CPRE’s Countryside Day on Saturday 7 September

CPRE’s first-ever Countryside Day took place on 7 September with a host of exciting events planned by the local CPREs taking place.

On Saturday 7 September 2024, a group of local CPREs hosted their own Countryside Day as part of a pilot aimed at establishing an annual event for CPRE.

This is the first year that CPRE’s network of local charities will run Countryside Day events up and down the country. The initiative follows a successful event held by CPRE Sussex in September 2023, which took place at Knepp rewilding estate and featured a range of countryside themed stalls and activities.

This brand-new public event is a celebration of all that is wonderful about the countryside and aims to strengthen our connection with it. The events vary in format, ranging from full-day activities to guided walks.

The events

Eight local CPREs took, running seven events. This included:

CPRE Sussex repeated their highly successful event at Knepp Estate with talks, tours, stalls and activities, including those for children.

CPRE Avon and Bristol (Sunday 8 September) hosted an inclusive event celebrating what regenerative farming brings to the countryside, with a particular focus on hedgerows.

CPRE Berkshire and Oxfordshire hosted a joint event based at Goring Village Hall with displays, activities, talks and rambles.

CPRE Hampshire held four free events at Cox Croft Farm with a focus on hedgerows including a foraging walk and a textile hedge workshop.

CPRE Lancashire, Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester hosted guided walks along the Tolkien Trail in the Forest of Bowland.

CPRE Somerset’s event was a tour of New Stowey Farm, a flagship for regenerative farming. Find out how the day went here.

CPRE Staffordshire’s hosted a sold-out tour of Blithfield Hall and a visit to see a herd of Bagot goats, a breed rarer than the giant panda!

We hope Countryside Day will become a cherished annual tradition, bringing communities together and fostering a deeper connection with our rural landscapes. Don’t miss the chance to participate in this exciting initiative next year and support the preservation of our countryside for future generations.

Want to find out more about what’s happening at your local CPRE?

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