Countryside Awards 2019 Launched
CPRE Hampshire, the countryside charity, are calling for applicants to take part in their Countryside Awards 2019.
The awards, now in their 13th Year, are a real celebration of the innovative, diverse and sustainable work carried out to enhance and support a thriving Hampshire countryside. Hampshire Fare is proud to be involved in this year's awards through support of the Rural Enterprise category.
With four different categories, the awards are open to a wide range of applicants, each demonstrating their love and engagement with our beautiful county and countryside life.
The categories are Community and Voluntary, Rural Enterprise, Making Places and Young People. All finalists will also be put forward for the Hampshire’s Choice category where the public can vote for their favourite, with the winner receiving £500 towards their work.
The awards are sponsored by Southern Co-op, Hastoe Group and Forest Holidays, with support from Hampshire Fare. They provide a great opportunity to showcase and promote some of the wonderful work being undertaken to enhance our natural world, support a thriving and diverse county and involve and engage local communities with the countryside.
Jill Guppy from last year’s Hampshire’s Choice winners, Winchester Youth Counselling told us what this award meant to them. "We are delighted to have won this award. It means so much to us and the young people we work with. It gave them a real boost of confidence to attend the ceremony and win this award, they felt so proud of themselves. Together with our partners from the Wildlife Trust, we were really chuffed and can’t thank CPRE Hampshire and the sponsors enough for this great award".
CPRE Hampshire Chief Executive Charlee Bennett is looking forward to viewing the entries. "The Countryside Awards have grown from strength to strength every year. The range of activities and projects highlighted through these awards is staggering with so many people becoming involved with the local Hampshire Countryside. The Awards offer an amazing opportunity for groups, organisations or individuals throughout Hampshire to showcase the work they do. This year we really want to see work that is focussed on engaging people and the community with their countryside – be that through outdoor activities, well-being focus, conservation and regeneration, building beautiful spaces or providing delicious local produce – we want to hear from you all.’
The Awards are open from 18th March and the winners will be announced at a special ceremony on 17th September with guests including the Lord Lieutenant for Hampshire.
Entries are open from 18th March – 7th June. Full details of the entry criteria and application form can be found on the awards section of the CPRE website at www.cprehampshire.org.uk or email Penny at awards@cprehampshire.org.uk for further details.