The plan to cover 2,700 acres (more than 4 square miles) of Devon farmland in the heart of the countryside at Holsworthy Beacon with solar panels and batteries would be one of the largest solar farms in Europe, if built. As a ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project’, the plan will not be approved by the local […]

The results are in and it’s official – Devon’s got talent! Six young Devon artists, including two twelve-year-olds from Pilton Community College in Barnstaple, have successfully demonstrated their creativity and eye for composition in this year’s Devon Best Young Landscape Artist Competition.  The judges, Devon CPRE’s Director Penny Mills and Exeter-based professional landscape painter Kath […]

Thank you very much to the Kingskerswell Natural History Society who invited us to give a talk to them last week. Steve Crowther and Penny Mills very much enjoyed the evening and hope the Society did too! If you are involved with a local organisation in Devon who would be interested in hearing from us, […]

Thank you very much to all our members who came to our AGM at the Exe Valley Farm Shop, Thorverton, near Exeter.  It was great to see so many people, and from right across the county. And special thanks to our fantastic guest speaker. Dr Todd Gray MBE, who gave a fascinating talk about the […]

We are faced with yet another large solar farm in Devon.  This time at Talaton, East Devon.  The site comprises 147 acres of farmland, some 60.7% of which is graded Best & Most Versatile (BMV) – Grade 2 and Grade 3a.   We have submitted a comprehensive objection to the application as it conflicts with national […]

All members are invited to our AGM, which this year will be held on Wednesday 1st October 2025 at 2.30pm at Exe Valley Farm Shop, Thorverton, Exeter EX5 5LZ We are delighted that our guest speaker will be Devon’s pre-eminent historian, Dr Todd Gray MBE, and his talk will be The Lost Heritage of Devon 1500–1945  […]

Summertime means show time!  Penny Mills, Director Devon CPRE We’ve had a particularly busy summer season this year, attending several one-day agricultural shows – Mid Devon, North Devon and most recently Okehampton, and the Mullacott Alpaca Day – as well as the Devon County Show, which we’ve never had a stand at before. We were […]

We were very pleased to be given the opportunity to speak at a special meeting organised by Alverdiscott & Huntshaw parish council to discuss the Bulworthy solar farm and Battery Energy Storage System planning application.  Alverdiscott village hall was full of local people all coming to hear more about the proposal, to ask questions, and to […]

10% of Devon farmland to go by 2050! Find out why and what we can do about it, at our stand at this year’s Okehampton Show. We are looking forward to being at this year’s show.  Please come and say hello and have a go at our cow-co-nut shy to try to win a prize!  […]

Torridge District Council have permitted an Energy Storage System (ESS) at Gammaton, near Bideford. The controversial application didn’t even go to the planning committee, but was permitted by the planning officer, despite objections – including our own. And the Planning Inspector has allowed the appeal for a BESS at Pyworthy near Holsworthy, also in Torridge.  […]