Events
close
all 
Click each month's title bar to reveal the month's events or click expand all months 
to see all the content or read a summary report of past events 2010
2011 January
No events
2011 February
No events
2011 March
No events
2011 April
Thursday 7th April 2011
CPRE Bedfordshire 24th AGM
Stotfold Mill, an idyllic rural setting on the edge of the small town of Stotfold, to the east of the county, with views across the river Ivel, was a perfect setting for our well attended AGM. It was also a venue that CPRE Bedfordshire has acknowledged in its Living Countryside Awards, because of the outstanding restoration following a devastating fire in 1992, for the community vision and involvement and for the imaginative scheme of creating a Nature Reserve-the Mill Meadows –alongside. The rebuild was a huge initiative on the part of local people to turn around an almost helpless situation. It has justly been given numerous awards.
Members tour of Stotfold Mill after 2011 AGM
Following refreshments, our Chairman, Geoff Lambert, gave an upbeat message about some of the busy work of this small branch. Peter Scott was elected Vice Chair. Three new members were elected to the Executive Committee: Alex Munro, our young planning volunteer; Ann May, a retired teacher and a warden of Tiddenfoot Waterside Park, a restored sandpit at Leighton Buzzard; Rosalie Lamburn, a retired music teacher who runs the Kingfisher Way Festival around Moggerhanger, now in its 3rd year. Retiring members, Maureen Hall and Colin Carpenter will continue to remain active volunteers with Maureen maintaining our membership records. Suzanne Yates, our new Hon Secretary, masterminded organising the evening.
Alice Crampin receives CPRE Countryside Medal from Branch Chair Geoff Lambert
Our long term volunteer Alice Crampin was presented with CPRE’s Countryside Medal, on behalf of the Region: For dedicated service to CPRE Bedfordshire. A summary of Alice’s work for CPRE will be published in the autumn edition of Bedfordshire Matters.
Paul Redwood then presented a brief history and account of the restoration of the Mill drawing attention to the various awards received including CPRE’s. This in itself was good publicity for the branch and the value of its Awards scheme.
The evening concluded with guided tours around the mill, given by some of its many volunteers. Stotfold Mill is well worth a visit and needs your support. Stotfold Mill website ![Stotfold Mill website [new window]](../images/navs/page_out_02.jpg "Stotfold Mill website [new window]")
Read the Trustees Report for 2010 (PDF 68KB).
2011 May
No events
2011 June
Wednesday 29th June 2011
Summer evening walk at Wassledine, Upper Gravenhurst
The local branch of CPRE arranges an annual summer evening guided walk to a site of great beauty in the countryside, perhaps under threat from development or that we have given an award to. Sometimes the sites are special farms and in areas little known to the general public.
In June 2011 some 36 CPRE members and friends were guided round Wassledine, a meadow farm in Upper Granvenhurst owned by Jane and Guy Lambourne.
Wassledine won a top award (CPRE Mark) in last year's Sustainable Living category of CPRE's Living Countryside Awards
Find out more about Wassledine on their website www.wassledine.co.uk
Jane Lambourne with her Red Poll cattle - © Barry Halton Photography
Summer walk down to the meadows at Wassledine Farm
Martin demonstrates basket making from 30 types of willow grown on the farm
The evening light across the fields at Wassledine Farm
2011 July
Sunday 10th July 2011
Ampthill Festival Gala Day
Branch volunteers attended the very pleasant annual Gala in Ampthill Park on Sunday 10th July. We tried a new idea of giving away cakes and biscuits (for a small donation) to entice people to look at our stand. Why not come along next year?
In the displays, we drew attention to a number of hot spots in the county under threat from development, whether from windfarms or the massive incinerator proposed in the Marston Vale. Ampthill residents have been much concerned with large scale housing development in recent years and planned for the future. Some years ago, CPRE successfully campaigned to have an important area of Green Belt retained to stop coalescence with the neighbouring village.
Alex Munro, a young planning volunteer, welcomes passers by to the CPRE stand at Ampthill Gala. Alex helped to explain CPRE's main objections to the incinerator proposal in the Marston Vale.
Peter Scott explains to local residents where planned development will go in Ampthill.
CPRE accepted that some development, whether housing or employment, had to be included in the local plan but we argued strongly against development on a former Green Belt site which marks an important approach to this lovely Georgian market town in Central Bedfordshire with its ancient church crowning the hillside.
More information about the festival is available at www.ampthillfestival.co.uk
Ampthill Great Park, Ampthill is located off B530 (Woburn Street, Ampthill) OS Grid TL024382 ands TL028382
2011 August
No events
2011 September
3rd and 4th September 2011, 11am - 5pm
Woodworks Festival
CPRE Bedfordshire's stand at the 2011 Woodworks Festival. Two days of wood craft, trees, machines, real ale, arena displays and fantastic folk and roots music at the Forest Centre and Millennium Country Park
Millennium Country Park, Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire,MK43 0PR
2011 October
Friday 7th October 2011
Living Countryside Awards 2011 Presentations
Presentations ceremony at Shortmead House, Biggleswade made by Peter Kendall President of the NFU.
Read about the Living Countryside 2011 awards results on our dedicated page.
Download our leaflet showing some examples of this years entries PDF 1.26MB.
Read more about Shortmead House and Gradens 665KB
Shortmead House
Shortmead Lane
Biggleswade
SG18 0FG
2011 November
Friday 25th November
The Rufus Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick, MK45 1AH
Planning Skills Workshop Programme
HOW CAN I MAKE IT WORK FOR ME?
Almost 100 delegates attended this successful workshop as part of the ‘Supporting Communities and Neighbourhoods in Planning’ funded by the Dept of Communities and Local Government; arranged by CPRE and the Bedfordshire Association of Town and Parish Councils (BATPC) . In addition to learning about the planning system, delegates worked in groups on case studies to help them become more actively involved in local planning, either as individuals or on behalf of their local council or community group.
To quote a delegate:
We were steered through the complex issues by planning consultant Michael Brooks ably backed up by Ann (CPRE) and Louise (BATPC) and their team.
It was most helpful at this time of change and uncertainty in local planning to be looking forward with the guidance of an expert who has a grasp on the emerging national policy in the Bedfordshire mosaic.
The venue was ideal for the size of the group and we were well catered for. The food was abundant and enjoyable, as was the coffee/tea; the arrangements made sure queueing was reduced to a minimum. Flitwick was a central venue too.
Thank you to all of the team for an excellent day, with a particular thanks for the information pack to support the incisive and knowledgeable leadership of Michael Brooks
Ann May, delegate.
Michael Brooks addresses a large group of delegates at the Planning Skills Workshop
Michael Brooks explaining the Planning System to delegates at the Planning Skills Workshop
Suzanne Yates, CPRE Bedfordshire Hon Secretary, welcomes delegates to the Planning Skills Workshop
Find out more about planning on CPRE National Office Planning Help Website
2011 December
No events
Please note that some events must be pre-booked.
Follow this link to view .............. Events 2006
Follow this link to view .............. Events 2007
Follow this link to view .............. Events 2008
Follow this link to view .............. Events 2009
Follow this link to view .............. Events 2010
Follow this link to view .............. Events 2011
2011 © Campaign to Protect Rural England County of Bedfordshire Branch Registered Charity 1023435
