Press Release: 12th January 2012

Lord Selborne to talk on 'Our Crowded Planet - What must give?'

The Earl of Selborne will give an evening lecture entitled 'Our Crowded Planet - what must give?' in aid of the Campaign to Protect Rural England. The talk will be given in Lord Selborne's role as chairman of the partnership board of Living With Environmental Change (LWEC). Lord Selborne is a well-known Hampshire resident and chairman of the Blackmoor Estate, with its major farming and fruit enterprises. He is recognised for his life-long contributions to the local community, the fruit industry and agriculture as a whole. The evening will begin at 6.45pm on Wednesday, 21st March at Itchen Abbas village hall, Itchen Abbas, near Winchester, SO21 1BQ.

In what is certain to be a highly thought-provoking lecture, Lord Selborne will discuss how all of us - whether government, industry, academics or householders - can find a way to continue economic growth, while using less of the planet's resources, protecting ecosystems and reducing our waste and emissions.

The world's population is now seven billion and increasing annually by 70 million. More than half of the world's population live in towns and cities. New technologies have increased food production; and much of the world's population enjoys a higher standard of living. However there have been consequences such as declining fish stocks, climate change, pollution of soil, air and water, and a rate of species extinction far higher than that caused by the normal course of evolution. The sheer volume of what we use every day is posing today's key environmental challenge.

This interesting and important evening talk is open to all and tickets are priced at £15 per person, to include wine, canapé and refreshments.

Anthony McEwen, director of CPRE Hampshire said:

"Our charity's mission may be summarised as standing up for the county's countryside. As such we are committed to thriving communities and responsible rural businesses; it is important for all of us to understand the options available for us to ensure that the resources available to the planet and nation are used responsibly. We welcome this talk by Lord Selborne and look forward to learning much from what he says."

To book tickets for the lecture and for more information about CPRE Hampshire please telephone Becky French on 01962 779185 or email becky.french@cprehampshire.org.uk.

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CPRE/H/229

Notes to editors

CPRE Hampshire strives to promote the beauty, tranquillity 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.
The LWEC Partnership comprises 22 public sector organisations that fund, carry out and use environmental research and observations. They include the UK research councils, government departments with environmental responsibilities, devolved administrations and government agencies. Further information can be found at http://www.lwec.org.uk/about.
The Earl of Selborne GBE FRS is a hereditary (elected) member of the United Kingdom's House of Lords and a past chairman of its Select Committee on Science and Technology. He chairs the Foundation for Science and Technology. He is Chairman of Blackmoor Estate Ltd, a farming company with interests in fruit growing and packing, nursery produce and arable farming. Lord Selborne chairs the Partners Board of Living with Environmental Change.

For all media enquiries, please contact:
Keren Burney, media & communications officer, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01730 894123 Mobile: 07876 780065
Email: kburney@compege.co.uk

For information on CPRE, please contact:
Anthony McEwen, Director, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01962 779185 Mobile: 07717 296025
Email:anthony.mcewen@cprehampshire.org.uk