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.

Local History

The Battle of Hambledon Hill

The fascinating history of compassion, bravery and pitched battle in Dorset during the Civil War is told by Rupert Hardy, chair of North Dorset...

21 May 2022

Rural Matters

Would you consider a Prefabricated home?

We’ve come a long way since the temporary post-war emergency housing gave prefabricated a bad name, says Rupert Hardy, chair of North Dorset Council...

9 April 2022

Rural Matters

Huge growth in community-led projects…

...but we need more volunteers and more progressive action from town councils copying successful schemes elsewhere, insists Rupert Hardy, chair of North Dorset Council...

14 March 2022

Rural Matters

Why is Dorset so slow to adopt a policy of solar panels on roofs?

There is a political battle raging over giant solar farms which blight the countryside and reduce food production, and smaller less impactful initiatives. Dorset...

9 February 2022

Rural Matters

BIMBY – Beauty in my backyard

The CPRE is often accused of being NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) - Rupert Hardy explains that the correct accusation is that CPRE...

22 January 2022

Dorset Charity

Crushing rejection of the draft Local Plan’s Housing Strategy

The CPRE feels Dorset Council’s summary of responses to the consultation on the Draft Local Plan raises more questions than it answers, says Rupert...

10 December 2021

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