Campaigns Update

Last week, instead of focusing on a green recovery, the prime minister pledged to cut planning 'red tape' and 'build, build, build', and appeared to blame environmental protections for slowing down development.

But we know that deregulating planning simply won’t deliver the better quality places and affordable homes that are needed - it’s already far too easy to build poor quality homes, in the wrong places.

Handing more power to developers is the exact opposite of what we need.

We’ve already been in the newspapers opposing these plans, and we’ll be doing more in the coming weeks to make sure the countryside isn’t sacrificed in the rush to get the economy moving.

Have you ever had a cup of tea with your MP?

Last week, hundreds of CPRE supporters did just that as they took part in the first ever online mass lobby of MPs on climate change.

Organised by the Climate Coalition, of which CPRE is a part, thousands of people across the country met their MPs online, and asked them how they would support a green and fair recovery as we emerge from the coronavirus crisis.

CPRE supporters asked their MPs to put the countryside at the heart of the recovery and the fight against climate breakdown.

Climate change is a huge threat to our countryside. It could alter the landscapes we love, increase flooding and threaten our food supplies.

But there’s good news: the countryside can provide many of the solutions.

This week, we launched our new report, Greener, Better, Faster, which sets out how we can harness the power of the countryside to tackle climate change. 

From planting more hedgerows, restoring peatlands and moving to more sustainable farming, here are five ways the countryside can help us tackle the climate emergency.

We’re back with the second episode of the Countryside Voices podcast!

This time we explore the experience of rural communities during lockdown, and how these might help regenerate the countryside in the future.

We discuss the lockdown and its aftermath with Simon Murray, the new Chair of CPRE, and Leicestershire farmer Donya Donger.

We find out what they think needs to happen next to help rural businesses and communities thrive as we emerge from the pandemic.

We believe the countryside is for everyone. That’s why we’re committed to amplifying the voices of people not currently benefiting from the countryside, and widening access so more people than ever can enjoy it.

Louisa Adjoa Parker is a writer and poet who has lived in the countryside for much of her life. 

She has been researching the black and brown British rural experience for nearly two decades, telling her own and others’ stories.

Louisa reflects here on race, the experiences of black and brown people in rural areas and how the Black Lives Matter movement touches the English countryside.

Ever thought of holding a CPRE fundraising event? We are super excited to launch CPRE’s first DIY fundraising guide, full of tips, templates, posters and more to help your fundraising fly.

We hope you feel inspired to fundraise for our countryside.

If so, please sign up to get your guide, bake some cakes, host a Zoom or socially-distant quiz, or take on a litter picking challenge, and do it all in aid of CPRE.