Campaigns Update

Several newspapers have this week run stories indicating that the government is set to walk back on some of its deeply unpopular plans for shaking up the planning system.

Though the story is constantly changing, government sources are now confirming this to be true - a huge moment for people, nature and the countryside!

We need to see the detail but Tom Fyans, our deputy chief executive, said: 'this reported pause to the government’s deeply unpopular changes to planning says one thing – you simply can’t cut out local voices when trying to decide what gets built where.'

More than 46,000 of you have already signed our petition calling on Boris Johnson to drop these plans, and thousands of you have written to your MPs.

This is a victory for common sense and local campaigners all across the country. Now let's give communities the power to shape their future!

We’ve launched our new report on the environmental and economic benefits of hedgerows at an event in parliament.

We were delighted have the event hosted by Selaine Saxby MP, and hear speeches from Olivia Blake MP, environment secretary George Eustice, as well as our Chief Executive Crispin Truman (pictured).

Our findings show that boosting hedgerows by 40% would create 25,000 jobs over the next 30 years and yield almost £4 for every £1 invested.

In the report, ‘Hedge fund: investing in hedgerows for climate, nature and the economy‘, we urge the government to set a target to increase the hedgerow network by 40% by 2050, as recommended by the Climate Change Committee.

Over 35,000 people have signed our hedgerows petition and, thanks to you, we now have almost 30 Hedgerow Hero MPs. Two months into the campaign, there’s much to celebrate!

You might have noticed that at CPRE we like to talk about brownfield.

In fact, we think brownfield is (often) best! But what does 'brownfield' really mean – and why do we think this often-neglected land matters so much?

Now you can find out with our handy explainer.

Have you ever wanted to know what a farm vet’s life is really like? 

We had a lovely chat with Claire Whittle who swapped cocktail waitressing in the city for veterinary school and a career as a farm vet working across the north west. 

Claire says: 'On my first day I was terrified – suddenly I was surrounded by young heifers, all licking me.'

September signals the start of autumn, and temperatures have already begun to drop.

But there are golden walks to look forward to, and plenty of new sights and sounds to enjoy in nature.

From the joys of the hedgerow to bats after sunset, take a look at country diarist Susie White’s tips for what to spot in the countryside this month.