Outdoor group observing a man working with branches

Who We Are

We are the countryside charity for Leicestershire. We want a thriving, beautiful countryside for everyone.

We work locally in Leicestershire and through our national office in London to stand up for the countryside: to protect it from the threats it faces, and to shape its future for the better.

The thing about CPRE’s work is that you don’t notice it. People only notice the beautiful rolling farmland, the hedges, woods and trees alive with birds, the biodiverse field margins and much loved and valued local green spaces and countryside. Most have no idea how hard won it can be to keep it that way.

CPRE nationally has been standing up for the countryside for 100 years, and here in Leicestershire for 90. In that time, we’ve helped to influence and apply planning laws that have, against the odds, preserved the special beauty and character of the countryside.

The Trustees

Adrian Jarvis

Chair

I have lived in Leicestershire all my life and my love of the local countryside started at an early age. I have precious memories of time spent with family and friends in Bradgate Park, Swithland Wood, Beacon Hill and other delightful places around the city and county. From the freshness of spring, the warmth of summer, the renewal of autumn, to the crispness of picture postcard winters.

Our Leicestershire countryside faces substantial challenges, but the rewards for its protection and enhancement will leave a legacy that future generations can cherish. I am honoured to be Chair and it is a privilege to work with Trustees and Members and to collaborate with partners and the wider community, so we can all make positive progress for our countryside.

Man with glasses and beard, outdoors on a path

Tony Simpson

Treasurer

Tony joined CPRE in 2017 and became Honorary Treasurer soon afterwards. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has worked within Finance for the NHS since 2005, but his passion is the preservation of the countryside of his beloved Leicestershire.

He is a keen cyclist, and his travels have taken him all over the county, making it clear to him that the natural environment is under threat from development and needs to be protected.

Having stood down as Treasurer in 2023 after six years in the role, as required by the Branch Constitution, he was reappointed in January 2025.

John Marriott

Trustee

Before I retired, I used to be a Chartered Civil Engineer with a career embracing transport and planning, and I am concerned about the lack of integration between the two.

I have visited many parts of the UK, and I am constantly amazed at its hugely varied and enjoyable countryside and am keen to help ensure it is not wasted.

We must reduce our adverse impact on the countryside to help the environment and tackle Climate Change.

Rita Bullivant

Trustee

I was born in Leicester and grew up in the city centre. My primary school teacher, to whom I shall be eternally grateful, introduced all of us to the countryside, and I have been passionate about the countryside around us and how precious it is.

I recently became a trustee so I could help and do more to help the cause. I am a full-time working mum with 2 young girls, a dog, cat & plenty of fish – in the pond…

Smiling woman and gray Great Dane outdoors

Anne Thomas Hughes

Trustee

With extensive experience of over 27 years in business growth, marketing, tech, HR and operations, I feel privileged to be working with CPRE Leicestershire to drive new initiatives to see its success over the coming years. This is a very important charity that connects people with the beautiful countryside of Leicestershire.

I am a strong believer in community and as I spend many of my days walking in the Leicestershire countryside, it is clear there is a large population here that appreciates it and are motivated together to effect positive, local, changes that will perpetuate. I am passionate about conservation, encouraging nature and wild spaces and have been studying hard and taking action to do everything I can within my own environment and sharing the knowledge I gain.

(pictured with my favourite walking buddy)

Ryan Astill

Trustee

Ryan Astill was born in Leicester and has lived in the county all his life. He is an RTPI chartered town planner, and also director and owner of Astill Planning Consultants Ltd, a multidisciplinary firm of planning consultants and architects with offices in Leicester and Kent.

Ryan received his Master’s Degree in Town and Country Planning from the University of the West of England.

With the combination of his educational background, work experience, and professional practice, Ryan will be ideally placed to offer key guidance and expertise to CPRE in all things planning. He will be an integral member of the Planning Committee being established by new Planning Manager Paul Barber, and his skills will complement those of his fellow trustees and the Executive Team.

The Team

Woman and brown Dachshund dog with blue eye at picnic table

PJ Surani

Branch Development Manager

As the new Branch Development Manager, PJ is dedicated to building strategic partnerships that lay a strong foundation for CPRE Leicestershire’s exciting growth. With a deep appreciation for the region's diverse landscapes, she is passionate about the charity’s mission to champion sustainable planning and protect our rural spaces for future generations.

Living in Charnwood, PJ considers it a privilege to have some of the county’s best walks right on her doorstep, trails she frequently explores with his miniature dachshund. An avid outdoor enthusiast, she also enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, and camping across the region. When she isn’t working to advocate for the countryside, PJ stays active in her local community through volunteering, tending to her garden, tackling DIY projects, or relaxing with a good book.

Andy Vaughan

Marketing & Community Engagement Lead

Andy has spent 35+ years in marketing roles for organisations such as WH Smith, BSS & Travis Perkins. As our Community Engagement & Marketing Lead, he is responsible for building links with local communities, parish councils, businesses and volunteers as well as promoting the activities of CPRE across Leicestershire.

Andy lives in South Leicestershire and enjoys spending time out and about in the countryside walking (with or without his dog).

He plans to walk 1000 miles in 2026. Andy is also a big fan of darts, American football and is a published novelist currently working on his second (and third) books.

Smiling woman in cap, glasses, denim jacket, by the sea

Toni Blagoeva

Digital Marketing Executive

Toni joined CPRE Leicestershire in early 2026, bringing six years’ experience in digital marketing, mainly within the charity sector. She’s always been drawn to good causes backed by good people, and CPRE Leicestershire is exactly that.

Growing up in Bulgaria and later moving to the UK, Toni has always felt closely connected to nature. It’s where she feels most at peace. The idea of justice has always mattered to her, and she believes we all have a responsibility to protect the natural environments we’re lucky enough to access, and to respect the wildlife that depends on them.

With that passion at the heart of her work, Toni is excited to help CPRE Leicestershire reach new audiences and bring more people into the conversation about protecting and enhancing our local countryside.

Paul Barber

Planning Manager

Paul is the new Planning Manager for CPRE Leicestershire.

He has ten years’ experience working in Local Planning Authorities and has recently completed a Master’s degree in Planning Policy and Practice, an RTPI-accredited course at London South Bank University.

He's passionate about protecting Leicestershire’s countryside and green spaces and is keen to support CPRE Leicestershire’s work in promoting sustainable development, safeguarding rural landscapes, and ensuring local voices are heard in planning decisions. He's really pleased to be involved and eager to help preserve the character and environment of our county for future generations.

Blonde woman with decorative facial markings

Sarah Cunningham

Branch Administrator

Sarah grew up in the far west of Cornwall, then rural Oxfordshire, and spent much of her childhood exploring the local countryside. This gave her a lifelong love and respect for nature, which continues to this day. Now living in the East Midlands close to the Leicestershire border, she still gets out in the countryside as much as she can.

Sarah has had a varied career, having worked in the commercial and higher education sectors before moving into the voluntary sector. After more than ten years working for an environmental NGO on direct marketing campaigns and events, followed by a longer-than-expected career break as a stay-at-home mum, she is delighted to be back among like-minded people, working to protect the natural world on our doorstep.

(pictured at a Wear It Wild day)

Black and yellow bumblebee on dried fern leaves

Join us

Leicestershire’s environment is constantly changing and planning decisions have and will have a significant and lasting impact on the future character of this beautiful county at the heart of rural England. Planning is central to CPRE’s concerns and work and so we are actively involved in the planning system nationally, regionally and locally.

If you are already a CPRE Leicestershire member, you could help us by monitoring developments in your part of the county.

Do you value Leicestershire’s beauty? Do you want to protect it?

Help us fight for Leicestershire’s countryside.

Come and join CPRE Leicestershire and fight to ensure that Leicestershire remains a beautiful county at the heart of rural England.

Become a Member

Who We Are

We are the countryside charity for Leicestershire. We want a thriving, beautiful countryside for everyone.

The Trustees

The Team

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