Dear John

It’s hard to believe, but there’s just one week to go until polling day.

Since I emailed you last week, CPRE supporters just like you have sent over 10,000 letters to parliamentary candidates up and down the country asking them to back our manifesto – an incredible show of support for the countryside. 

But we haven’t yet reached everyone. Will you join us to ask your election candidates to back our manifesto for a thriving countryside? It only takes a minute. [1] 

Yes, I'll contact my candidates

It’s certainly been a busy few weeks: 

• We heard the political parties' plans for the environment in the first ever climate and nature TV debate 

• Senior representatives from the main parties joined us for a hustings on housing last night [2] 

• We’ve assessed all the parties' manifestos against ours [3] 

• CPRE supporters have contacted candidates in 522 constituencies up and down the country.  

But, if the countryside is going to be top of the agenda for the next government, we’re going to need your help for one last push to get the message through to all candidates.

Will you ask your local candidates to back the countryside? 

Take action now

I’ve included the text of my original email to you below, just in case you missed it. 

Best wishes, and thank you.

Crispin Truman 

Chief Executive, CPRE The countryside charity 

[1] You can read our manifesto here 

[2] You can watch the housing hustings here

[3] Read how the main parties’ manifestos stack up against ours here.

Dear John

This election could be a watershed moment for our countryside.

It’s a huge opportunity for us all to demand politicians take ambitious steps to help our countryside thrive.

Imagine a future with a countryside that everyone can access and enjoy, a planning system that works for people and the environment, investment in rural communities and bold action to tackle the climate emergency.

It’s a vision that’s achievable. But we need your help to hold all political parties to account.

If we all emailed our local candidates, and asked them to put the countryside at the top of the agenda for the next Parliament, we could have a huge impact. Will you take action? 

Yes, I'll take action

We know the challenges facing the countryside: unaffordable homes, irresponsible development, a lack of investment in public transport, and a climate crisis whose impacts are being felt right now.

And people across the country are missing out on the health and wellbeing benefits of regular access to our great open spaces.

Our manifesto [1] sets out what the next government needs to do from day one – from restoring nature in our Green Belts to investing in new homes for social rent.

If this is to be more than just a wish-list, we must do everything we can to persuade the new government to take action for our countryside, from day one.

So, will you write to your candidates and ask them to back the countryside if they’re elected?

Write to your candidates

Your vote could see a government elected that is in power until 2024, and could be shaping new legislation on the environment, farming and housing.

We want to make sure they do the right thing for the countryside.

Our manifesto calls on the next government to:

• Tackle the climate emergency

• Promote a countryside for all of us

• Plan for communities and the environment

• Create thriving rural communities

I'll add my voice

Thank you for your support.

Together we can make sure all political parties work to enhance, promote and protect a countryside for everyone, wherever they live.

Yours sincerely

Crispin Truman

Chief Executive | CPRE The countryside charity