Exhibition marks 100 years of countryside protection

A new exhibition at The Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL) celebrates 100 years of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), the charity which has been pivotal in shaping and preserving England's countryside.

Voices of the Countryside: 100 Years of the Campaign to Protect Rural England delves into the remarkable history of CPRE since its foundation in 1926, exploring how the charity has held policymakers to account, protected rural landscapes, and kept the countryside accessible to all.

The exhibition highlights CPRE's major achievements over the past century, including the creation of England's national parks and green belts, campaigns to limit light pollution and litter, regulation of housing development, advocacy for local food production and more.

Dr Ollie Douglas, Curator of MERL Collections, said: "This exhibition tells the story of one of the most influential conservation charities in England's history. For 100 years, CPRE has been at the forefront of protecting our countryside, from creating the national parks we still treasure today to fighting for dark skies and green spaces. We're proud to celebrate their centenary and show how grassroots campaigning has shaped the rural landscapes we all enjoy."

'Courage and imagination'

Visitors can explore the exhibition in the museum's Staircase Hall, discovering how CPRE transformed the preservation of England's rural landscapes through determined campaigning and advocacy.

Roger Mortlock, chief executive of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: “For 100 years, the Campaign to Protect Rural England has stood up for the countryside and this exhibition is a reminder that when the countryside is under threat, people step up defend it. The next chapter of countryside protection will demand collaboration, courage and imagination. If the last 100 years have taught us anything, it’s that when people come together around a shared love of the countryside, lasting change is possible.”

Alongside Voices of the Countryside, The MERL is also launching Radical Rural, a trail through the museum's galleries highlighting additional movements, artists, and writers who champion rural England's people and places. The contents of the trail range from rural artworks and protest banners, to a costume of Old Crockern, the legendary folk spirit who protects Dartmoor.

The Voices of the Countryside exhibition and the Radical Rural trail both run until 24 May 2026.

For more information, visit The MERL website.