BBC Countryfile Magazine has announced a shortlist of regional landmarks that includes the Devon Sculpture Park

BBC Countryfile Magazine has announced a shortlist of mighty landmarks, outstanding national parks, beautiful nature reserves and stunning coastlines from around the UK, for the ninth BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2020, which celebrate the best of the British countryside and its people.

All the winners are decided by public, and this year there is a new award for Green Attraction of the Year, which includes the spectacular Devon Sculpture Park. The park which features art, seascapes and wildlife has been nominated for its challenging art from bold modern artists in a rewilded landscape just south of Exeter and now open to the public vote.

The nominations shortlist was put together by an expert judging panel complied by BBC Countryfile Magazine, including: Countryfile presenter Tom Heap; BBC Countryfile Magazine online editor Carys Matthews; historian and TV and radio presenter Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough; travel writer Dixie Wills; Andrew Hall from the Campaign for National Parks; and travel writer and explorer Phoebe Smith. For 2020, the panel shortlisted nine categories, from Wildlife Success Story to Best National Park, with a focus on entrants that demonstrated their commitment to protect the environment and work sustainably.

Panelist and Countryfile presenter Tom Heap said, "I see a lot of the country in my job but judging these awards really opened my eyes to further beauty spots and admirable green schemes. So much more to discover!" Editor of BBC Countryfile Magazine Fergus Collins added: "This is probably the strongest line up yet in the eight years we have been running these awards. Our expert judging panel spent many hours honing the contenders and we ended up with shortlists that truly celebrate the best of the British countryside. Now it's the turn of magazine readers and countryfile.com visitors to vote on the best of the best!"

Voting opens online at www.countryfile.com/awards from January 16th and will close at midnight on Friday 28th February. Winners will be announced on Monday 9th March via the website and profiled in the May issue of BBC Countryfile Magazine.

If you're considering a mini-moon in Devon then this park will be a great place to visit.

For further ideas and inspiration, buy our latest issue on sale now: www.yourdevoncornwall.wedding/buy-a-copy