A young person from West Sussex and a collaborative housing initiative have both been selected as finalists for a prestigious national award celebrating rural achievements.
Connor Carruthers, aged 17, is among the contenders in the Young Countryside Changemaker division of the CPRE Centenary National Awards.
The nomination stems from his documentary project focusing on Kent’s Minster Marshes.
At 15 years old, after discovering plans for a National Grid converter station in the region, he initiated the film project.
The documentary, which he both narrated and composed music for, had its first screening at the Natural History Museum and has contributed to increased public understanding of the marshland’s wildlife, including beaver populations.
Also selected as a finalist is the Arundel Gate Partners initiative, recognised for its community-led housing scheme located in Arundel.
The development provides 90 new residences alongside biodiverse open spaces intended for community use.
Nancy Duckels, who serves as campaigns and communications manager at CPRE Sussex, expressed that the rural challenges confronting the country are substantial, yet so too are the innovative approaches being developed to address them.
The CPRE Centenary National Awards acknowledge individuals and initiatives that deliver practical, community-focused solutions spanning areas from shared housing projects to youth-led environmental efforts.
The awards programme highlights the contributions of individuals, enterprises and community organisations dedicated to safeguarding and improving rural landscapes throughout England.
The announcement of winners is scheduled to take place at a ceremony held at the Houses of Parliament on Thursday, October 29.