AT the Herefordshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England annual meeting at Hergest Croft Gardens, chairman Eric Loe, highlighted the successes and positive work undertaken by the branch. Stella Woodman, whose term as branch development officer finished recently, was complimented for her work in raising the profile of the branch. Eric Loe said: "Without her energy we couldn't have accomplished half of what we've done over the past 18 months, such as the Night Blight conference." Following the annual meeting, Sir Max Hastings, national president of CPRE, gave a talk on decentralising power and returning it to the counties.