Wiltshire Best Kept Village competition to return for 2026

Wiltshire Council is inviting villages around the county to take part in the CPRE Wiltshire Best Kept Village Competition 2026, an annual event celebrating community pride, care for the local environment, and the people who help villages thrive.

The 2026 competition is particularly special, as it marks 100 years of CPRE championing the countryside and rural communities.

The long-running rural competition encourages residents from villages across Wiltshire to come together to enhance their natural environment, strengthen community spirit, and celebrate pride of place. Communities are invited to organise local clean-ups, tend to shared spaces, and highlight local biodiversity and rewilding efforts.

CPRE Wiltshire, part of the national Campaign to Protect Rural England, works to champion rural communities, protect green spaces, and support sustainability across the county.

Villages will be assessed across a wide range of criteria, including:

• Cleanliness and litter management
• Upkeep and presentation of green spaces, churchyards, paths and streets
• Biodiversity, rewilding and environmental improvements

The competition includes categories for small (up to 300 residents), medium (301–1,000 residents) and large (1,001–3,500 residents) villages. Each category winner receives £200, with additional prizes for runners-up‑. The Winner of Winners award recognises a village that has excelled consistently over the past three years.

The council and idverde are once again sponsoring the competition and to support participating communities, the council can provide litter pickers, waste bags and other equipment for local clean-up activities. Requests can be made by contacting the Community Engagement Manager at wiltshirehelpdesk@idverde.co.uk.

Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene at Wiltshire Council, said: “Wiltshire’s villages are at the heart of our county, and the Best Kept Village competition is a wonderful celebration of the pride and care our rural communities show every day. We know that residents are already taking great pride in their villages, looking after green spaces and carrying out litter picks for example. By entering the competition, communities have a fantastic opportunity to highlight and showcase the great work that is already happening locally and to share these achievements far and wide.

“We are delighted to be sponsoring the 2026 competition alongside idverde and I encourage communities across Wiltshire to get involved. Whether it’s planting wildflowers, looking after shared spaces, or simply working together, every contribution helps showcase what makes our villages such fantastic places to live.”

Paul Ashman, Community Engagement Manager at idverde, working in partnership with Wiltshire Council, said, “We are thrilled to continue with the joint main sponsors with Wiltshire Council for CPRE Wiltshire's Best Kept Village Competition 2026. This competition perfectly aligns with idverde's mission in Wiltshire - supporting the community. What better way to start the year than by sponsoring such a wonderful community event that brings together the villages of Wiltshire, making it a better place to live.”

Danny Austin from CPRE Wiltshire comment, said: “The Best Kept Village Competition is about far more than how a place looks on the day. It’s about pride, participation, and recognising the incredible efforts of local people who care deeply about where they live.”

Last year, the three winning villages were Swallowcliffe, All Cannings, and Seend, with Swallowcliffe also being awarded Best Newcomer. All three villages demonstrated a strong collective effort and community spirit, with a deep sense of pride in their appearance.

Urchfont was awarded the Laurence Kitching Winner of Winners Award, with judges praising the exceptional care shown across the village and noting the particularly welcoming and charming village bus shelter.

Entries for the 2026 competition are now open, with full guidelines and application details are available at
www.cprewiltshire.org.uk/category/awards. The competition is open to all villages in Wiltshire, with entries accepted until 19 April 2026.