Category: Rural Matters

The Rural Matters section is a special section sponsored and reserved for the local CPRE.

The CPRE or Campaign to Protect Rural England is a charity set up to help protect the rural countryside.

In this section you will find articles mainly by Rupert Hardy, Chairman, North Dorset CPRE. There are ocaisonally guest writers but always from the CPRE.

We like that the subject matter is wide and varied, from dark skies, to planning, hedgerow maintenance to Fingerposts.

Always something new and always interesting to read. The CPRE’s main aim is to help make the countryside a better place for us all to live.

Rural Matters

The wrong place

As solar farms creep across our farmland, CPRE’s Rupert Hardy asks why rooftop panels are still overlooked in the rush to meet clean energy...

10 May 2025

Local History

Sun gods over the Blackmore Vale

CPRE’s Dark Skies adviser Richard Miles delves into the past to discover some remarkable connections hidden in our local landscape You may be surprised to...

22 April 2025

Property law and finance

Does Labour hate the countryside?

North Dorset CPRE’s Rupert Hardy sees a fight coming as Labour’s rural policies begin to spell trouble for Dorset’s countryside Since Labour entered government it...

16 February 2025

Rural Matters

Green fields threatenedin the rush for green energy

Historic farmland faces an industrial transformation, says Peter Neal, president of the Sherborne & District CPRE We’re all for green energy, but without a more...

16 December 2024

Dorset community news