A HAMPSHIRE countryside charity has appointed four new trustees to join its 118 strong team.

CPRE Hampshire, a charity that campaigns to “promote, enhance and protect” the countryside announced the new appointments on Thursday.

This comes after a recruitment drive following the departure of two of its longstanding trustees, Caroline Dibden and Robert Jamieson who stepped down at the last annual general meeting after completing their term.

The new members join a team of around 115 volunteers and three part-time staff across the charities six voluntary district groups and its Winchester office.

The new trustees at the charity are Neil Henderson, a barrister of 15 years’ standing; John Lauwerys, who worked for many years in university management including as secretary and registrar of the University of Southampton; Liz Michel, a geology graduate turned senior marketing executive and John Rosling, an experienced business leader, director, academic and author. Dee Haas, chairman of CPRE Hampshire said he is “very pleased” to have an “experienced and talented group” joining the charity.

He added: “Thanks to their support, and that of our members and other volunteers, CPRE Hampshire can even more effectively promote, enhance and protect the countryside in Hampshire.

Members will get the opportunity to meet the new trustees at a virtual meeting on April 24 where they welcome a guest speaker from the national charity chairman Simon Murray.