Standing up for Hertfordshire’s Countryside
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I’ve become more and more interest- ed in climate change since the arrival of my youngest grandchild three years ago. With the UK’s target (set out in an Act of Parliament) of being “carbon neutral” by 2050, I’ll have shuffled off this mortal coil long be- fore that (I’d be 100 in that year) but my granddaughter will be on earth throughout the remainder of the twenty first century, all things being equal.
I am not alone in my age bracket ei- ther. I go to meetings with CPRE members from around the country from time to time. Most have the white hair that I see when I look in a mirror. All put climate change at the top of the agenda of topics that we should be looking at.
The noise that the members of Extinction Rebellion have made has caused interest in climate change to increase. Earlier this year opinion pollsters found that more than 90% of people were interest- ed in climate change, with over 50% very interested.
I hear, see and read quite a bit about climate change, with two reports having come out recently. One of these was on including aircraft and shipping emissions in the UK’s total and the other on how the seas are getting warmer than the scientists had thought possible, with the adverse impact on the ice sheets at the North and South Poles.
A reminder: a consultation about expanding capacity at Luton Air- port is open until 16 December 2019. There is no such thing as a zero emission aeroplane. This expansion is exactly what we do not need.
What I didn’t know until I was pointed to the web site of the De- partment for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy was the size of the problem. There I found the provisional figures for green- house gas emissions for the end of 2018.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions make up 80% of the total. The total CO2 emissions in 2018 was 361 million tons. The transport sector is the largest contributor to the total and the emissions from this sec- tor are going up. It seems that our insatiable appetite for buying things online is causing the number of petrol and diesel powered white vans to increase in number (there isn’t a competitive battery powered electric van on the market yet). Cont. ……...
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Thank you.
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Our homes emit in excess of 60 million tons of CO2 a year. There are somewhere of the order of 22 million homes in this country and about 80% of CPRE is publishing “Space to breathe - A State of them can be connected to the gas mains. the Green Belt Report”. The title is self- explanatory. The main findings of the far-reaching The vast majority of homes in this country leak report are:- heat. The standard of thermal insulation has in- creased over the years and many homes have dou- Only one in ten new homes built on Green ble-glazing. However, the building standards that Belt land is affordable builders must adhere to for every new build and There are proposals for a further 266,000 extension are not strong enough. homes to be built on undeveloped Green Belt
The government is talking about stopping the fit- in advanced local plans ting of gas central heating boilers to new homes by The average density of homes within the 2025. It is vital by that point that these new Green Belt is 14 dwellings per hectare com- homes don’t leak any heat as keeping warm using pared with an average of 31 outside designat- electricity is somewhere between two and three ed Green Belt areas times as expensive as using gas. The figures show that building on the Green
New homes will be fitted with heat pumps. These, Belt is not the answer to the housing crisis with much more thermal insulation, will keep us The report reiterates the CPRE call for a snug during the coldest weather. The trouble today “Brownfield First” policy to be enforced is that far too few builders have the skilled work- We are reminded that the National Planning Policy force to do the necessary work. Framework (NPPF) states that, in preparing local Within CPRE we are working on our strategy for plans, land should only be released from the Green dealing with climate change. At the heart of this, Belt “in exceptional circumstances”. It finds that I am sure, is the inappropriateness of the current the bar for exceptional circumstances is set too planning system. This puts “sustainable develop- low by many planning authorities. ment” ahead of any other consideration. This must change so that the avoidance of climate change is None of this is new to us in Hertfordshire. While at the front, together with meeting housing need our planning authorities are planning massive re- rather than demand. moval of land from the Green Belt there is lip ser- vice, if that, to “exceptional circumstances”, with If you would like to know more, I am happy to talk most not attempting to set out what these are. to groups about climate change and what it means Where a planning authority has tried to minimise for how we live. the loss of Green Belt, they have been criticised by the Inspector examining their plan. Green Belt is a Finally, and on a separate matter, CPRE, the na- major feature of land in Hertfordshire and has pro- tional charity, with colleagues from across the vided protection for our cherished countryside branch network, has worked on a new brand iden- since the policy was introduced. Not any more! tity. You can see the new National charity logo on page 12. We will move to our, CPRE Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire is in the front line of the assault on version very, very soon. The new logo is much the Green Belt and a major part of our efforts is brighter and more modern than the old one and we spent on trying to persuade planning authorities to identify ourselves as “the countryside charity” reduce the planned loss of it. The figures are now, not that we’ve stopped standing up for the daunting. 73,000 of the 100,000 homes in the countryside, we do that as our main activity. We Hertfordshire local plans are destined for the do much more though and it is the promotion and Green Belt. “Space to Breathe” is a timely clarion celebration of the countryside that we think will call warning of what is happening to our much- grab the attention of all those who don’t know loved and hitherto protected countryside. who we are or what we do.
Our members have generously responded to our previous appeals for funds, which has enabled us to fight for our countryside throughout the local plan process, and in particular our input on the pub- lic inquiries, the “Examinations in Public” of the plans.
However, this work goes on and we have to continue to participate in and respond to these “EiPs”, particularly, as has happened, where the inspector has demanded more development and has insti- tuted a “Call for Sites”. This is asking landowners and developers to provide more land for devel- opment, inevitably often Green Belt. The process is therefore taking longer than was reasonably expected and we have to continue to have a presence at the extended EiPs to put our case.
Unfortunately this will cost a lot of money, we estimate at least £500 a day, providing professional help to back up our hard working in-house team. With three EiPs coming up in the near future, we think that we need at least £5,000.
If you are able to help us cover these costs to enable us to carry on this vital work please complete the form enclosed or visit our website. Many thanks for your continued support.
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The Government published ‘Advice’ on 22 July on ‘the role of the Green Belt in the planning system’. From that description you might be forgiven for thinking the Government had tried to resolve the various anomalies in statements and national policy for the Green Belt, particularly since the NPPF was updated in 2018. But no, the ‘advice’ is limited to three paragraphs on the following points:
The factors that can be taken into account (by Councils) when considering the potential impact of development on the openness of the Green Belt. ‘These include, but are not limited to’: Both the spatial and visual aspects of openness, meaning visual impact may be relevant, as could the proposal’s volume; The duration of the development and its ‘remediability’, including provisions to return land to its ‘original’ state or at least equivalent openness; and The ‘degree’ of likely activity generated, such as traffic.
How ‘plans’ (presumed to mean local plans and other policy documents) might set out ways in which the impact of removing land from the Green Belt can be offset by ‘compensatory improvements to the environmental quality and accessibility of the remaining Green Belt’. A list of six examples is given, in- cluding landscape and visual enhancements, improvements to biodiversity, and improved access to rec- reational provision.
How policy-making bodies can ensure compensatory improvements to ‘environmental quality and ac- cessibility of the Green Belt’, engaging landowners ‘and other interest groups’, giving three factors to take into account, and noting that planning conditions, obligations and financial levies could be used ‘to secure long-term maintenance of sites’.
Climate Emergencies are now being declared at a pace, including most local authorities in Hertford- shire. But what does it mean in practice and how willing or able are we to make changes to the way we live and move around? It’s important to join up the dots and think holistically.
We know that greenhouse gas emissions from transport account for the largest portion of UK emissions - up to 33% if sea and air travel are in- cluded. A new study by JLL consultants quantified the amount of urban land dedicated to car use in 10 European cities. It estimated that 30-50% of ur- ban land is taken up by roads, junctions, car parks and hard surfaces. This land is solely used for vehi- cles when the average car is parked for 95% of the time. CPRE has long campaigned for the re-use of brown- In London, private car use and ownership is in long field land ahead of greenfield land as well as chal- term decline. This is leading to a rethink on road lenging damaging road building programmes. A space for cycling and underused car parks as sites switch to low car use is needed to address the cli- for potential redevelopment. It shows how a modal mate emergency, with investment in electric shift from high car use to lower car use means a transport, bikes, light rail, trams and trains. These huge opportunity to transition redundant roads and tactics will help achieve far better densities with- parking to new public parks, housing, and commer- out compromising the quality of the environment. cial space. This reduces the case for housing sprawl in the countryside which is most likely to be CPRE Herts wrote to the County Council in May to car dependent. support feasibility studies into an east-west tram linking Watford in the west to Broxbourne in the east of the county. The county advanced the possi- bility of a Mass Rapid Transit system as part of its A414 corridor study earlier this year. Providing high quality public transport links across the coun- ty could support town centres and reduce car de- pendency. Existing railway lines in the county run north to south. The east west linkage would be part of a strategic approach for high quality clean public transport which makes best use of urban land, safeguards the countryside, reduces conges- tion, improves air quality and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
4 WWW.CPREHERTS.ORG.UK CPRE actively promotes the re-use of brownfield land, to safeguard green fields. It wants this to be the first priority of the planning process. Local authorities maintain a Brownfield Land Register, but it is al- ways possible that sites are missed or have unexplored potential. CPRE Lancashire last year produced a toolkit that can be used by local residents who want to help promote more local sites. http://www.cprelancashire.org.uk/resources/housing-and-planning/item/2483-cpre-lancashire-brownfield-land-register-toolkit
The brownfield choice can also deliver better connected and more attractive mixed use environments. A new guide by Place Alliance from University College London is Place Value & The Ladder of Quality. It is a simple tool to assess the impacts of development policies and proposals. It is based on the evidence of 271 research studies. The guide is written to make it accessible to all decision makers and can be used by residents or citizen groups. It can help in assessing planning applications, in preparing village statements and neighbourhood plans, and in advocating for high quality development.
The guide says the evidence is unequivocal that good design adds value. ‘The types of places we inhabit have a profound impact on health, society, the economy and the environment.’ If you are fortunate enough to live in a green, low traffic, well mixed, walkable, cycle friendly place with good public transport links then the evidence will confirm what you already know…but the ladder can be used to highlight the areas for improvement too.
More information and a full copy of the checklist can be downloaded here http://placealliance.org.uk/research/place-value/
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Two Inspectors were appointed earlier this year to examine the St Albans Local Plan (the Plan) which was published in September 2018. One of these is Louise Crosby, who waved through the massive Green Belt housing allocations in the East Herts District Plan, including the 10,000 houses north of Harlow.
Our representations on the Plan strongly oppose the scale of housing development proposed because it is not necessary, justified, or consistent with national planning policy, and because of the extent of the proposed loss of Green Belt.
The only good news is that the Inspectors wrote a five page letter to the Council on 2 July 2019 with a list of criticisms of the Plan that they asked the Council to resolve before progressing with their examina- tion. The most significant matter raised was probably the lack of justification in the Plan itself for the development proposals in it, particularly in respect of exceptional circumstances for the allocation of specific sites in the Green Belt for housing, and how the Council’s Green Belt Review had been applied in its decision making. The letter asks the Council to produce a Green Belt Topic Paper to address such mat- ters.
The Council responded to the Inspectors’ letter on 31 July 2019 with six new Local Plan Examination doc- uments posted on the Council’s Examination Website, the last of which (ED25F) is a proposed edited ver- sion of the Local Plan with new wording in red to clearly see what the Council would now like to include.
The new wording fails to address the Inspectors’ key request to explain what the exceptional circum- stances are for the Green Belt housing allocations in the Plan. Rather than justifying the Plan’s Housing Target (in Policy S4), the new paragraphs S4.1 to S4.4 merely state that the Plan ‘can’ deliver the num- ber of houses proposed in the Plan (14,608), with no explanation of what justifies this number or the spe- cific site allocations, as required by relevant national planning policy.
The Inspectors have announced that the first hearing sessions at Stage 1 (on strategic policies) of their examination will be in weeks commencing 20 January, 3 February and 10 February 2020 and they will have to publish their ‘matters, issues and questions’ for discussion at the hearings, at least six weeks be- fore then.
Stage 6 of the Examination of the Plan has been deferred again until December, until after the Inspector has considered the multitude of further submissions from the Council and representations on them that ended in September 2019. These covered the Council’s new Green Belt Review and the implications of the latest national household projections.
The Council has still not finished deliberating over whether amended or new site allocations should be proposed, including additional sites in the Green Belt in the light of the new information available and the representations made. The Cabinet Panel resolved on 1 August 2019 to consider the above matters at its meeting in November 2019 at the earliest, but the Inspector wrote to the Council on 8 August 2019, expressing displeasure with the time taken to make progress. The Green Belt Review was undertaken to address the Inspector’s interim advice on the need to justify the restriction of the Plan’s housing target because of Green Belt constraints, and his thinly veiled suggestion that land for an extra 4,000 houses should be allocated.
Meanwhile the Stage 6 hearings are still scheduled to start in the week commencing 9 December 2019, but CPRE Herts has asked the Inspector to consider the scale of housing required in the light of the new household projections before deliberating on any changes to housing allocations at a later date.
CPRE Herts still considers that the housing target is excessive, and proposes the removal of extensive Green Belt sites from the Plan, which are not justified by exceptional circumstances (as required by na- tional policy). This includes the 1,100 dwelling new settlement at Symondshyde,
The Inspector examining the North Herts Plan has now written two letters to the Council asking for a re- sponse on a wide range of issues, including, in the second letter on 9 August, matters arising out of modi- fications to the Plan that the Council wishes to make. Some of these issues are important enough for the Inspector to state that a further Examination Hearing will be necessary to discuss them. Most notably these include the Council’s proposal to re-categorise five villages (Barkway, Codicote, Ickleford, Kneb- worth and Little Wymondley) as ‘villages for growth’.
This follows his letter of 9 July in which he also stated:
‘These three East of Luton sites are among those where re-evaluation through the Green Belt Up- date has led to a change in the Council’s view. Rather than making a moderate contribution to the Green Belt, the Council now considers their contribution to be significant. Consequently, the devel- opment of them proposed through the Local Plan would be more harmful than previously considered by the Council to be the case. This is a factor that is relevant to the consideration of whether or
6 WWW.CPREHERTS.ORG.UK not exceptional circumstances exist to warrant the ‘release’ of the Green Belt land involved. I have misgivings about the Council’s current demonstration of exceptional circumstances in respect of these sites.’ and, ‘I also have reservations about the demonstration of exceptional circumstances in relation to the land to the West of Stevenage currently in the Green Belt that is proposed to be identified as ‘safeguarded land’ (for future housing development). I have doubts about the strength of the argu- ments underpinning the Council’s justification for identifying this as ‘safeguarded land.’
The Council stated in its reply of 18 July that it would respond in full to the Inspector’s questions once it had received all of the Inspector’s comments. The Inspector’s second letter asked the Council for ‘a real- istic timescale at the earliest opportunity, to assist me with programming for this examination and other work.’ After this he said he ‘will confirm the full list of matters on which I consider an additional hearing to be necessary and I will set out further Matters and Issues, with specific questions to focus those addi- tional hearing sessions. As I previously indicated, I will invite participants to provide statements address- ing the questions therein, in due course.’
The Council replied in a letter (ED 169) dated 26 September 2019, that appeared on the Council’s web- site on 1 October without any public announcement. The letter states that the Council intends to reply in full by 29 November, and gives one of the main reasons for the time taken, as the need for ‘an appropri- ate and robust review of Objectively Assessed Need (for housing) in the light of the 2016-based household projections’ (by the Office for National Statistics). The Council has asked for advice on the latter from consultants, and then intends to review the various issues raised by the Inspector holistically ‘to inform the Council’s position in the round’.
This letter could be very significant, as it seems to show that the Council is taking seriously widespread concerns that the extent of the loss of Green Belt set out in the Plan that it submitted may need to be re -considered in the light of the latest evidence available to the Council and Inspector examining the Plan.
I joined the Hertfordshire Society (CPRE Hertfordshire’s predecessor organisation) in 1976 (annual subscription £2.00) but later as a Life Member. That year on a blazing hot July evening I assisted in the run- ning of a successful Antiques Auction in Knebworth Barns and HM the Queen Mother as Patron donated a silver sugar bowl. Since then I have helped out at Annual General Meetings and events. During the 1980s a small Rural Affairs Committee was formed which I sat on which in time led to membership of the Executive Committee for the maximum permitted term of ten years.
In 2003 I was asked to become a judge for the Village of the Year Awards. Teams of judges went out to look at nominated villages and to meet the community. Their leaders arranged for judges to look at the different aspects of village life, often walking around the village to perhaps a Church where a lunch for older people was taking place, to the school to meet teachers and children or to the village pond to look at their environmental work. There were Youth or Scout group representatives present to describe their important role.
Awards had to be decided on for the community as a whole or the Peterkin Award for an adult individual who had made an outstanding contribution within their village. In 2004 I felt that young people should also be recognised so I created the Abel Smith Award which has been presented each year since. Young people play a vitally important role in society.
For several years the overall Village Award was presented in that village and I recall some memorable occasions and their delicious refreshments. To the excitement of villagers, an annually held totem pole was unveiled to mark the occasion.
By 2012 it was felt the Village of the Year had run it’s course so after a great deal of thought we formed the Rural Living Awards scheme which continues to this day. In the spring information is sent out invit- ing nominations. There are two main categories, Community and Environment. The Peterkin Award and the Young Persons Awards continue and recently a Business in the Community award and a Chairman’s Award have been added. Judges aim to visit all nominees and to see at first hand their dedicated and often unassuming role within their communities. Judges then have the very hard task of deciding who receives the awards at our Awards Presentation Evening in October.
I never cease to be astonished by the sheer hard work and dedication shown by volunteers within our Hertfordshire communities.
WWW.CPREHERTS.ORG.UK 7 CPRE Herts has concerns about the work of the SW Herts Joint Partnership and the manner in which it is proceeding. Five district councils: Dacorum, St Albans, Hertsmere, Three Rivers and Watford have, with Hertfordshire County Council, come together, as encouraged by government, to provide a sub- regional plan. A strategic approach is not the issue but CPRE would argue strongly and encourage members and residents to demand that:
The objectives of the work must align not just with the National Planning Policy Frame- Map showing work but also with priorities that reflect the SW Herts Joint declarations of a Climate Emergency. Partnership
The strategic nature of the plan means it is critical there is early formal public consulta- tion on its overall priorities.
Individual councils are publishing notices on their Meeting the most acute social housing needs websites but there is a worrying absence of refer- and needs of ageing population ence to the climate emergency and what that means in terms of changing priorities. Growth ob- Decarbonising and delivering a low carbon economy. jectives are to the fore. The protection of the countryside and Green Belt is not mentioned but The work is at a higher strategic level but with no the more vague protection of ‘the environment and corresponding elected body. A Joint Member and open spaces’. Officer Board is to be set up. A Memorandum of
CPRE Herts wants to see a joint plan that includes: Understanding has been agreed and a draft State- ment of Common Ground is anticipated this year. No loss of Green Belt Draft documents refer to Regulation 18 Consulta- tion on Issues and Options 2020 and regulation 19 Use of brownfield land first draft plan submission in late 2021.
Inclusion of public transport, mixed uses, At this stage there appears to be no clear role for walkable neighbourhoods and quality places the public. The Plan will become a strategic and binding reference for subsequent local plans so Delivery of the necessary shift towards formal, as well as informal, public consultation on sustainable travel modes, including , rail/ the Joint Strategic Plan is vital and has to be done light rail, clean bus technologies and charging within the context of a declared Climate Emer- points. gency.
Held at Woolmer Green Village Hall on the first Saturday in September, the AGM was a well attend- ed meeting.
We chose a new venue and a new day of the week in the hope that an increased number of people would be able to join us. The intention is to stay at this venue and day next year so please hold the day in your diary now.
An interesting address, “How can we ensure there is positive progress for our countryside?”, was given by Tom Fyans, CPRE Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Policy and Campaigns, and the new look logo was introduced to the meeting.
The usual business was covered and a vote of thanks was given to Eliza Hermann and Rick Sanderson whose terms of office as Trustees had ended. Allan McNab was appointed as a new Trustee.
Questions were taken from the floor and were followed by a raffle, which raised £128, and refreshments. The homemade cakes were delicious.
AGM minutes are available on request from the office and will be available to view on the website.
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This was another successful evening celebrating efforts made by individuals, groups and busi- nesses to improve life in their community and/or The Award Scheme recognises those who work so to enhance the environment in Hertfordshire hard to protect, promote and enhance the country- side and towns or villages to make Hertfordshire a better place to live, work, go to school or enjoy for today and the future. Everyone was eager to hear who would be receiving an Award. Awarded to Friends of Stocker’s Lake. Entirely run by volunteer Friends whose membership is over
700, activities in the Nature Reserve support the ‘key characteristics’ in For a young person up to the age of 21 who has Herts Landscape Character made an outstanding contribution to community Assessment Area 3. The life. work of the Friends promotes access to the countryside, encourages public enjoyment with a Awarded to Max Watts who range of activities for all ages, celebrates the work has been an inspiration to all achieved following gravel-extraction and improves the young people who attend community life. Cattle have been introduced to the West Hyde & Maple Cross graze open meadowland which will encourage Youth Project. He has made plants and other wildlife. an enormous difference to his community and raised a lot of money for local good causes.
For a project that has improved the rural environ- Commendation presented to: ment. Stevenage Youth Council whose members are focussing on the environment and reduction of Awarded to Batford Springs wastage. Volunteers who aim to keep the River Lea chalk stream and banks clear for the enjoyment of the lo-
cals. The conservation ‘As a long time judge, I never cease to group is well led, active be astonished to by just how much good and skilled and some of the work there is within Hertfordshire’s committee members are highly qualified in conser- communities’ vation. This is an outstanding example of commu- D Abel Smith, Lead Judge nity involvement working to improve and enhance the area.
Commendation presented to: Rivers Heritage Site & Orchard for the work done by volunteers to rescue an abandoned site and restore it to the community For a project that is accessible to the community and has improved community life.
Awarded to Mudlarks. They provide supported learning for adults with For an adult over 21 who has made an outstanding learning difficulties and contribution to community life and/or the environ- mental health issues who ment. gain in confidence and self
Awarded to Jonathan For- -worth and acquire im- gham from Little Hadham portant skills which can who took over the manage- lead to college places or meaningful work in the ment of the nearby 3.7 acre community. Our judge said “Mudlarks is a wonder- Millennium Wood in 2012 and ful charity serving many aspects of need.” It is a formed the Friends. He is an tremendous asset to Hertford: the local area has outstandingly enthusiastic benefitted from the improved local environment person who inspires others to share his love of the and has an increased understanding of the needs countryside and encourages a wide range of activi- of individuals with learning difficulties. ties for all ages. Commendation presented to: Commendation presented to: The Community of Goff’s Oak, founded in 1974 Mr Alan Sparshott for working with a team of vol- to fight off threats to the village and still striving unteers over many year to improve the environ- to preserve its rural nature for the benefit of the ment at Digswell Playing Fields. community.
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For a business which has made an outstanding con- ‘The Community judges were especially impressed this tribution to community life. year by the very high standards of the nominations in this category. We continue to be amazed and delighted by the Awarded to Wigginton Vil- commitment displayed by groups around the county lage Shop & Café. This is a working hard to improve their local communities. It’s community-owned and run also heartening to see new groups forming to tackle business at the heart of the issues of concern, alongside longer-established village. Since opening, the organisations.’ shop and café have become E Hamilton, Lead Judge a community hub which has drawn everyone together, with people getting to really know their neigh- bours. Our thanks go to the Chair of Herts County Council who sponsored the evening. Mayors, Chairs and Highly Commended presented to: Councillors from the District and Borough Councils Sarratt Post Office Stores a community owned joined the celebrations and everyone was delighted store which is run by volunteers and offers an im- pressive range of services and a Post Office. to hear about the amazing things happening across the county. Commendation presented to: Tring Brewery for their support of and fundrais- For more information and full judges’ reports ing for Gaddesden Place Riding for the Disabled please visit our website: www/cpreherts.org.uk/ awards
A long standing and well-loved part of the CPRE Hertfordshire calendar, this year’s theme was The Trees of Hertfordshire.
The children were asked to think about trees: what they look like from a distance or close up, the ecosystems they support, how trees help to keep a balance in nature and the benefits they bring to health and wellbeing. The trees could be in the coun- tryside, in their garden, school grounds or anywhere else.
Winning artists received gift vouchers and certificates for their work which was judged by CPRE member and artist Valerie Cansick. Over 800 entries were received making her job difficult but most enjoya- ble. As in previous years, the standard was very high and art teachers should take credit for enabling children to produce such creative pieces of work.
We love including the children and their families in the presentation evening and they all enjoy coming to County Hall to receive their certificates and vouchers, which , this year, were presented by Kevin FitzGerald our Hon Director.
Heath Mount School, Watton-at-Stone took the prize for Overall Winning School. You can find out which other schools had winning entries by taking a look on our website.
Interesting fact: The Charter for Trees, Woods and People sets out the principles for a society in which people and trees can stand stronger together. The Tree Charter was launched in Lincoln Castle on 6 November 2017; the 800th anniversary of the 1217 Charter of the Forest. The Tree Charter is rooted in more than 60,000 ‘tree stories’ gathered from people of all backgrounds across the UK. More information can be found by clicking on the link on our website.
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Over the past 18 months we’ve been finding out how our mem- bers, supporters and the public feel about the countryside, what it means to them and why they care about it. We were delighted to hear that:
80% love spending time in the countryside 90% think the countryside is good for their mental wellbeing 86% think the countryside should be for everyone Over 20 million people would be willing to support a charity that helps them promote, enhance and protect the countryside.
Source: YouGov Profiles GB x CPRE bespoke research April 2019, natrep 1763 adults
However, we also found that just 22% of adults in England have heard of CPRE and, if they have, they’re not aware of all we do. It’s clear we need to make people more aware of our work, attract more support and volunteers – and increase our impact even further.
So, we have been looking at how we can broaden our appeal and be clearer on why we do what we do. There is clear evidence of growing public concern for the environment, the impact of climate breakdown and awareness of the benefits countryside brings to our mental and physical wellbeing. We need to grasp this opportunity so that we can achieve our aim of a thriving and beautiful countryside that enriches all our lives.
We’ve also developed a really eye-catching new look, inspired by the colours and shapes of our country- side and will start to refer to the organisation as ‘CPRE, the countryside charity’ – making it immediately clear what we focus on and that we’re a charity. We’re confident that our new strategic plan and the projects being developed will help us attract new support for our campaigns and put CPRE on a sustaina- ble footing for the next generation.
You will start to see this new look roll-out shortly, together with the launch of a new website. So watch this space!
A right of way is a path that anyone has the legal right to use on foot, and some- times using other forms of transport.
Public footpaths are normally open only to walkers
Public bridleways are open to walk- ers, horse-riders and cyclists
Restricted byways are open to walk- ers, horse-riders, and drivers/riders of non-mechanically propelled vehi- cles (such as horse-drawn carriages and cyclists)
Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs) are open to all classes of traffic in- cluding motor vehicles, though they may not be maintained to the same standard as ordinary roads
If you see a problem please report it on one of the links below
Problems can be reported here: https://www.fixmystreet.com
Hertfordshire definitive Rights of Way: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ services/recycling-waste-and- environment/countryside-access/rights-of -way/current-rights-of-way/the- definitive-map.aspx
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