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CPRE Hampshire Countryside Awards

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Latest: Full details of the 2012 awards are now available - see below

The Countryside Awards scheme organised by CPRE Hampshire in association with Steve's Leaves was launched in 2007 to recognise significant achievements across the county which support our goal of "a beautiful, diverse and living countryside that everyone can value and enjoy". It is one of the best established Awards schemes in the county and over 20 projects have been recognised by an award to date.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community; projects both big and small.

smiths Gore logo

The Countryside Awards are run in conjunction with Hampshire Fare and Hampshire Ambassadors. The Rural Enterprise category is sponsored by Smiths Gore land agents and rural surveyors.

Eligibility and Criteria

Projects must be within Hampshire. They must also have been completed within three years of the closing date of application (i.e. between August 2009 - August 2012). We wish to recognise innovative rural businesses and inspirational projects involving volunteers, the community and/or young people which support our mission of "standing up for the countryside".

Categories

There are three categories, which differ slightly from previous years:

  • Rural Enterprise (Public Sector or Commercial) - the qualities sought include employment of local people, promotion of local foods, addressing climate change
  • Young People - this year extended beyond schools to other youth groups such as scouts, guides, youth offender programmes, colleges etc. for projects aimed at people up to 18 years of age. Projects might include environmental issues as an opportunity for learning, management of a wild life area, recycling
  • Voluntary / Community - this includes schemes run by parish councils, local interest or amenity groups. Projects might involve encouraging urban communities to connect with the countryside, an appreciation of the value of landscape, community anti-litter schemes.

The guidance notes give more examples of the types of quality that are sought for each category. Information about previous award winners (see below) could also prove helpful.

Timetable

  • Applications must be received by Friday 13 July 2012
  • Site visits to finalists take place between August and mid-September 2012
  • The awards ceremony takes place on Friday 28th September 2012

Further Information

The following items are available for download

2011 Awards Winners

The winners of the 2011 Awards were announced at a ceremony on Friday 30th September. The winners were:

  • Otterbourne Primary School in Winchester - for the outstanding work it is doing developing its meadow to benefit its childrenss learning and for the way that the natural environment was embedded into the school curriculum - press release.
  • British Trust for Conservation Volunteers - for its teams of volunteers working to conserve stretches of endangered coastline and heath on Hayling Island - press release.
  • Hampshire Cheeses of Herriard near Basingstoke - for the quality of its prize-winning product, its use of local milk and local labour and the way it had refurbished a derelict cattle barn into a modern hygienic plant - press release.

In addition the following entrants were awarded 'highly commended' certificates:

  • The King's School, Winchester - for its outdoor garden with very good use of the limited land for an allotment club, wheel-chair access to raised beds and a greenhouse - press release.
  • Halterworth Primary School, Romsey - for the way that the childrens' enthusiasm for growing vegetables had been used to good effect across much of the curriculum - press release.
  • The village of Soberton - for its impressive parish plan - press release.
  • Jenkyn Place Vineyard - with its quality sparkling wine - press release.
  • Radian Housing Association - for its pioneering work in fitting older houses with state of the art energy conservation systems - press release.
  • Bicycle Recycling Company from Winchester, dedicated to getting more people cycling - press release.

For more information read the press release

Earlier Award Winners

warren park
Award winning outdoor classroom at Warren Park Primary School

Warren Park Primary School in Leigh Park, Havant, was just one of three schools to win a CPRE Hampshire Countryside Award in 2009. Other schools receiving awards in 2009 were North Baddesley Junior School for its education programme that highlights environmental issues, and Wherwell Primary School for its 'Woodland Project'

For details of all award winners in 2009 and earlier, go to the awards winners page.


This page last updated 12th May 2012.

 
 
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