CPRE Leicestershire

The Leicestershire Branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England

Formerly the Council for the Protection of Rural England

Saving Tranquil Places

The two maps below show CPRE's attempt to plot the extent of the loss of tranquillity over a three-decade period. This study concentrated primarily on the invasiveness of noise. The new study, 'Saving Tranquil Places', concentrates on many more factors contributing to the sense of what we perceive as 'tranquillity'. Tranquil places are important for our mental and physical health, our well-being and our economy. CPRE's new approach to measuring and mapping tranquillity offers an important new way for Government and policy-makers at all levels to protect and enhance our priceless and increasingly threatened countryside and parklands.

The new map for the East Midlands complements the map above, though the further erosion of tranquillity is evident after more than another decade:

This extract shows an area to the east of Leicester with the A47(T) being the linear pattern of red squares.

The new tranquillity maps are built up by overlaying 44 different factors onto 0.5 x 0.5 km squares. These factors are those which either add or detract to peoples' sense of tranquillity. Thus, the new map for the East Midlands has built up a detailed analysis of tranquillity and goes much further than a straightforward noise survey.

The full tranquillity picture for England is available here.

This link also gives you access to the MP3 sound files recorded for CPRE's 'Sounds of Tranquillity' CD. This CD can be obtained from our National CPRE Office.

You can be assured that this 'relaxation' recording really does the trick!

The following files give more detailed information, primarily for planners and other non-lay readers:

CPRE's Tranquillity Mapping Project has been made possible through the support of the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and the Ecology Trust and with the assistance of the Countryside Agency. Much of what CPRE achieves is only possible because county branch volunteers give their time and energy freely. CPRE is a registered charity (the Leicestershire Branch Charity Number is 258151) relying on membership subscriptions, donations, legacies and corporate membership. To assist us in our work please contact supporterservices@cpre.org.uk or 'phone 020 7981 2870.