cprederbysandnotts.org.uk ## Welcome to our Annual Report for 2025 ## Chair’s Message At the heart of CPRE’s mission for the last century has been the vision of a beautiful and resilient countryside for everyone — today and for future generations. If you already support us by being a member of CPRE Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, thank you! We rely on your contributions to carry on operating our volunteer-run charity. If you’re not yet a member, you would be welcome to join us via our website. Individuals can join from £3 per month, households from £7 per month and organisations/ groups/councils from £5 per month. You’ll receive CPRE’s seasonal magazine Countryside Voices and regular local news updates, plus you’ll have access to a dedicated Planning Volunteer for your area. Read more in this Annual Report about some of our work during 2025; the merger of our two county groups, community energy, our recently completed Hedgerow Heroes project and our planning activities, as well as how to get involved in some of the events coming up to celebrate CPRE’s 2026 centenary. Remember to let us know by 15 May if you’re attending the AGM, how many seats you need and whether you have any dietary requirements or allergies. Our new email address is **committee@cprederbysandnotts. org.uk.** It’s fun and free to attend and members and non-members are welcome. I look forward to seeing you there. John Ydlibi, Chair **Your invitation to our Annual General Meeting** **Join us for our AGM on Saturday 13 June 2026 at Cresswell Crags Visitor Centre, Crags Rd, Creswell, Worksop S80 3LH in the education room** Parking is free (you must register your number plate with reception on arrival) ## **Agenda:** **10am -** Arrival and refreshments **10.30am -** Welcome and free tour “Life in the Ice Age” **12 noon -** Buffet lunch provided **1pm -** AGM formalities **1.45pm -** Farewells and departure (remember to pick up your new limited edition centenary CPRE pin badge!) **RSVP by 15 May by email or by post (see back page)** CPRE Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire | April 2026 ## Our 2025 Accounts ## Our new charity CPRE Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire As you may know, our Derbyshire executive committee was asked to help run CPRE Nottinghamshire in 2025 following a number of volunteer resignations. We began by recruiting and training new Planning Volunteers to fill the gaps and took action to place the charity on a better financial footing. Due to CPRE Nottinghamshire’s deteriorating financial position and lack of senior committee members, unfortunately it was not able to continue as a separate charity. With the agreement of members at our respective AGMs last year, we agreed to join forces to have a stronger voice across both counties and **merged to become CPRE Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire** on 1st January 2026. The merger was approved by all our Trustees and endorsed by national CPRE. We have since set up our new website, social media pages and email address and are finalising updates to our records held by the Charity Commission Members are not required to make any changes to their payment details and should enjoy an increase in CPRE activity in Nottinghamshire going forward. Together we can do more CPRE Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire | April 2026 ## A Community Energy Vision for Crich A successful grant application by one of our Trustees meant that in 2025 we were able to complete our second Community Energy Visioning project, this time with residents of the villages of Crich, Fritchley and Whatstandwell. CPRE Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire partnered with Keele University and, in collaboration with the Transition Crich group, hosted a series of three workshops engaging the community in envisioning how the local landscape might accommodate new renewable energy projects. The resultant vision was published in a report, which contained not only the facts and figures, but also a local artist’s watercolour visualisations of what the renewables might look like in their proposed locations. We were able to put Transition Crich in touch with our friends from the Energy Group at nearby Bonsall village, where we ran our first Community Energy Visioning project in 2023, so they can share their knowledge and experience. The Transition Crich energy working group is now taking the Vision and working towards making it a reality, with a focus on solar panels for residential/commercial rooftops, potential for up to three medium wind turbines and enhanced home insulation/heat pumps. We wish them every success! ## Hedgerow Heroes During the winter of 2025/26, CPRE Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire has played an important role in the charity’s ambitious national effort to plant 100 miles of new hedgerows across England, in celebration of its centenary. Hedgerows are often described as the unsung heroes of the countryside and with good reason. They store carbon, prevent soil erosion, provide natural flood management, shelter livestock and support more than two thousand species. Yet the UK has lost up to half of its hedgerows since the Second World War - an astonishing decline CPRE is determined to address. CPRE Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire joined forces with Groundwork Five Counties to deliver a substantial programme of hedgerow planting, laying and restoration - transforming landscapes and bringing communities together. Starting in November 2025, dozens of amazing volunteers, including a group of enthusiastic primary school pupils, exceeded our target and delivered a mighty **2,400 metres of new hedgerows.** Great job! **13 beautiful rural locations** **155 willing volunteers 26 days 11,393 hedgerow whips planted 212m of existing hedgerow rejuvenated** CPRE Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire | April 2026 ## Planning Round-Up ## An Overview We campaign for green spaces that support sustainable, healthy communities and that are rich in nature, offering environmental, social and wellbeing benefits. We want the countryside to be valued, not just for recreation or scenic beauty, but as a vital part of our way of life. This vision drives our action on a wide range of issues; from challenging the new greybelt definition to help protect the green belt and encouraging brownfield development and rooftop solar over greenfield sprawl, to enhancing biodiversity, campaigning for genuinely affordable houses, reducing environmental harm and tackling climate impacts through nature-based solutions. ## **Matlock Wolds - A Local Success Story** Members of a local campaign group, Save Our Greenfields, battled against the odds to save the Matlock Wolds (pictured below) from a development of over four hundred new houses. The planning application was originally refused by Derbyshire Dales District Council but the developer appealed their decision. In March 2025, a public inquiry was held, where CPRE Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire spoke against the proposal and members of the campaign group, without legal representation, brought all their local knowledge and expertise before the Planning Inspector. After an agonising wait, the Inspector dismissed the appeal! ## **Mega-Solar in Nottinghamshire** Three Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) are causing great concern in North Nottinghamshire. These are One Earth Solar, Steeple Renewables and Great North Road Solar, totalling almost 2,000MW in size. Together they threaten approximately 5,500 hectares (13,500 acres) of agricultural land, decimating rural landscapes and leaving some communities potentially surrounded by industrial scale solar panels. CPRE met with campaign group members and visited affected areas last year. We have strongly objected to all three NSIPs in line with our policy statement on renewables, which you can read on our website. One Earth Solar currently sits with the Secretary of State for a final decision. The other two proposals are both under examination by the Planning Inspectorate, with outcomes also expected this year. Now the group is campaigning to remove the site from being allocated for housing in the Local Development Plan. ## **2026 Centenary Celebrations - Look out for more details online** **If you weren’t able to join us for our Hedgerow Heroes project or our centenary walk at Attenborough Nature Reserve, there are plenty of other opportunities to get involved.** - **We’re launching the our Centenary Edition Living Countryside Awards to recognise individuals and groups who have gone the extra mile to protect, promote and enhance the countryside. Don’t miss our free photo competition too with a chance to win £250!** - **th** - **The AGM is on the 13 at Cresswell Crags - more about this on the front page of this report.** - **th** - **Our Garden Party on 25 July will see a number of invited guests enjoy a guided tour, wine tasting and afternoon tea at Amber Valley Wines in Wessington. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for sun!** **An evening online talk “Derwent Valley: The Making of a Photo Book” by popular feature writer and photographer Ashley Franklin on 26th August at 7pm.** - **A “Walk On The Edge” on the 20th connecting the threatened Dale Abbey and Kirk Hallam greenbelts.** - **Run (or walk) with us when we partner with The Whitworth at Darley Dale for Park Run on 10th October.** **Celebrate dark skies with us on the evening of 24th November at Sherwood Observatory, with a talk, planetarium show and, weather permitting, a look through the telescopes.** c/o 46 Mansfield Road, Brinsley, Nottingham, NG16 5AE email: committee@cprederbysandnotts.org.uk Registered charity numbers: 258946 and 213481