Help save your countryside for the better! - CPRE

Hello, my name is Sophie and I would just like to thank you for taking an interest and reading my blog. My theme is about urban sprawl (development of buildings across rural land) and how campaigns like CPRE try to prevent too much of it. Unfortunately, over time, England has lost a vast amount of rural land. Many businesses have built houses and constructions all over England to make money. Many animals are losing their habitats for humans to build their own. Hopefully my blog will be able to teach people about the bad effects urban sprawl is having on small communities and animals across England.

There are many things that I would like to achieve from my advocacy, these are:

• To raise awareness- I would like to raise awareness by helping people to understand the issue of urban sprawl and how CPRE wants to stand up for the countryside.
• Change attitudes/opinions- I want to change or improve people’s views and perspectives on this issue. With understanding and persuasion I must try to steer you into a direction where you can see my point of view and have more interest in the issue.
• Make companies and businesses consider the damage they might cause by building all over the countryside. Building a housing estate would affect the surrounding areas like small communities or villages and all animals/ insects that once lived there. I believe that there is a more sustainable way of allowing people to build yet not destroying more rural land, by building on brownfield sites instead of greenfield and searching for abandoned, run-down accommodations and refurbishing them then selling them on. If the government is reminded of this idea and eventually act upon it then England countryside will be heading for a brighter future.

Right now there are houses being built near my home. I live in Highweek village, on the edge of Newton Abbot. The village is surrounded by fields but unfortunately, organisations like Lemon Grove, Daracombe and St. Leonards are building more than 750 houses all the way from Highweek to Seale Hayne. All the amazing views of fields and countryside are gradually being taken away

“A major CPRE campaign to protect Kent's Green Belt has won the backing of local people and encouraged councillors to ensure new housing goes on 'brownfield' first”…

Before Christmas, CPRE Kent’s Alex Hills led a 30 person protest outside Gravesham Council office in protest at their plans for up to 920 new homes on Green Belt. 1,000 letters of objection were also sent to the council, and hundreds turned up to two separate protests before Christmas.

“The protesters were determined yet very good natured - even on a cold night," said Alex. “The sites contain many key species of birds such as owls and many insects that are under threat due to loss of habitat.”

The branch gave detailed written evidence against the plans and Kent County Council responded in full agreement, saying they believed Gravesham Council had not justified seeking development sites within the Green Belt and should focus on reusing brownfield sites.

All the hard work paid off at the end of January, when the future of the Green Belt was secured as Gravesham council backed down. They conceding that any new homes needed over the next 18 years could be provided through existing development schemes. Alex confirmed that most of the new proposals were on derelict industrial sites and the branch hailed it as a major victory for the Green Belt and people power.

 Green Belt land near Meopham has been saved from development

CPRE is a great campaign that helps save rural land from disappearing by increasing building developments. I feel that this campaign is important because once our fields are gone they’re gone forever and it would be so upsetting that if, in 30 years’ time, we have no gorgeous fields and meadows for us to admire. But why should you care? Well, if you’re an animal lover then I’m sure you would hate to see animals losing their habitat just because of human greed. It is vital that CPRE receive enough donations to proceed in their progress and if all of you could consider donating or spreading the word about this issue and CPRE then that would be much appreciated.

Thank you once again for reading my blog. Please take the extra time just to quickly answer the following questions to respond to my blog.

1. Had you heard of CPRE before reading my blog?
2. Do you now feel more informed about the issue of urban sprawl and also CPRE?
3. Would you now consider any of the following:

• Donating money to CPRE?
• Raising awareness of this campaign to anyone you know?
• Signing a petition in order to support CPRE?
• Start or join a fund raising campaign?

If you do post a response, please can you tell me where you’re from i.e. your home town & country (if not UK?) For more information on CPRE please visit the website mentioned below.
http://www.cpre.org.uk/

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog, it has helped me a lot!
Sophie :)