A list of the top 25 countryside icons [1] was created for public vote this week from a selection by award winning authors, journalists, photographers and filmmakers including Alan Titchmarsh, Alice Temperley, Michael Palin, Kevin Spacey and Sebastian Faulks. Their diverse nominations include Land's End, crags, canal boating and post boxes.

The top 25 were drawn from 70 icons featured in a new book, Icons of England [2], published this week by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) [3], which pays homage to the stunning countryside and the historic monuments and locations that set this country apart from the rest of the world.

All the icons can be viewed and voted for online, at www.cpre.org.uk

CPRE are asking the public to help choose the number one favourite icon of the countryside – either from the 25 selected or by nominating something new.

Bill Bryson, President of CPRE said:

‘With difficulty we chose 25 countryside icons for the public vote. And if we have missed out on an important icon then people can nominate a new one.’

Those who take part in the online poll will be entered into a free draw to win one of 5 copies of the book Icons of England signed by Bill Bryson, CPRE President and contributor to the book.
 
Bill Bryson concluded:

‘There is much to celebrate about our wonderful countryside and we would urge everyone with a love of that countryside to forget, for a moment, about the credit crunch or similarly weighty subjects, and help us celebrate what makes this Island a unique and special place to live.’

Vote for an icon at www.cpre.org.uk

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The list of top 25 countryside icons as chosen by a selection by award winning authors, journalists, photographers and filmmakers comprises:

• Berkshire Downs by author and retired jockey Dick Francis
• Bonfires by journalist and presenter Tom Heap
• Canal boating by actor and director Kevin Spacey
• Cattle grids by journalist Leo Hickman
• Chalk horses by writer Peter Marren
• Church spires chosen by historian Dr Simon Thurley
• Cider orchards by designer Alice Temperley
• Clouds by author Gavin Pretor-Pinney
• Corner shops by poet Daljit Nagra
• Country houses by journalist Simon Jenkins
• Crags by actor and TV presenter Michael Palin
• Dartmoor by editor Satish Kumar
• Dawn chorus by sound recordist Chris Watson
• Land’s End by secretary general of the Muslim Council Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari
• Malvern Hills by poet and musician Benjamin Zephaniah
• Milestones by artist Kurt Jackson
• Norfolk Broads by journalist and TV presenter Nicholas Crane
• Post boxes by writer and photographer Peter Ashley
• Pub signs by author Sebastian Faulks
• Spurn Head by poet and critic Sean O’Brien
• Stiles by author David Lodge
• Totnes Castle by journalist and TV presenter Lucy Siegle
• Wasdale, Lake District by photographer Joe Cornish
• Water meadows by poet Wendy Cope
• Wildflowers by gardener and TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh

2.  Icons of England was published on 5 September 2008 by CPRE in association with Think Books and Pan Macmillan. Copies of the book are available to buy online at www.cpre.org.uk/support/icons-of-england at a special price of £16.00 including UK p&p or from good bookshops (RRP £20.00), hardback, 176 pages, ISBN 978-1845250546.

3. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

4. To request a review copy, please contact Sandra Taylor at Pan Macmillan Publishers – tel: 020 7014 6000, email: s.taylor@macmillan.co.uk