About

CPRE’s Countryside Day is a celebration of the countryside and all it has to offer.

To mark the occasion, join us in the beautiful surroundings of Ilam Park in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Everyone is welcome, both members and non-members.

The provisional format for the day is as follows:

11am: Tea, coffee and biscuits at YHA Ilam Hall
11:30am: Optional AGM and review of the year
12:30pm: Lunch
1:30pm: Choice of plant identification walk or countryside walk
From 4pm: Finish (tea, coffee and biscuits available at YHA Ilam Hall)

Elli Moody, director of policy and advocacy at national CPRE, will be joining the AGM to give a presentation on national CPRE's work and plans for the future, and we'll look back at what Staffordshire has achieved over the past year.

Children are welcome if accompanied by an adult. Assistance dogs only.

Option 1: Plant Identification Walk

Led by Suzanne Hill and another expert guide, we'll walk for about 3 miles at a leisurely pace, stopping along the way to take a look at some of the edible plants that can be found on riverside paths, woodland and hedgerows. During the course of the walk, you'll learn about what and where we can forage, how to do so safely and sustainably and how to start identifying wild food with confidence. Suzanne will also share some ideas of how to incorporate wild food into cooking and recommend resources to take your foraging knowledge further.

There may be a couple of uphill sections but nothing too strenuous. The walk is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs.

This walk will last for about 2 hours.

Option 2: Easy countryside walk

This will be a leisurely walk of around 3 miles (1.5 hours) led by Steve Sankey, one of our trustees. This walk is not suitable for wheelchairs.