Campaigns Update

We have been blown away by your incredible support for the Sunshine Bill. Over 10,000 of you wrote to your MPs to ask them to show up and say yes to rooftop solar.

The Sunshine Bill was debated in the House of Commons yesterday (Friday 17 January) and was adjourned, and will be revisited in July. Our campaigning doesn't stop here. Thanks to your incredible efforts, over 90% of the UK’s MPs have been contacted - and we’ve received encouraging responses and backing from them. Look out for updates soon as we look to positively influence both the Sunshine Bill, and the upcoming Future Homes Standard. 

As we step into 2025, we’re celebrating the incredible growth, impact, and dedication of our volunteer movement at CPRE over the past year. From Countryside Day to citizen science projects and restoring hedgerows and grasslands, your passion has been at the heart of everything we do.

With 70% of UK land farmed and 300,000 jobs in England tied to farming, forestry, and fishing, climate action is essential for food security. While agricultural emissions have dropped by 12% over the past 30 years, climate change continues to challenge farmers with rising temperatures, droughts, and floods that threaten their livelihoods.

To adapt and thrive, farmers need proper support to become stewards of our land. That’s why we’re urging ministers to back the Climate and Nature Bill on 24 January. This vital legislation will help farmers adapt, restore nature, and protect our countryside for future generations.

Did you know the countryside near our towns and cities plays a key role in bringing Christmas dinner to your table?

Our latest research, released in December, highlights the importance of farmland in England’s Green Belts and peri-urban areas, which produces a significant share of key foods such as potatoes, vegetables, oats and barley.

But this vital farmland is under threat. New ‘grey belt’ proposals could pave the way for development in these areas, jeopardising the working farms we depend on for food security. We’re calling on the government to protect these essential landscapes for food, nature, and the climate.

Becoming a CPRE member is a great way to support a thriving countryside for all. By joining, not only will you benefit from discounts at some of our most beautiful gardens, country houses and attractions, but with your help, we can stand up for our countryside and ensure that the needs of our communities are heard in this busy political landscape.

Best wishes,

Lewis

Lewis Townsend

Communications Manager