Green and Blue Spaces Award

About the award

From the rolling hills of the South Downs to the ancient woodlands of the New Forest, and from community gardens to the county’s world-renowned chalk streams, this category celebrates projects that improve or enhance the Hampshire’s blue and green spaces.

We are looking for blue and green projects that make a difference to the countryside at a local level – projects that care for and enhance these spaces in ways that benefit both people and the environment, now and for the future. That includes a wide range of natural environments from woodlands, meadows, parks, allotments and community gardens (green spaces), to rivers, ponds, lakes, wetlands, and coastal areas (blue spaces).

Entries are now closed.

Celebrating efforts to improve Hampshire’s blue and green environments

This category celebrates community-powered projects that protect, restore, and reimagine Hampshire’s land and water environments. From hands-on habitat restoration and water quality improvements to tackling soil health, pollution, and biodiversity loss, we’re looking for initiatives – big or small – that are grounded in local knowledge and practical action. Whether revitalising wetlands, restoring hedgerows, or monitoring rivers through citizen science, these projects help natural systems thrive and ensure a healthier, more resilient countryside for generations to come.

We’re looking for projects that demonstrate:

• Community-Led and Hands-On
  Projects that are shaped by local people and involve practical action – whether that’s planting, restoring, researching, or reimagining local landscapes.
• Nature Recovery 
  Initiatives that protect or restore vital habitats and natural resources – such as wetlands, hedgerows, woodlands, ponds, wildflower meadows, or nature reserves – while improving soil health, water quality, and biodiversity.
• Innovative and Knowledge-Based Approaches
  Use of citizen science, specialist expertise, or original methods to investigate, monitor, or solve environmental challenges.
• Connectivity and Access
  Projects that link green or wild spaces, introduce nature into urban areas, or create new opportunities for people to enjoy and care for the countryside – such as community gardens, wildflower corridors, or accessible nature trails.
• Addressing Countryside Challenges
  Tackling issues like fly tipping, light pollution, or the loss of tranquillity, and promoting more sustainable land use or farming practices.
• Future-Focused and Flexible
  Projects with long-term vision designed to evolve with community needs and environmental pressures, ensuring lasting impact.

We welcome projects of all sizes from across the Hampshire countryside that demonstrate some or all of these qualities.

Who can apply?

• Please read the category descriptions, criteria and eligibility information carefully. If you are not sure which category to enter please contact opsmanager@cprehampshire.org.uk and we can help.
• An individual, organisation or group can enter themselves or be nominated by someone else. However, all individuals or organisations need to give permission to be nominated.
• Projects must be within Hampshire.
• The nomination must be relevant to work taken place from 1st January 2024 to present.
• Past projects are entitled to re-enter but entries must contain new elements on which they will be judged.
• You may enter into more than one category.

Why apply?

• Celebrate your impact on people, place, and planet
• Gain recognition from peers, professionals, and the wider community
• Inspire others with your approach to rural housing
• Boost your profile and attract future opportunities

Winners will receive a £100 prize and gain automatic entry into the CPRE National Centenary Awards, giving your project the recognition it deserves on a larger stage.

On the award application form you will be asked to provide:

• Details about the project and your connection to it
• Contact details
• Information about your digital presence including social media profiles and website address
• Project information, including a 400 word brief description
• Supporting evidence, which may include additional documents, short films or videos
• Up to five supporting photos which will be used to promote the awards as well as your entered project or person
• Details about volunteer contributions including volunteer hours and numbers, if applicable.

Ready to enter?

• Complete the online entry form using Google Forms. Alternatively, you can download a Word version of the Countryside Awards Entry Form 2025. Details of where to email or post the award nomination are available on the form.
• The deadline for entries is 5pm on Monday 29th September 2025.

The Green and Blue Spaces Award is sponsored by Terrafirma.