Business and council entries sought for CPRE Countryside and Design Awards

The deadline for entering this year's CPRE Hampshire Countryside and Design Awards is fast approaching! Your entry must reach the charity by Friday 21st March to stand a chance of winning.

The awards will be presented by the Campaign to Protect Rural England's Hampshire branch to projects that improve the county's environment. They are open to three categories, including 'business and public sector' projects. They are intended to draw attention to the importance of good environmental practice and to recognise outstanding achievement in this field.

John Venning, Chairman of CPRE Hampshire, said:

"We had some impressive entries last year but we would like to receive more from the business sector. There is much that is done in so many ways, to conserve and cherish our environment and to involve people in giving something back to the Hampshire countryside that gives us so many good things: the chance to enjoy tranquillity, glorious landscapes and prime local food. These things are the core of what CPRE is about and if local businesses are involved in improving the Hampshire countryside, then we would like to hear about it."

The awards are open to business and parish, town and district council activities that positively impact on the rural environment of Hampshire. Evidence will need to show tangible progress towards tackling one or more of the core CPRE issues which include: conservation of the countryside, light pollution, loss of tranquility, fly tipping, roadside clutter and the promotion of local foods. Examples might be green buildings or improved lighting schemes.

See our campaign pages for further details of CPRE issues. Evidence of a significant contribution to the quality of life of a local community will assist nominations.

For more information on the judging criteria for each category, and to download a nominations form, please see www.cprehampshire.org.uk or call 01962 843655.

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CPRE/H/158

Notes to editors

CPRE Hampshire strives to promote the beauty, tranquility and diversity of the countryside of Hampshire by the sustainable use of land and other resources in town and country, and encouraging the biodiversity and well-being of rural communities.

1. The first four winners of CPRE Hampshire's Countryside and Design awards, launched in 2008 were:

• Portway Junior School, in Andover, for their new school garden project in the Schools category
• Bordon Junior School in East Hampshire, for their new school garden project- in the Schools category
• Futurefarms Ltd of Martin in the New Forest, for their cooperative farm and food project - in the Voluntary/ Community category
• Ballard Water Meadows, in New Milton, for their conservation work - in the Voluntary/ Community category.

2. The awards were set up to reward people who are working to enhance Hampshire's environment and to highlight the importance of good environmental practice. There are three categories:

• Schools - encouraging the use of landscape as an opportunity for learning, a high level of pupil involvement is one of its criteria.
• Voluntary/community - highlighting environmental conservation or restoration within the rural or urban environment and evidence of strong links to the local community.
• Public sector/ business - involving projects that show tangible progress towards tackling one or more of the core CPRE issues. (No award was made in 2008).

For information on CPRE, please contact:
Becky French or Pam Mason, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01962 843655
Email:admin@cprehampshire.org.uk

For all media enquiries, please contact:
Keren Burney, media & communications officer, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01730 894123   Mobile: 07876 780065
Email: kburney000@aol.com

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