cpre Sign Up Information

There’s a general election on 12 December, and we’re calling on all political parties to embrace our vision for a thriving countryside that’s accessible to everybody.

We want the next government to take action to tackle the climate emergency, invest in the public transport and affordable homes that rural communities need, support a planning system that works for people and the environment and work to give all schoolchildren the chance to experience the wonders of our countryside.

Your next MP will play a key role in making this a reality. Do ask them questions at hustings and on the doorstep, and on Thursday 12 December, vote with the countryside in mind.

You may have seen the news last weekend that fracking has been halted in England - an effective ban. This is a huge victory for the countryside, communities and the climate.

The government also dropped proposals to fast-track fracking through the planning system, in no small part thanks to our campaign supported by so many of you taking action for local democracy and the countryside.  

The fracking industry will no doubt try to overturn this decision, but we’re confident this will spell the end of fracking in England.

What if we invested in our Green Belts, planting trees and allowing nature to recover, so that even more of us can enjoy beautiful countryside on our doorstep??

Instead of using it for housing people can’t afford, we’re calling for our Green Belts to be enhanced and restored so future generations can enjoy these much-loved areas of countryside.

Our latest report found that just 1 in 10 houses built on former Green Belt land are affordable. This is the clearest indication yet that building on our Green Belts is not a solution to the housing affordability crisis.

We made a big splash with the report, with coverage in the Guardian and Daily Telegraph.

Read the full story below.

We’ve done the number-crunching on the data that our dedicated Green Clean volunteers collected throughout September. They collected a staggering 10,000 bottles and cans from countryside across England – a huge achievement.

For the second year in a row, the data shows that bottles and cans of all shapes, sizes and materials are littered in our countryside – which is exactly why they should be included in a deposit return system.

We’ll be using this information to keep the pressure on the new government to urgently introduce an all-in system that collects every bottle and can.

More than 3,000 of you wrote to your election candidates to ask them to back our manifesto for a thriving countryside. You contacted candidates in almost every constituency in England, sending over 12,000 letters - a huge achievement. Thank you.

With the election result now in, we’ll be working to make the countryside a priority for the new government in their first 100 days in office.

Firstly, we’ll be lobbying for the government to put into law a strong Environment Bill to protect our environment and reduce waste, and an Agriculture Bill that rewards nature-friendly and low-carbon farming.

We’ll also be urging the government to address urgent challenges such as providing genuinely affordable homes in rural areas, and making sure they take a bold approach to tackling the climate emergency.

We’ll be in close contact with the government in its first 100 days and beyond, and we’ll be sure to keep you posted.

Can you remember your first experience of the beauty of nature? The first time you stomped through a muddy puddle, or climbed a tree?

Early contact with nature can have a hugely positive effect on the wellbeing of children and how they view the countryside.

The public agrees. We’ve just found that 96% of parents think it’s important for children to experience green spaces and spend time in the natural world.

One of our priorities for the new government is improving access to green spaces for everyone, and we’ll be campaigning for every schoolchild to be able to experience the countryside first-hand as part of the national curriculum.

Tune in to BBC One at 6pm, grab a tea, and settle in. We’re going to be on Countryfile!

We’re about to launch a brand new report on the future of county farms – farms owned by local authorities let out to young and first-time farmers.

They’re an important way for young people to get into farming, and are often vital community hubs. But their numbers are in decline, and many are in danger of being sold off.

Watch the programme at 6pm this Sunday to find out more, and hear the stories of the campaigners making county farms work for a new generation of farmers.

Want a sneak preview? Read our guide to county farms to find out what it's all about.

One of our?favourite?things to do over Christmas is to get outside and make the most of our beautiful English countryside.

If you’re out in the countryside over the festive period, head over to Twitter or Instagram to share your photos of your favourite landscape or festive walk using the hashtag #CountrysideAtChristmas.

Whether it’s a frosty scene or a family walk, we’ll share all the best snaps to celebrate the beauty and wonder of our winter landscapes.  

Thanks for supporting our work and helping to make the countryside even better, and have a wonderful and relaxing festive break.

Best wishes,

Calum McGregor

Digital Engagement Officer

We know that new housing often isn’t designed with the needs of people and the environment in mind. We’ve been working with UCL to look at the quality of new housing in order to find ways to improve it.

The results are worrying. We found that a staggering 94% of developments in rural areas shouldn’t have gone ahead due to ‘mediocre’ or ‘poor’ design – so we’re calling on housebuilders to drastically raise their game if we’re to create the sorts of places that future generations will feel proud to call home.

There’s good news, too: we’ve already had an impact. An influential government commission to improve the design of housing has cited our research, and we’ll be pushing the government to support their findings. 

From young people that need to get to college to those in later life that want to stay connected to friends and family, poor public transport makes our countryside less sustainable for everyone. It can also make rural life impossible for those who don’t have access to a car.

Our research looked at the south west and north east of England, and found that more than half of small towns in these areas are, or could soon become, ‘transport deserts’ – places with no options for convenient and affordable public transport.

We’ve plotted out a route for change, including pushing for a dedicated rural transport fund to support communities with sustainable transport options to help tackle the climate emergency.

During a time of national and political change, it’s even more important to keep sight of the things we can all unite around, such as the need to protect and invest in our Green Belts, for the benefit of us all.

But this important national asset continues to be under threat. We need donations now to help us:

• Lobby the new government to uphold Green Belt protection

• Support work to enhance existing Green Belt land and new Green Belts where they’re needed

• Continue gathering evidence about developments planned for Green Belt, so that we can challenge the new government to fulfil its promise to protect it.

Please support this vital work with a donation. Thanks in advance for your support: it really makes a difference.

There’s so much evidence that the time we spend in peaceful green spaces has important benefits for our wellbeing.

That’s why we’re committed to connecting people with this wonderful natural resource and making sure that it’s healthy and thriving for us all, now and in the future.

We’ve worked with renowned children’s author Michael Morpurgo to create a powerful short video about the importance of finding this connection to the natural world.

So far, thousands of people have watched it. Will you watch and share it too?

Lots of us know that time in the countryside can make us feel better. But some organisations are going a step further and using the countryside as a tonic to give people’s wellbeing a real boost.

We spoke to three groups that are using nature's restorative properties to help those that struggle with their mental health. Here are their stories.

This week the government published their Agriculture Bill, which sets out a radical rethink of how we farm. The big change is that farmers will be rewarded for nature-friendly farming and providing habitats for wildlife.

We're pleased that the government has listened to our calls to recognise that healthy soils are vital for our future, and that they need to be regenerated.

Lots of people are already pioneering exciting farming approaches that are good for our food and planet. We want to see them spread to every corner of our countryside.

We're calling on the government to support county farms and provide training and advice to farmers, and we’ll be working to hold the government to account as the Bill becomes law.

When was the last time you experienced the wonder of a star-filled sky?

Our annual Star Count is back, and we’d like you to help us create a map of the nation’s view of the night sky.

Counting the stars you can see will help us to find out where light pollution is a problem and where the darkest skies are, so we can help protect them.

It’s easy to take part - just look to the heavens between 21-28 February and count the number of stars you see in the constellation of Orion.

It’s family-friendly and anyone can take part – sign up below to register your interest.

The places we live should provide us with access to everything we need for a good quality of life and be designed with people in mind. It’s just common sense. But we know that’s often not the case for new housing developments.

So, a heads up for you: next week we’ll be launching a joint report with UCL (University College London), looking at the quality of housing built since 2007.

We’re hoping for a big splash – so look out for our name in the press next week.

As always, thanks for supporting our work and helping to make the countryside even better.

Best wishes,

Calum McGregor

Digital Engagement Officer

Lockdown across the UK is keeping many of us away from the outdoors. But we know that a connection to nature is vital for our wellbeing.

From wildlife-watching from your window to sowing seeds in your garden, here are 10 simple ways to maintain that crucial connection with the countryside that we need.

Why not let us know your favourite?

The calming power of nature can help us through this difficult time. But what if you can''t get outside? We''re bringing the sounds of the countryside to you.

Back in 2006 we worked on a project with the Wildlife Recording Society to record the sounds, melodies and tunes of our countryside, from birdsong to waterfalls. We've put them together in a calming video for you all to enjoy.

Turn your sound up, and listen to the birds chirping, the rivers running and the insects buzzing, in our sounds of tranquillity.

We're all finding ourselves spending more time at home at the moment. For now, then, we might need to settle for using our imaginations to connect with the countryside.

To help with this, we''ve rounded up some of our staff''s favourite books that help to bring the outdoors in.

From the diary of a changing woodland to celebration of our ancient paths, there''s something for everyone.

So put the kettle on, settle in and get ready to visit the countryside from your armchair.

We're super excited to launch the first episode of our new podcast - The Countryside Voices podcast. 

Tune in for inspiring countryside stories, expert voices and special guests discussing the work we do to promote, enhance and protect our valued green spaces.  

In this first episode we discuss the beauty of starry skies, our Star Count results, and explore the wonderful world of bats with Joanna Ferguson from the Bat Conservation Trust. 

Listen on our website or subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

How would you like to see your local green spaces improved? 

Our new research shows that more than two-thirds of us want to see our local green spaces enhanced with more plants and wildlife.  

By properly investing in our green spaces we can make these spaces easily accessible to more people and invite wildlife like birds, butterflies and bees back where they belong.

The coronavirus pandemic and subsequent reduction in traffic and air pollution has offered us a glimpse into what life would be like if the private car was not king.  

But the government is still planning to spend ?27 billion on new roads, with some of them driving right through protected landscapes. 

We're calling on the government to scrap these plans immediately and divert that money to areas that improve people's lives, rather than pollute them. 

Read more from our Chief Executive Crispin Truman.  

While some restrictions have been lifted, many of us are still missing access to nature.

But there's a wonderful variety of live streaming webcams to help you get your regular dose of wildlife.

We've rounded up 10 of our favourite streams for your weekend enjoyment. 

Communities coming together to shape their local area and protect green spaces is a key tenet of the planning system.

But the government is proposing changes that would drastically undermine the voice of the community, reduce the scope to provide genuinely affordable homes in rural areas, and fail to protect nature.

Last week, we joined forces with 17 charities to show a united front to oppose the government''s plans, and this week we were in the media highlighting the risks to the countryside if the changes go ahead.

We'll need your help to step up for community voice and the countryside - stay tuned for how you can get involved in the campaign.

We're at a crossroads. The government is drawing up plans for how to help the country regenerate after coronavirus.

This is an opportunity to shape a future where everyone has a countryside to explore, an affordable place to live and a stable climate. 

But right now, the government is heading in the opposite direction - pouring more money into road-building and threatening to rip up the planning system.

We need our voices to be heard loud and clear. An incredible 15,000 people have already signed our petition - will you add your name?

In this latest episode, we talk about getting children out in nature, why it's so important, and how to break down the barriers they face so that more young people have the opportunity to experience our most iconic countryside.

We're joined by young environmentalist and campaigner Dr Mya-Rose Craig, Iesha Small, head of strategy and policy at the Youth Hostel Association, and Mark Robinson, a campaigner at CPRE.

Listen on our website, or subscribe on your podcast app to make sure you don't miss an episode!

What would the English countryside be without butterflies? They bring a vivid flash of colour as they flutter about on a warm breeze.

Summer is a fantastic time of year to see butterflies when you're out and about. But do you know a skipper from a painted lady? Or which of our common butterflies is an intrepid inter-continental explorer?

Here are our top 10 butterflies you can see in summer, and how to identify them.

What is peat? Well, peat is a soggy, boggy soil that''s common in upland areas of England.

But did you know that peatlands are our biggest store of carbon in the UK, a haven for many rare and endangered species, and help prevent flooding?

If we don't care for them properly, the resulting carbon emissions could wipe out all the carbon savings made through new and existing forests. But, frustratingly, few of our peatlands are in good shape.

Here''s everything you need to know about peatlands, why they're so important, and what we''re doing to make them healthy again.

If you had the opportunity to make travel in your area greener, safer and easier on the planet, what would you change? Build better cycle lanes? More bus routes? Charging points for electric cars?

Now's your chance to make change. The government is asking the nation for their views on how they should make transport greener and low-carbon.

We've put together a vision for a greener future for transport in the countryside - will you tell the government the changes you want to see??

Head to the article for how to take action.

We've long campaigned for better use of previously developed land, known as brownfield land, for housing.

Using derelict land before building on the countryside both protects the green spaces we love, and helps to deliver homes where people really need them.

And, it's a viable solution to the housing crisis: our research has shown that there's space for a million more homes on brownfield sites, and that two-thirds of this land is ready to be developed right now.

So we're really pleased that our campaigning has paid off! The housing secretary has laid out intentions to prioritise urban regeneration, and make better use of brownfield land.

This could be a crucial first step towards a planning system that works for people and the countryside.

We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone that took part in our Star Count last month!

We hope you used the opportunity to enjoy the magic of the night sky. We had a record number of entries and are now collating the results to create a map that shows where to find the best views of the stars, and where the worst affected areas for light pollution are. Stay tuned for further updates...

In the meantime, why not listen to our starry skies expert Emma Marrington discuss all things dark skies with BBC Sky at Night podcast?

An estimated 10,000 miles of paths across England and Wales could soon be lost forever, unless we come together to save them. We're excited to be supporting The Ramblers' new campaign to help map them before it's too late.

Our paths are one of our most precious assets and are often taken for granted. They allow everyone to enjoy the countryside, both on our doorstep and across our most iconic landscapes, and tell the story of the history of our countryside.

But many paths are not recorded on the definitive map of rights of way, and if they're not found and added by the cut-off date of 2026, they could be lost to public access forever.

Our friends at The Ramblers have launched a brilliant new tool that splits the country into 150,000 1km squares and makes it easy to compare current and historic maps side by side. You can start using it now.

Connecting with nature and the countryside on our doorstep has been vital to the wellbeing of millions of us during the pandemic.

Our poll with the Women's Institute shows that more than half of people feel more aware of the wellbeing benefits of green spaces, and two-thirds think that protecting and enhancing these green spaces should be a higher priority for the government after lockdown.

Going back to business as usual is not an option - we have to build back better and prioritise protecting and enhancing the open spaces we all enjoy.

Have you noticed a resurgence of birdsong during lockdown?

Tuning in to the dawn chorus - nature's free concert - can really lift our spirits, providing those little bursts of happiness that we all need in these difficult times.

If you can't hear them outside, we've put together a short video with 3 minutes of pure birdsong delight for you all to enjoy.

If you want to try and identify the calls you can hear, check out our guide to common birds you can hear from home.

The government has suggested that they are likely to lift the 60-year ban on sky-writing (writing messages in the sky with vapour trails from planes).

We're calling for an urgent rethink. Now more than ever, we're all aware of the need for peace and tranquillity when spending time in the countryside.

Advertising is everywhere and it's vital for our wellbeing that we can escape this when we're in the countryside. Our skies must be kept advert-free.

Wildflowers are emerging from the undergrowth to cover the countryside in flashes of brilliant colour. Even while our time in the great outdoors is curtailed, we can still find extraordinary natural beauty in the most ordinary places.

Wildflower expert Peter Marren shares some of his favourite spring and early summer blossoms and offers hints on where to find them close to home.

''It's a brilliant thing that I've been able to use my love of the natural world in my work''

One of Britain's best-loved comedy stars, Mackenzie Crook, tells us why he loves wildlife-spotting, how the countryside has inspired his work, and why might have been a hedgelayer in another life...

Last month I shared with you some of our staff's favourite books about the countryside and nature.

This month, we're taking a look at the stories that sparked their love for the countryside as children or young adults.

If you're searching for stories to inspire any restless young people you have at home, look no further.

On Tuesday, joined by friends at campaigning organisations Sum of Us and 38 Degrees, we handed in a joint petition of a huge 310,265 people who backed demands that the government doesn''t silence communities in our planning system.

This is a huge milestone in our campaign to stop the government's damaging changes to the planning system.

It's not often that this many people come together to stand up for the countryside and local democracy. It's a show of force that the government will find hard to ignore.

Check out the story from the day, and for a sneak preview of the next stage of our campaign.

''I absolutely love the opportunities for adventure it provides me with.'

Sandra has been a wheelchair user for the past 25 years. Support from Yorkshire charity Open Country means she's able to get out in the countryside - with her assistance dog Millie by her side.

We talk to Sandra about the barriers people with disabilities face in accessing the countryside, but how, with the right support, she too can enjoy all the myriad benefits of spending time in the countryside.

More than 2,000 local councillors from across the country have signed our open letter with Friends of the Earth, asking the government to drop their damaging changes to the planning system.

If you add this to our recent poll finding that more than half of backbench Conservative MPs are considering voting against the plans, it's clear that opposition is mounting - and your pressure is working.

An incredible 7,000 of you asked your councillors to sign the letter - thank you so much for taking action.

If you're digging out your festive decorations this weekend, we have some inspiration for you. 

Here are our seven easy steps for making your very own all-natural, all-foraged, Christmas wreath.

You can find all the materials on your next winter walk, and best of all: it's fully compostable.

One of Britain's best-loved comedians and now unexpected Strictly star, Bill Bailey, tells us why 2020 has made us appreciate the healing power of nature, and why we all need to ''frolic like fauns in the forest''.

This story is from our award-winning members' magazine, Countryside Voices. You can join us from as little as ?3 a month.

This month the government announced a huge shift in the way that UK farming is funded as we leave the EU.

We were delighted to see some of the work we've done over a period of many years bearing fruit, including a greater emphasis on restoring nature and caring for our soils.

While there will be changes further down the road, this could be a watershed moment for farmers, countryside communities and the climate and nature emergencies.

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.

A dark starry sky is one of the most magical sights imaginable. But light pollution means that many of us can't see the stars. 

Our annual Star Count is back, and we'd like you to help us map of the nation's view of the night sky - this year, from home.

It's easy to be a part of Star Count: just look to the heavens between 6-14 February and count the number of stars you see in the constellation of Orion.

It's a safe, outside activity to do as a family or household, from your home, garden, balcony or even bedroom window, and everyone can take part.

As we're all asked to stay at home, please don't travel to do a Star Count. 

Sign up below to register your interest.

After our pressure, the government's housing algorithm, which could have caused needless loss of green space, has been revised to focus building more in cities and on previously-built-on land.

Building more affordable homes on so-called 'brownfield' land is something we've long called for and is a win-win scenario for people and nature.

This is a victory for the countryside and a democratic planning system - and one that you have been part of. Thank you!

But we're clear that the problems with the planning proposals run much deeper than the housing algorithm. We need a complete reboot to put people and nature at the heart of a new planning system.

There might not be so many animals out and about to spot at this time of year but with little effort you can make it an easier season for them.

From the food birds most crave during the winter, to easy ways to make your garden more wildlife-friendly, here are our top tips for helping wildlife through the winter.

This time, we're talking about something that affects us all: the planning system.

What is it, and why does it matter? We take a look at the power that the planning process gives us citizens to shape our local area - and the serious threat posed by the government's damaging proposals for the planning system.

You'll hear from Hugh Ellis, director of policy at the Town and Country Planning Association, Madeleine Gohin, planning officer at CPRE, and Naomi Luhde-Thompson, chief planner at Friends of the Earth.

Listen at the link below, or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Before this summer, Aisha Nazir Iqbal was far from an experienced hiker.

But now the optician and mum-of-three is a co-founder of the Manchester Nomads, a 15-strong Muslim women's walking group.

Discover her story of helping her community discover the countryside, and how time spent outdoors has helped her to manage stress and practice mindfulness.