Local impact, national recognition: enter the CPRE Centenary Awards

As part of CPRE’s 100^th year celebrations, CPRE is launching nationwide Centenary Awards. Enter your project and help highlight the amazing work across Hampshire to protect the local countryside and communities.

For the past few years, CPRE Hampshire has held Countryside Awards to celebrate the exceptional efforts of individuals, projects, and campaigns that help create a thriving, beautiful countryside for everyone to enjoy.

This year, as CPRE celebrates its centenary, new nationwide Centenary Awards are being launched by CPRE. They will showcase the achievements and celebrate the positive changes by individuals, businesses and community groups.

We would love to see some of the amazing work across Hampshire represented at the national awards – please do enter your project – the deadline for nominations is noon on Wednesday 24 June 2026.

For inspiration, find the awards categories below along with some fantastic past Hampshire projects.

Award categories   

Best housing solution

This award recognises housing developments which benefit communities and are placed in locations which preserve the countryside and nature.

CPRE Hampshire Countryside Award Winner 2025: Hastoe Housing – Curdridge Rural Affordable Housing Scheme

A scheme of 8 affordable homes in Curdridge Parish was built on a rural exception site, delivering well-needed social rent and shared ownership homes for local people. It was a great example of how collaboration between the right partners, including landowners, can unlock more affordable homes in rural areas, with support from the community.

Best rooftop solar solution

This award recognises projects empowering people and communities to positively shape their energy futures and reduce carbon usage.

CPRE Hampshire Countryside Award Winner 2024 (climate action award): Future Energy Landscape Workshops, Energise South Downs

Through workshops, local community groups explored how they might use renewable technology to meet their energy needs. Existing grid infrastructure was mapped and potential areas discussed that might be suitable for renewables, including rooftop solar.  This created space for informed, balanced discussions helping create community agreement on suitable sites.

Best green space project

This award will recognise a project which results in the enhancement of the countryside ‘next door’ to where people live and has strong community involvement.

CPRE Hampshire Countryside Award Winner 2025: Golden Hill Woods – Hordle Parish Council

Volunteers for Hordle Parish Council’s Golden Hill Working Party worked tirelessly for six years to improve and enrich the previously unmanaged woodland at Golden Hill, Hordle. This included installing bird and bat boxes, creating new wildlife habitats and improving the pond and marshy areas.  Hordle Parish Council supported with resources for the annual tree survey and larger works with expenses, such as tree management and path replenishment.

Best access to the countryside project

This award recognises a project which practically improves the accessibility of an area of countryside ‘next door’ to where people live.

CPRE Hampshire Countryside Award Winner 2025: Ropley Footpaths Improvement – Ropley Parish Council (joint winner)

Ropley’s network of footpaths had a number of stiles, reducing access for people with limited mobility.  More than 35 stiles have been replaced with kissing gates, creating safer and more accessible walking routes, in keeping with the Ropley Neighbourhood Plan from the Parish Council which commits to improve rights of way for all.

CPRE Hampshire Countryside Award Winner 2025: Colden Common new permissive path (joint winner)

A new permissive footpath from Coldon Common Park to Twyford was created, enabling safe access from Colden Common to the South Downs National Park. This had been an ambition of the Parish Council for many years, achieved with the landowners permission. The new route will benefit individuals and community groups alike, such as Scouts and Girl Guides.

Countryside changemaker

This award recognises the outstanding contribution to the countryside by an individual aged 25 or over.

CPRE Hampshire Countryside Award Winner 2025: Angela Elder, Wildways Hursley

Angela is the driving force behind Wildways, a local village group trying to preserve habitats around Hursley, near Winchester. Initiatives she’s lead include rewilding patches, promoting No Mow May, preserving wild orchids and distributing wildflower seeds through the village shop. She has also worked with the village school to help children explore and understand regeneration.

Young countryside changemaker

This award recognises the outstanding contribution to the countryside by an individual under the age of 25.

Submit your nomination

CPRE welcomes nominations from everyone, and it is completely free.

You can make nominations on behalf of a person, project, group or organisation or you can make a nomination for yourself, or a project, group or organisation you’re involved with.

Nominations close at noon on Wednesday 24 June 2026.

When writing your nomination please describe how your nominee meets the criteria for the award as closely as possible.