Monthly Planning Group Meeting
We discuss the Dorset Council Local Plan, BCP Local Plan, consultations and planning related matters. The next meeting is on 13th May 2026, 10am. The meeting is open to Dorset CPRE members who pay a membership subscription. Please contact us for the Zoom link if you would like to join the meeting.
2026 Summer Planning Conference – 9th June, 6:30pm
Free online conference ‘Getting the Balance right between Dorset’s Housing, Nature and the Countryside’ on 9th June 2026, 6.30pm – 9.15pm. View programme, Timetable and book now.
Farm Visits 2026
Talk and Tour of Travellers Rest Farm, Durweston, Blandford Forum on 21st May, 11am start. Members, please see our dedicated
Talk and Tour event page for the programme and booking link. There is no fixed charge, however, we recommend a donation of £5 per person which will be collected on the day and George Hosford will donate the funds to a farming charity.
Countryside Forum Meetings 2026
Four meeting dates, Fridays at 10am: 6th February (via Zoom), 15th May, 11th September and 6th November (via Zoom).
Trustees Meetings 2026
Four meeting dates, Fridays at 10am: 20th March, 5th June, 2nd October & 4th December.
2026 Centenary Celebration event
2026 marks CPRE’s centenary year, we will host a celebration event on 25th September. Members will receive an invitation by post with the spring magazine due out in May.
Annual Branch AGM 21st November 2026, 11am, at Cerne Abbas Village Hall
This marks CPRE’s Centenary year. Simon Murray, Chair of National CPRE, will talk us through the first 100 years of CPRE since the pioneering days of 1926. Our President, Kate Adie, chairs the meeting. Please visit our dedicated
AGM resources page to view the draft Minutes, approved constitution and year-end accounts.
2025 Summer Planning Conference – ‘Net Zero Homes. Can Dorset Do it?’
Our planning conference in 2025 looked at how Dorset can rise to the challenge of ensuring that all new homes meet net zero. Presentations from Greencore Homes, University of Bath, Barefoot Architects and Dorset CPRE. The event brought together industry experts, policy makers, developers and academics to discuss the latest innovations and challenges in zero carbon sustainable housing. Links to presentations and recordings.
The Sherborne and District Society
2026 Committee Meetings: Meeting held on Monday 26th January, next date Wednesday 15th April 2026.
AGM: 2026 date to be added when confirmed, normally held at Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne, 6pm for 6.30pm. Refreshments will be provided before the meeting starts.
Summer party:
North Dorset Group
Committee Meetings 2026: 2nd March, 6.30pm, via Zoom.
AGM and Talk: 31st March 2026 North Dorset AGM, 5.30pm, at Clayesmore School. Guest Speaker is Dr. Miles Russell, Director of Fieldwork in Dept. of Archaeology at Bournemouth University. He will give a talk on the “Importance of the Archaeological Excavations at Winterborne Kingston”.
The 2025 guest speaker was, Kate Adie, Dorset CPRE President, who gave a talk on “A Correspondent’s Life”. The 2024 guest speaker was George Hosford, ex-Chairman Dorset NFU, who gave a talk about the Future of Farming in North Dorset.
The Oak Fair at Stock Gaylard will be celebrating its 20th event in 2026 – a celebration of countryside, woodland, timber, traditional craft and above all, conservation. We have a stand at the fair which has a conservation and country activities bias for those who have not been before. Stock Gaylard Estate is a small traditional country estate just over 4 miles from Sturminster Newton and 8 miles from Sherborne.
Poole & Purbeck Group 2025
Committee Meetings: Meet at CJ’s in Lychett Minster, BH16 6JE.
Gerald Rigler, Poole and Purbeck Chair, organised four ‘get-together’ dates in August 2025, for members to share their views with Gerald and help us focus on the concerns of local CPRE members. Details were shared by email with members.
West Dorset Group
Dates to be added when confirmed.
2026 Induction Day with National CPRE for new volunteers
The online induction sessions are a great opportunity to find out about CPRE’s history, vision and strategy, and to learn about the support National CPRE teams can offer.
Thursday, 22nd January, 2-4pm
Wednesday, 11th March, 10-12pm
Monday, 11th May, 5-7pm
Wednesday, 22nd July, 10-12pm
Thursday, 10th September, 2-4pm
Monday, 23rd November, 5-7pm
2026 Planning Inductions with National CPRE for new volunteers
These online inductions are held 4 times a year, and are particularly targeted towards new CPRE planning volunteers; however, members are welcome to come along and get involved.
Friday, 16th January, 1-2:30pm
‘The Dorset Review’ magazine
Deadlines for articles are 28th March (Spring edition) & 15th September (Autumn edition).
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