THE Hampshire branch of a rural environment charity will host a 50th anniversary talk on Saturday.

National chief executive Shaun Spiers will deliver the speech on the half-century of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

Locally, the charity celebrates five decades of campaigning for the countryside of Hampshire, while nationally this year marks the CPRE’s 90th year.

Starting from noon at Littleton village hall, near Winchester, the Hampshire meeting will begin with the annual meeting before welcoming Mr Spiers, who will speak about CPRE’s challenges and its vision for the future.

Before taking up office at the CPRE in 2004, Mr Spiers was chief executive of a credit union trade association. From 1994 to 1999, he was an MEP for the South East, serving on the European Parliament’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.

He is a trustee of Sustain, the alliance for food and farming, and was a founder trustee of Civic Voice.

Dee Haas, chairman of CPRE Hampshire, said: “Please join us as we celebrate a landmark year for CPRE, both locally and nationally.

“In Hampshire we go from strength to strength, even as the challenges facing us multiply. We continue to campaign to maintain the delicate balance between progress and preservation. After the talk, you are welcome to stay for a light lunch and to share some 50th birthday cake.”

There will also be a display of CPRE Hampshire’s work over the years.

For more details, visit cprehampshire.org.uk, e-mail [email protected], or call 01962 841897.