National Press Release - Panorama: Notes on a Dirty Island

Panormama: Notes on a Dirty Island

When writer Bill Bryson first arrived in Britain in 1972, he thought he'd found the loveliest, most cared for country in the world. His massive bestseller Notes From a Small Island celebrated the intrinsic worth of our thoroughly pleasant isle and won the national poll to find the book which best represented modern England.

So, how is modern England doing? Reporting for BBC's Panorama on Monday 11 August, in a personal and passionate account, Bryson says he's appalled at how we now treat our surroundings like a rubbish tip, and castigates our apparent inability to walk or drive anywhere without leaving a trail of litter. He tours the country, illustrating the scale of the problem, whilst also demonstrating that change can be achieved and we should not despair of the task.

"Travelling for Panorama I was reminded just how beautiful this country is and also how routinely trashed it is by people that litter and fly-tip." Said Bryson, "Studies show that it's done by a very small proportion of people, and of the people who litter, high proportions can be persuaded to change their ways, and that's what gives me hope. We easily filmed enough material for an hour long documentary, but I hope people will enjoy the 30 minute impact of Panorama and then be inspired to help us".

As president of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) [1], Bryson believes he's just the man to challenge us to clean up our act and, more importantly, to clean up Britain. To that end, he has launched CPRE's Stop the Drop campaign [2] as a crusade against litter and fly-tipping. Visit www.cpre.org.uk to find out more.

Panorama: Notes on a Dirty Island

BBC One: 8.30pm, August 11th 2008

Reporter: Bill Bryson

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CPRE/National 56/08

Notes for editors

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

2. Stop the Drop is the CPRE anti litter and fly-tipping campaign managed by CPRE and headed by Bill Bryson.

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