12 February 2018

CPRE Gloucestershire has launched its 2018 Rural Excellence Awards scheme at Vegetable Matters, the new North Cotswolds farm Shop in Ebrington.

15 November 2017

JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY THE COTSWOLDS CONSERVATION BOARD AND CPRE

Today sees the publication of an independent review by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) of housing development in England’s AONBs.

8 November 2017

'Building with Nature’ is the UK’s first certification scheme for green infrastructure.  Developed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust in partnership with the University of the West of England, it aims to increase the quality of new development to deliver real benefits for communities and the environment.

7 November 2017

The 2017 Tree Charter was launched in Lincoln Castle on 6 November 2017 with the unveiling of the champion Charter Pole, carved by artist Simon Clements.

24 October 2017

CPRE Gloucestershire has celebrated its 10th year of presenting awards.  At a ceremony held at Highnam Court on 4th October, Viscount Bledisloe presented awards to ten projects from all over the county that have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to the environment and to local  communities.

Bells Field, Coleford – Forest of Dean District

Coleford is now the proud possessor of a splendid new 9 acre park.  Designed in close consultation with the local community, this is a park for all ages with a multi-games area, a trim trail, and an amphitheatre for small theatrical and musical events.  Great thought has gone into the landscaping and on enhancing biodiversity                
              
Citation: For an ambitious project, well planned and designed for a wide variety of community activities, incorporating a flood defence scheme and enhancing biodiversity

Chesterton Obelisk Protect – Cotswold District

In a joint project between Cirencester Town Council and community groups, the setting of the Chesterton obelisk has been transformed through a carefully thought out planting scheme.  An attractive walking route between the obelisk and the Roman amphitheatre has also been created.  The project was designed with community input and implemented largely by volunteers
         
Citation: For a community planting project which designed and created an attractive, biodiverse landscape setting for public access to the Chesterton Obelisk which had become a neglected relic, obscured by vegetation

Maisemore Milestones Restoration – Tewkesbury Borough

Through the initiative of the Maisemore Local History Society, and with the help of Gloucestershire County Council and a local contractor, three milestones on the former turnpike road from Gloucester to Worcester have been recovered, carefully restored and reinstated, bringing back features of historic interest to the parish
                              
Citation: For the restoration of the three Maisemore milestones on the historic route into Gloucester by local people giving new life to a significant local feature

St Francis, Theescombe – Stroud District                  

A highly imaginative building project has applied a unique design solution to the remodelling of a Cotswold stone cottage and a garage at a lower level to create an outstanding, contemporary family home which respects its setting while taking full advantage of the outstanding views from the location
                           
Citation: For the confidence to take on a very challenging development, and produce an elegant design solution that both takes advantage of and respects its setting, creating an elegant contemporary home

Scarr Bandstand, Sling – Forest of Dean District

The Forest of Dean is renowned for its brass bands.  Sling had its very own bandstand, the Scarr Bandstand, where local bands played for over 100 years but by the early 1980s it had become derelict.  Led by the Friends of Scarr Bandstand, the bandstand has been restored and music performances have restarted with great success
                           
Citation: For the reinstatement of an historical site by volunteers with a vision for community gathering, surrounded by natural forest, used by all generations

The Barn at Severn and Wye, Chaxhill – Forest of Dean District
A former agricultural building has been converted to a new public area at the Severn and Wye Smokery.  On the ground floor is a fish market, chef’s larder, gift shop and café and on the floor above an open-plan restaurant.  Locally-sourced materials have been used wherever possible with thoughtful detailing of the finished building and the interior fitting out

Citation: For the completion of a thoughtful and well-designed restoration of traditional farm buildings to accommodate an elegant contemporary setting for The Smokery’s new restaurant and retail activities

Westbury on Severn church spire re-shingling - Forest of Dean District

Westbury on Severn church has a free-standing tower with a spire clad in oak shingles. Last renewed in 1938, by 2008 the shingles had reached the end of their life.  It has taken 10 years of tireless fund raising to get the necessary repairs completed. These were substantially more extensive than anticipated at an eventual cost of £1 million. The new shingles were locally sourced from the Forest of Dean                      
         
Citation: For the determination to complete a daunting conservation and repair project, bringing new life to this Westbury landmark, better management to the Church’s setting, and securing stronger links to the local community

25 September 2017

Needless Demand is the title of a new paper in CPRE's Housing Foresight series.  It shows that simply meeting market demand for housing while failing to prioritise genuine local housing need will perpetuate the housing crisis while wasting precious countryside.  It is an important contribution to the policy debate and to a consultation on how local authorities should calculate housing need.

26 August 2016

On 6th November 2017 the Charter for Trees, Woods and People will be launched.  CPRE is one of 70 partner organisations working with the Woodland Trust on an exciting initiative to recognise, celebrate and protect the rights of the people in the UK to the benefits brought by trees and woods.  

2 June 2017

Shaun Spiers, in his last speech as CEO of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), spoke out about the role of developers in rural housing. Shaun was the keynote speaker at CPRE Gloucestershire’s AGM this week.

30 April 2017

The Campaign to Protect Rural England’s Gloucestershire Branch is pleased to welcome a new chief executive to lead CPRE nationally.