2025 Living Countryside Awards

Since 2008 CPRE Bedfordshire’s Living Countryside Awards have been celebrating the people and projects making a difference across the county.  The awards put the spotlight on volunteering and community action, projects that are good news for nature, and local producers. 

This year’s categories are:

Grassroots and green shoots

This category celebrates community action and volunteering, it recognises community groups and projects that are making a difference to the natural environment and the community in which they are based.

What might entries look like?

• Community responses to Climate Emergency
• Local Action Groups standing up for the countryside
• Community led projects that benefit the environment and people
• Regenerating health and wellbeing projects that use the countryside or urban green spaces
• Projects that improve access to the countryside

The 2023 winner – Inclusive Farm

The judges highlighted the inspiring can-do attitude of the team and the way the project could act as a blueprint for others to follow

Keep it wild

This category celebrates projects that nurture nature, recognising groups that are working to improve biodiversity.

What might entries look like?

• Protecting habitats and improving biodiversity
• Regeneration of Urban Green spaces
• Tree or wildflower planting
• Restoration of hedgerows

The 2023 joint winners – Friends of Harrold Odell Country Park / Barton Hill Farm

At Barton Hill Farm the judges liked the ways in which the farm goes the extra mile to create habitats for wildlife and their willingness to engage with the public; while at Harrold Odell Country Park they were impressed by the sense of community amongst the volunteers and the variety of ways in which they are engaging visitors with the biodiversity of the country park.

Made in Bedfordshire

This category champions local food, drink and crafts, recognising local producers of food, drink, arts and crafts who through their work, either directly or indirectly enhance the rural environment and the rural economy.

What might entries look like?

• Food or drink that is produced locally
• Makers of traditional crafts
• Artists that are inspired by nature or the countryside
• Groups or organisations that support or inspire the development of local makers

The 2023 winner – Warden Abbey Vineyard

The judges were impressed by the emphasis on inclusion and wellbeing for both volunteers and visitors, alongside preserving Bedfordshire’s heritage.

Bedfordshire Choice

Alongside the three categories CPRE Bedfordshire will once again be running our popular Bedfordshire Choice award. This award goes to the project that best promotes a living and thriving countryside as chosen by the people of Bedfordshire.

The 2023 winner – Friends of Windsor Drive Community Open Space

The judges praised the way the group has led positive change, turning the space into a real community asset with an inclusive ethos.

What do I need to do to enter?

There is a simple online form. You’ll be asked for the following pieces of information: 

• Which category you are entering 
• Name of project 
• Website 
• Project address and postcode 
• The name of the project coordinator or manager 
• Their email address 
• A contact phone number 
• Your name and email address (if you’re not the project coordinator) 
• A project description (300 words max) Please describe the project and say how it meets the criteria for the category. 
• How is this project making a difference in the community and beyond? (300 words max) 
• You will be able to upload ONE photo of your project to show what it is about

You may enter if you are a previous winner or applicant, but your entry must clearly demonstrate that it is a new project, or that an existing project has developed significantly since the last application.

Enter online by April 27th 2025.