Thirty places have put themselves forward in a contest to find the best-kept village in Wiltshire. 

They have entered the first round of this year’s CPRE Wiltshire Best-Kept Village Competition.

Now in its 64th year, the much-loved competition is being sponsored for the second time by CCm Technologies.

This year, 30 villages have entered the first round.

Entries are from:

Kennet district: All Cannings, Bromham, Rowde, Seend and Urchfont.

North Wiltshire district: Ashton Keynes, Biddestone, Blunsdon, Box, Charlton, Dauntsey, Great Somerford, Hankerton, Hannington, Hullavington, Seagry and Tockenham.

South Wiltshire district: Alderbury, Burcombe, Dinton and Stapleford,

West Wiltshire district: Bratton, Bulkington, Heytesbury, Hilperton, Horningsham, Knook, Sutton Veny and Tytherington.

As well as the prestige, there are prizes of £200, £100, £60 and £30 up for grabs. 

The four winners in each of the three size categories will be judged in July to determine the three winners. 

Judging has just begun in the first round, within each of four districts of Wiltshire, and will continue until mid-June. 

The three winning villages are given an eight-foot standard with mounted shield for a year. 

An award ceremony will be held on Sunday, September 24 when CPRE Wiltshire’s president, the Lord-Lieutenant for Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Troughton, will pull away the Union Flag surmounting the shield. 

This year two villages - Hannington and Tockenham - have qualified having not entered for at least the last five years.  

The winning six villages from 2021 and 2022 cannot compete in the main competition but are encouraged to enter the Laurence Kitching Award.

They are: Castle Eaton, Hindon, Ramsbury, Rushall, Tilshead and Whiteparish. In 2022 Bratton, near Westbury, won. 

Entries close on Wednesday, May 31.

Go to cprewiltshire.org.uk for more.