so that our countryside thrives for the benefit of everybody, but we need your help to fight for it.

This is a crucial time for campaigning. Our precious and finite land is facing an onslaught of threats and we need to make our arguments heard.

As a small charity which punches above its weight, we rely on donations to continue our vital work. I know times are hard but if you can, please could I ask you to give to CPRE today?  

We must protect our countryside from thoughtless development and keep pushing for a brownfield first approach. Just last week, the government announced plans to prioritise building on an area of Green Belt land bigger than Surrey. These plans instruct local authorities to meet higher local housing targets. Such a large amount of Green Belt lost is destructive to both people and nature, and will undermine a local plan-led system. We need more genuinely affordable and social homes, but in the right places.  

We need a planning system for everyone. Our collective response to the consultation on national planning policy is just the start of convincing the government that the countryside and the voices of local communities should remain at the forefront of the National Planning Policy Framework. 

We need urgent commitments for rooftop solar. If we don’t keep up the pressure for solutions like this, our countryside will be lost for good. 

Please stand with us and make a donation today. 

With my very best wishes for the festive season and for 2025.  

Jackie Copley   

Campaigning Lead | CPRE The countryside charity 

P.S. Thank you for any donation you can give and thank you for your continued support of CPRE.