Hampshire Leads Countryside Conversations at CPRE’s Centenary Reception at the House of Lords

CPRE marked the beginning of its centenary year with a special parliamentary reception at the House of Lords, bringing together parliamentarians, partners and representatives from across England to celebrate 100 years of standing up for the countryside.

A strong Hampshire presence

With around 150–200 people in attendance, the event provided a valuable platform to showcase how strongly local branches contribute to CPRE’s national impact and continued success.

Among those present were two representatives from CPRE Hampshire: Vice Chair Boyd McCleary and young volunteer Rhys Leighton, who both played a visible and valued part in the national centenary launch.

Rhys shared:
“It was a lovely evening (despite the weather), and I met a whole host of interesting people. We spoke about everything from nature recovery to agriculture, energy infrastructure and land‑use challenges. I also eagerly talked about the Hedgerow Heroes project and the ecological importance of hedgerows. It was great to be able to tell so many people about what we’re achieving here in Hampshire.”

Together they represented Hampshire, sharing insights, showcasing the Hedgerow Heroes project and championing the county’s efforts during conversations with national leaders, policymakers and fellow CPRE branches.

Celebrating 100 years and focussing on the future

The reception was hosted by Baroness Parminter, former CPRE CEO, who opened the event by recognising CPRE’s century‑long role as an independent champion for rural England. She emphasised the importance of cross‑party commitment to protecting the countryside at a time of growing pressure on land and nature.

Speakers from across the political spectrum contributed to the evening:

• Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Minister for Biosecurity, Borders and Animal Welfare, highlighted the countryside’s essential role in food security, farming and rural economies.
• Victoria Atkins, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, spoke about the need for evidence‑based decisions in planning, housing and nature recovery – and the value of CPRE’s grounded, community‑centred insight.

Local action at the heart of a national movement

A key theme of the evening was the vital importance of CPRE’s local branches. Representatives from 27 county branches, including CPRE Hampshire, filled the room with stories of community‑led projects:

• hedgerows restored,
• landscapes protected,
• community‑shaped energy futures,
• and new ways for people to connect with the countryside on their doorstep.

Boyd was also invited to support one of the evening’s four project displays. He staffed the Hedgerow Heroes stand, which featured CPRE Hampshire’s flagship project, the Hampshire Hedge and a photograph of Hedgerow Project Officer, Ellie Banks. The display attracted a constant stream of visitors, providing an ideal platform to highlight the branch’s local impact.

As CPRE enters its next century, Hampshire’s work on nature recovery, hedgerows, community involvement and local advocacy continues to demonstrate how local action can shape national conversations about land, nature and place.

National voices

CPRE President Mary‑Ann Ochota and Chief Executive Roger Mortlock highlighted new national polling revealing how deeply people value the countryside and how strongly they support protecting it while finding balanced solutions for housing, nature and access to green space.

They also paid special tribute to the work of local branches and volunteers, noting that CPRE’s national influence is built on the strength of committed groups like CPRE Hampshire, whose projects and campaigning continue to shape real outcomes on the ground.