News
‘We couldn’t be prouder’: CPRE garden takes the honours at Chelsea Flower Show
Friday 22 May 2026
The Campaign to Protect Rural England’s garden On the Edge has been awarded a prestigious Gold Medal at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 and Garden of the Year in the Show Garden category. Created for CPRE’s centenary year by Sarah Eberle – the most decorated garden designer in RHS Chelsea history – the garden marks […] Read more >
New climate report: the countryside is vital for adaptation, we say
Thursday 21 May 2026
The Climate Change Committee report, published yesterday (Wednesday, May 20), proves that the countryside has a vital role to play in how we prepare for the impacts of climate change. The report demonstrates the urgent need for joined-up and long-term thinking about how we use our finite land to sustain us all into the future. […] Read more >
Come and see CPRE’s award-winning garden at the Chelsea Flower Show
Thursday 21 May 2026
Are you at the Chelsea Flower Show today? If so, do visit the CPRE ‘On the Edge’ garden. And it’s worth seeing! The Sarah Eberle-designed garden has won a Gold Medal and the Garden of the Year title – and drawn the admiration of King Charles, who paid it a visit. And once you’ve been, […] Read more >
Noise concerns fail to stop housing scheme in its tracks after developer goes to appeal
Monday 18 May 2026
A planning inspector has backed plans for 240 new homes at Elsenham after an appeal by the developer. Uttlesford District Council had refused permission in June last year for the scheme near the M11 and close to a railway line, citing concern over noise levels, which would exceed the guideline limit of 55 decibels in […] Read more >
CPRE launches urban countryside campaign: On the Edge
Thursday 14 May 2026
The Campaign to Protect Rural England has launched its On the Edge campaign, which will be showcased in the garden of the same name at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026. Together, they celebrate fragile, often-forgotten countryside on the edges of England’s towns and cities – and call for urgent government action to protect it. […] Read more >
What the grey-belt policy is really doing to parts of our countryside
Thursday 30 April 2026
In December 2024, the government introduced its policy of ‘grey belt’. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) deemed this to be land within the Green Belt that comprised previously-developed land or other areas that did not contribute strongly to Green Belt purposes of checking unrestricted urban sprawl, preventing neighbouring towns from merging and preserving the […] Read more >
Littlebury signs up to a smarter future
Thursday 30 April 2026
With so many of our towns, villages and landscapes despoiled by ugly and so often unnecessary signage (or ‘street furniture’), it’s nice to see things being done a whole lot better in Littlebury. Photographer Gordon Ridgewell observes: “The village is looking nice in wall-to-wall sunshine. The village sign has been recently restored, along with a […] Read more >
Rooftop solar must lead clean energy push
Thursday 30 April 2026
Ed Miliband has set out the government’s latest plans to accelerate the UK’s transition to clean energy, outlining proposals to expand solar power and speed up grid infrastructure in a recent speech. CPRE has welcomed the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero’s renewed focus on clean energy while warning that reforms must […] Read more >
Mountnessing windmill the setting for our Day of Action gathering
Monday 20 April 2026
Mountnessing windmill was the idyllic setting on Saturday as CPRE Essex got behind the Day of Action for the countryside. The day of action was set up by the Community Planning Alliance in a bid to show the Prime Minister and our politicians how much nature, parks and green spaces matter to voters. More than […] Read more >
National Day of Action for the countryside: CPRE Essex are with you all the way
Wednesday 15 April 2026
CPRE Essex are backing Saturday’s (April 18) National Day of Action calling for greater countryside protection. The day of action was set up by the Community Planning Alliance in a bid to show the Prime Minister and our politicians how much nature, parks and green spaces matter to voters. More than 170 groups have signed […] Read more >