ENTRIES are open now for Wiltshire’s Best Kept Village competition run by Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).
Entries are encouraged from villages large, medium and small across the county – and anyone from a village can enter.
CPRE Wiltshire’s branch chair, Anne Henshaw, said, “We’re very excited to be launching the competition this year, and are looking forward to many more entries. Wiltshire has some beautiful villages within the county and I know how much previous winners value the recognition this competition brings.”
Anyone in a village can pull an entry together and coordinate preparations for judging – it doesn’t have to be led by the parish council. All entrants need to submit is one form, a map and a short village report and to let their parish council know they are entering. Entries need to be in to CPRE Wiltshire no later than Friday 21st April.
For the second consecutive year, the competition is being generously sponsored by CCm Technologies, a sustainable/cleantech technology company based in Swindon, and prizes of up to £200 are awarded.
“We encourage all villages, irrespective of their size, to enter this celebration of Wiltshire’s beauty. The winners of the various sections will receive great recognition and publicity for their efforts,” said Pawel Kisielewski, chief executive of CCm Technologies.
The judges consider presentation – tidiness, absence of litter and evidence of community spirit and involvement – but do not award marks for the beauty of buildings, otherwise the same villages might win every time! Last year’s winners were Whiteparish, Hindon and Rushall. The winner of winners was Bratton.
The first round of judging in the 2023 competition will take place from 15th May to 11th June.
Find out more on CPRE Wiltshire’s website www.cprewiltshire.org.uk/ or by contacting CPRE Wiltshire by email admin@cprewiltshire.org. uk or telephone 01380 722157.
