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39-673: The Saffron Trail was conceived by David Hitchman in 2000, as a south-east to north-west route to complement the two west-to-east long-distance paths: the Essex Way and St Peter's Way . The name recalls the cultivation of crocuses in the Saffron Walden area from which the spice saffron is obtained, and which gives the town its name. The trail starts at the pier in Southend-on-Sea ( 51°32′03″N 00°42′53″E  /  51.53417°N 0.71472°E  / 51.53417; 0.71472 ), in

78-690: A circular mauve marker with a purple crocus and the text "The Saffron Trail". The trail has several railway stations on the route or nearby, as well as some rural bus services. The Saffron Trail passes through the following locations: Southend Pier (start), Leigh-on-Sea , Hadleigh , Eastwood , Hockley , Hullbridge , Battlesbridge , Rettendon , East Hanningfield , Danbury , Chelmsford , Broomfield , Great Waltham , Howe Street , Littley Green , Felsted , Little Dunmow , Great Dunmow , Little Easton , Great Easton , Tilty , Chickney , Henham , Widdington , Newport , Wendens Ambo , Audley End station , Saffron Walden (finish). The highest point of

117-621: A cutting). 1961-1980 CPRE worked on the issues of indestructible plastics, loss of hedgerows, energy infrastructure and the UK coastline. When the M4 was built in 1963 CPRE successfully fought to protect the Berkshire Downs . It also began to seek for tighter control on advertising hoardings along roadsides. 1981-1990 This era saw the creation of protected Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, something CPRE had campaigned for along with others. Attention

156-403: A five-year research – 'Mapping Local Food Webs' (2007–2012). Campaigns support farming funding that will stem loss of smaller farms and the diversity they provide (2017). There is campaigning against large-scale fracking operation in the UK, that will destroy large areas of the countryside and exacerbate the global plastic binge (2018). A photography competition was started in 2016 to celebrate

195-590: A pioneering new methodology in 2006. CPRE also published similar maps focusing solely on light pollution in 2003. In 1996, English composer John Rutter wrote the words and music for an anthem entitled "Look at the World" in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the CPRE. In April 2006 CPRE Peak District & South Yorkshire sought to clarify its identity across its vast territory by operating under two distinct identities. Due to its long association with Peak District National Park,

234-485: A quarterly magazine entitled 'Countryside Voices', and can opt to receive 'Fieldwork' which contains details of campaigns around the UK. The CPRE promotes a large number of rural attractions such as gardens, houses and museums, by means of its annual Members' Guide. The 2012 Members Guide was supported by the National Farmers Union . In 2015, CPRE published the 'Warm and Green' report, which sheds new light on

273-423: Is "a vital but undervalued environmental, economic and social asset to the nation." They aim to "highlight threats and promote positive solutions." They campaign using their own research to lobby the public and all levels of government. CPRE was formed following the publication of "The Preservation of Rural England" by Sir Patrick Abercrombie in 1926. Abercrombie became its Honorary Secretary. The inaugural meeting

312-481: Is also a focus on reducing “clutter” in the form of unnecessary road signs and advertising billboards in the countryside and seeking ways to protect quiet rural roads. Tools to map tranquility in the countryside are being developed for use by local and regional planners. Effort is put into reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the fight for farmers to be recognised for the work they do in protecting

351-497: Is given to campaigns against 'surface' or opencast mining . CPRE has challenged the government to modify HS2 rail plans to remove all planned out-of-town interchange ("parkway") stations as well as challenging the potential Oxford–Cambridge Expressway . Suggestions have been offered for a range of practical measures to be adopted by central and local government in order to support local food businesses so that they can provide fair and affordable prices. Preliminary work consisted of

390-556: Is really 'under concrete' (including roads, railways, car parks, etc.). It is nevertheless the case that in 2017/18, 8.9 km of previously undeveloped Green Belt land changed to a developed use, of which 2.9 km turned into residential use. Figures from the British YIMBY movement have criticised the CPRE, accusing it of denying the British housing crisis and significantly underestimating housing need in high-cost areas to justify

429-450: Is thus to be expected that tensions will arise between and among food producers, residents, planners, builders, industrialists, environmentalists and others. Points of view vary significantly and CPRE thus has its critics. Some critics characterise CPRE as being: CPRE has changed its positions on issues over time. For example, in December 2008 George Monbiot of The Guardian interviewed

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468-417: The 10:10 project in 2010 in a bid to reduce their carbon footprint. One year later they announced that they had reduced their carbon emissions (according to 10:10's criteria) by 12%. In the UK, there are competing demands on the use of land for biodiversity, food production, housing, recreation, health and well-being. Movements of populations and climate change exacerbate the pressure of these demands. It

507-675: The Council for the Preservation of Rural England and the Campaign to Protect Rural England , is a charity in England with over 40,000 members and supporters. Formed in 1926 by Patrick Abercrombie to limit urban sprawl and ribbon development , the CPRE claims to be one of the longest running environmental groups in the UK. CPRE campaigns for a "sustainable future" for the English countryside. They state it

546-867: The Saffron Trail (a 71-mile/114 km walk from Southend-on-Sea to Saffron Walden ), the John Ray Walk (a 9-mile/14.5 km walk from Braintree to Witham), and the Essex Clayway (a 28-mile/45 km route linking the Essex Way at Coggeshall to St Peter's Way at Mundon). The Essex Way is well served by public transport, especially by train services. Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 "Explorer Maps": Epping Forest & Lee Valley No. 174, Chelmsford and The Rodings No.183, Braintree and Saffron Waldon No.195, Sudbury, Hadleigh. Campaign to Protect Rural England CPRE, The Countryside Charity , formerly known by names such as

585-611: The Countryside Act 1949. There were also CPRE campaigns for subsidies for rural housing and for adequate publicity for planning enquiries. This period also saw the 'Best Kept Village' and ' Keep Britain Tidy ' initiatives. When England's first motorway the M1 was proposed in 1957, CPRE successfully campaigned for it to avoid the heart of Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire (the road was put into

624-705: The Crouch and Roach estuaries) intersects at Hockley. Essex Way The Essex Way is a waymarked long-distance footpath 81 miles (130 km) long, along footpaths and roads in Essex , England . The trail starts in Epping in the southwest, crosses Dedham Vale and Constable country to finish at the port of Harwich on the Stour estuary. It leads through ancient woodlands , open farmland, tree-lined river valleys and leafy green lanes, unveiling historic towns and villages along

663-594: The Dark Skies heading, in 2013, Star Count was launched. This is a campaign to stop light pollution by involving the public in star-counting in order to map light pollution across the UK and raise awareness. A related idea is reducing the impact of light pollution, reducing carbon budgets and saving money by pushing councils to adjust street lighting. Under the What gets built where heading, CPRE's includes influencing development plans at local , regional and national level. There

702-530: The Government announced that it is considering the introduction of a deposit return scheme to increase recycling rates. It is hoped by CPRE that the scheme will include all single use drink-containers, whether plastic, glass or metal. According to the main CPRE website, campaigns in 2022 are now grouped under the broad headlines, Dark Skies, Hedgerows, What gets built where, and the Climate Emergency. Under

741-406: The Government's first ever Environment White Paper accepted the case for hedgerow protection, 20 years after CPRE's campaign was first launched, and in 1997 laws to protect hedgerows finally came into force. In 1995 CPRE published “tranquillity” maps which show the diminishing areas of the countryside not disturbed by man-made noise , visual intrusion or light pollution . These were updated using

780-518: The YIMBY movement, this is a distraction from the necessary infill development in and around major urban centres, which is claimed to offer significantly more potential to meet housing need inside urban areas. In October 2020 however, a CPRE report revealed that there is enough brownfield land for 1.3 million new homes and over half a million already have planning permission. In 2024, CPRE Hertfordshire were criticised by one Hertfordshire local authority about

819-488: The beauty of Dorset's countryside (2016). CPRE's national office is at 5–11, Lavington Street, Southwark , London. It also has offices in the eight other regions of England . In addition there are CPRE branches in each of England's counties and groups in over 200 districts. All but two of the 43 CPRE branches are independent charities of their own. CPRE Durham and CPRE Northumberland are subsidiaries of national CPRE. Each CPRE branch has its own website. Members receive

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858-454: The character of the countryside. Planners are lobbied to ensure that as many new developments as possible are built on Brownfield (rather than Greenfield ) land. In particular CPRE is fighting for the protection of green belts . There is emphasis on reducing litter in rural areas across England via local action and events and lobbying government. Under the Climate emergency heading, support

897-515: The character of towns and to give town dwellers easy access to the countryside. In the war years, CPRE was identified as a stakeholder that government ministries were required to consult with over proposed use of land in rural areas for airfields, training camps and war industries. 1941-1960 CPRE campaigning helped lead to the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 and the National Parks and Access to

936-459: The countryside. However, perhaps as a result of this pressure, in 2010, campaigning against inappropriate mineral extraction by opencast mining started to be featured under the 'Climate change and natural resources' section of CPRE's website. In 2011, the CPRE argued that not enough public consultation had been done on HS2 though a 5-month public consultation was currently being run at the time. The CPRE has been accused by some of exaggerating

975-435: The creation of national parks in especially beautiful areas and used for the recreation of those living in cities, for the reservation of farming belt zones around towns and cities so as to keep fresh produce close to urban markets and against urban sprawl and uncontrolled ribbon development . It also began arguing the case for protecting areas of England's most beautiful countryside, and for setting up green belts to preserve

1014-482: The extent of intrusion in the early 1960s, early 1990s and 2007. They cannot be reproduced. In July 2024, Mary-Ann Ochota was elected President of the CPRE. She was previously interviewed by CPRE and described time spent in green space as "a wonder drug". In 2013 there was agreement to place electricity transmission lines underground in some National Parks, something CPRE is still campaigning for. In 2018 after CPRE's 10-year campaign against drink-container litter,

1053-587: The inviolability of the Greenbelt. YIMBYs have claimed that this policy denies both rural and urban communities the housing that, if planned correctly, they would want to build. The alleged success of CPRE's campaign to restrict housing on the rural-urban fringe has led John Myers, co-founder of London YIMBY, to describe it as 'the NRA of the UK' (referring to the National Rifle Association of America , rather than

1092-608: The organisation operates as the Friends of the Peak District in the Peak District National Park, High Peak Borough and six parishes of North East Derbyshire (Eckington, Unstone, Holmesfield, Killamarsh, Dronfield, Barlow). In 2007 CPRE published a series of intrusion maps which are in development which highlighted areas disturbed by the presence of noise and visual intrusion from major infrastructure. The resulting maps show

1131-596: The scale of the energy problems and the solutions needed to tackle them. During the same year CPRE earned the Bankside Star by contributing significantly to the Together at Christmas gift collection campaign for the homeless, vulnerably housed and elderly people. CPRE has influenced public policy relating to town and country planning in England , most notably in the formation of the National Parks and AONBs in 1949, and of green belts in 1955. It claims some credit for

1170-455: The slow shift of agricultural policies across Europe away from a price-support philosophy to one of environmental stewardship, a policy shift begun in England. Campaigns against noise and light pollution have been pursued over recent years, and CPRE is now focusing on "tranquillity" as a key aspect of the countryside which CPRE wants to see protected in England's planning policies. CPRE joined

1209-416: The south-east of the county, and goes north-west across urban and rural Essex. It goes through fields and woodland, over commons, alongside rivers, through historic villages, and some built-up areas and finishes at the church of St Mary in Saffron Walden ( 52°01′28″N 00°14′19″E  /  52.02444°N 0.23861°E  / 52.02444; 0.23861 ). The trail is waymarked in both directions by

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1248-407: The then CPRE head, Shaun Spiers , about the organisation's opposition to wind farms but not opencast coal mines . George Monbiot asked why he couldn't find any opposition of the CPRE to surface coal mining over the past five years, and pointed out that the negative effects that coal mines cause by removing the soil from large areas are much greater than the negative effects wind energy might have on

1287-570: The threat to rural England and of being alarmist by warning that the Green Belt is in danger of being 'concreted over'. According to a right-wing think tank , the Institute for Economic Affairs , only about one-tenth of the English surface area, (rather than the Green Belt) is 'developed' in the broadest sense; about half of this 'development' consists of domestic gardens, leaving only one-twentieth which

1326-421: The unrelated British NRA ). A CPRE report admits more housing is needed but challenges the government statistics on numbers, stating they are based on aspiration rather than observed need. Criticism has also been targeted at the CPRE's emphasis on the use of brownfield sites over greenfield sites as a first choice for building, accusing it of overstating their ability to meet Britain's housing need. According to

1365-810: The walk is 121 m (397 feet) near Widdington; the lowest point is at sea level at Southend pier. The Saffron Trail adjoins several long-distance paths: Essex Way (an 81-mile (130 km) east to west walk from Epping to Harwich) intersects at Great Waltham; St Peter's Way (a 41-mile (66 km) east to west walk from Chipping Ongar to St Peter-on-the Wall at Bradwell-on-Sea) intersects at East Hanningfield; Harcamlow Way (a 141-mile (227 km) figure-of-eight walk from Harlow, Essex to Cambridge and back) intersects at Saffron Walden; Thames Estuary Path (a 29-mile (47 km) west to east walk from Tilbury Town station to Leigh-on-Sea station) intersects at Leigh-on-Sea; Roach Valley Way (a 23-mile (37 km) circular walk around Rochford and

1404-530: The way and includes an accommodation guide for the whole route. The Essex Way was conceived as a result of a competition organised by the CPRE in 1972. The Essex Way crosses several other long-distance footpaths including St Peter's Way (a 45-mile/72 km walk from Chipping Ongar to Bradwell-on-Sea ), the Three Forests Way (a 60-mile/97 km circular walk linking Epping, Hatfield and Hainault forests),

1443-449: The way. The route is waymarked by Essex Way plaques and direction arrows. The original CPRE signs were dark green, but most of these have now been replaced with Essex County Council plaques depicting two poppies on a white background. These are attached to fingerposts, stiles, gates, footbridges and posts. The waymarks, together with the maps in the guidebook, make the walk easy to follow. The guidebook illustrates points of interest along

1482-607: Was also paid to campaigns for sustainable energy generation and the use of brownfield land for building. In 1985 in a campaign to reform the EC's Agricultural Structures Directive, CPRE stopped funding for many damaging agricultural activities and secured the first “green” farm payments. In 1988 it helped persuade the Chancellor of the Exchequer to scrap tax incentives favouring blanket conifer plantations in upland areas. 1990 onwards In 1990

1521-804: Was held in December 1926 at the London offices of the Royal Institute of British Architects and was addressed by Neville Chamberlain , a future prime minister . Various groups were involved in its formation including the National Trust , the Women's Institute and the Commons Preservation Society . Molly Trevelyan was the WI representative and she served on the founding committee. The early years In CPRE's first years, it campaigned for rural planning, for

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