Latest news, stories & updates from CPRE Leicestershire

This planning guide has been produced by CPRE, the Countryside Charity and NALC, to help everyone navigate and understand the planning application process in England. It condenses technical information and simplifies planning jargon. It will guide you step-by-step to help you understand planning issues and to present your views effectively when it matters most!

A growing number of residents are speaking out against a proposed industrial and logistics development near Junction 22 of the M1, close to Ulverscroft and Markfield. The site sits within a sensitive part of Leicestershire’s countryside, connected to the Charnwood Forest landscape and within reach of the National Forest. It includes areas of woodland, hedgerows and open land that form part of a wider green corridor supporting local wildlife and well-used walking routes. A pet

We are pleased to inform you the March 2026 newsletter is now available. It shares a snapshot of what’s been happening across CPRE Leicestershire over the past couple of months – and what’s coming next. You can read the full newsletter here and catch up on the latest from the team.

Leicestershire Landscapes Are Worth Protecting Leicestershire’s landscape is diverse, rich, and worth protecting. The county’s landscape is generally gentle and agricultural, shaped by centuries of farming or mining, and with only a small amount of forest cover. Its natural beauty and regional distinctiveness are not well known. However, the countryside is surprisingly diverse with six National Landscape Character Areas identified. These range from the unique upland of Char

Stoneywell Cottage is the only National Trust building in Leicestershire. It was owned by a family who participated in the Arts and Crafts movement and there are very few comparable cottages elsewhere in England. Stoneywell Cottage | National Trust Stoneywell is located in the heart of Charnwood Forest and was designed by Ernest Gimson as a holiday cottage for his brother, Sydney. The building is dated 1899 and the construction work was overseen by Detmar Blow, Ernest Gimson

We’ve highlighted some green places throughout the county for you to explore. Blaby Fosse Meadows, Sharnford Fosse Meadows has something for everyone. The site was once farmland owned by the Archer family and purchased by Blaby District Council in the late 1980s for the public to enjoy. There are extensive paths that lead through woodlands and flower meadows with the opportunity for bird watching. There is a wildlife lake with bird hides and a riverside walk that leads to a w