Archive for December 2025
We call on health secretary to make public access a reality
We were delighted to learn that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, enjoys walking. Consequently, we have called on him to expedite the promised green paper on access to nature. Wes Streeting told The Observer (21 December) that he enjoys ‘the occasional solitary walk’ which allows him to ‘“decompress” from…
Read MoreNew National River Walk ‘a damp squib’
The proposed first new National River Walk, the government’s Boxing Day announcement, is a ‘damp squib’, we argue. The government claims that it will provide ‘21 kilometres of new paths’ along the Mersey Valley Way, between Stockport and Sale in Trafford. ‘It does nothing of the kind,’ says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary. ‘The route…
Read MoreOpen Spaces Society celebrates new town green in Swaffham, Norfolk
We’re delighted to have won a new town green in Swaffham, Norfolk. The land is to the east of the town between Norwich Road and North Pickenham Road. The society negotiated the registration of the green within BDW Trading Ltd’s development in exchange for withdrawing its objection to the diversion of a footpath across the site. The society’s…
Read MoreWe call for legislation to open Starmer’s love of walking to all
We are pressing the government for early legislation for access, and have written to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, following his enthusiastic words about the value of walking and contact with nature. Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary: ‘We were encouraged to hear that the Prime Minister loves to go for a walk on…
Read MoreActivists press government to act for access
Activists for greater rights of public access to the countryside, gathering at Hebden Bridge town hall in Calderdale on 29 November, called on the government to legislate for access to the land and inland waters of England for outdoor recreation and enjoyment of nature. This was the eve of the 25th anniversary of the landmark…
Read MorePopular path at Ashby de la Zouch reopened
A long-closed footpath in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, has today been reopened, thanks to the efforts of campaigners, including the Ashby Footpaths Group and North West Leicestershire MP Amanda Hack. Footpath O89, part of an ancient route which runs from the new Money Hill car-park to the top of North Street, has been closed…
Read MoreWe welcome Lambeth Council’s climb-down over commercial events in Brockwell Park
We congratulate our member, Protect Brockwell Park (PBP), for stopping Lambeth Council from pursuing an appeal over its commercial events plan, which PBP had blocked in the High Court[1]. The society was poised to back PBP in the Appeal Court this week with a grant from its Legal-Action Fund, but Lambeth Council decided to withdraw…
Read MoreWelcome steps for access—but where is the timetable?
The society is pleased that the government has set out some encouraging steps for more and better public access in its Environmental Improvement Plan (published 1 December), but we want to know when they will happen. We welcome the government’s plans to ‘consult on measures to ensure that everyone has access to nature close to…
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