CPRE Herefordshire Marks 100 Years of CPRE with Centenary Day at Queenswood

CPRE Herefordshire celebrated CPRE’s centenary with a Centenary Day at Queenswood Country Park on Sunday 21 June 2026.

Across morning and afternoon sessions, visitors enjoyed guided arboretum walks, live music, a children’s playground and refreshments, marking 100 years since CPRE, the countryside charity, was founded in 1926.

A Centenary Day rooted in Queenswood’s history

There was nowhere more fitting for the celebration than Queenswood. The 170-acre site was purchased by CPRE Herefordshire in 1934 and gifted to the council for local communities to enjoy. Nine decades on, it remains one of the county’s most-visited free green spaces, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors every year.

What happened on the day

The morning session opened with breakfast and live guitar by Hereford-born David Roberts, while the afternoon brought high tea and music from the Hereford-based Minerva String Quartet. Throughout the day, families followed guided arboretum walks and explored a display charting CPRE’s work from 1926 to today, including the branch’s Hedgerow Heroes and Citizen Science projects. A huge thank you to David and the Minerva Quartet for such beautiful music and to Hereford Wildlife Trust for hosting us.

From 1926 to 2026: a 100-year history

CPRE’s mission has not changed in a century: to protect, promote and enhance the English countryside. Today that national movement spans 40 county branches and more than 40,000 members and supporters.

Find out more about CPRE’s history

In Herefordshire, we outlined our 95 year history and highlighted our two main projects. Firstly our River Wye Citizen Science project manages 500 volunteers who take weekly samples from the Wye Catchment to provide vital evidence for the Environment Agency and other governing bodies to make the changes needed to improve the health of the River Wye. Secondly Hedgerow Heroes is restoring and planting hedgerows in support of CPRE’s national goal to grow England’s hedgerow network by 40% by 2050. For those who could not attend, we will be adding our history to this website, sign up to our newsletter below for details.

CPRE Centenary Day: your questions answered

Whose centenary was it? It is the centenary of CPRE, the countryside charity, founded nationally in 1926. CPRE Herefordshire, the county branch, was formed a few years later and hosted the Herefordshire celebration.

How can I get involved? You can support the branch’s work in Herefordshire by becoming a member or volunteering with Hedgerow Heroes and Citizen Science.

Get involved here

Thank you to everyone who attended and all who worked so hard to make it happen.