We mark our 160th anniversary 

On 19 July 1865, 160 years ago today, we were launched as the Commons Preservation Society.  Since then, we have saved countless commons, green spaces, and public paths for all to enjoy. 

Our founders went on to form the National Trust in 1895, believing that the most effective way to save land was to own it.  The society raised funds to help the trust purchase threatened land. 

The society is famous for having saved, in its early years, Hampstead Heath, Wimbledon Common, Epping Forest, and other London open spaces.  Since then it has extended its reach throughout England and Wales, campaigning tirelessly and fearlessly for tougher laws to protect commons, open spaces, and public paths. 

Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary for the last 41 years: ‘While our society has remained small, we are feisty and fleet of foot, ready to help those whose spaces and paths are threatened.  Throughout our history we have gone to court when needed, led campaigns, organised local people into fighting task forces, given advice and guidance, and even taken direct action. 

‘Today we are needed more than ever as our green spaces and paths face unprecedented threats from developers, and devastating cuts to public spending.  We are as determined as ever to defend our freedom to enjoy these vital assets.’ 

A selection of victories in which the Open Spaces Society has played a part, 1865-2025 

• Berkhamsted Common, Hertfordshire 1866 

• Wandsworth Common, London 1870 

• Burston recreation ground, Norfolk 1870 

• Hampstead Heath, London 1871 

• Wimbledon Common, London 1871 

• Coulsdon Commons, Croydon 1873 

• Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire 1875 

• Mitcham Common, London 1877 

• New Forest, Hampshire 1877 

• Barnes Common, London 1877 

• Bulwell Forest Common, Nottingham 1878 

• Wood Green Common, Hornsey 1878 

• Epping Forest, Essex 1879 

• Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire 1880 

• Penn Common, Wolverhampton 1882 

• Mousehold Heath common, Norwich 1882 

• Colwall Common, Isle of Wight 1882 

• Malvern Hills, Worcestershire 1884 

• Great Torrington Commons, Devon 1889 

• Bethnal Green Poor’s Land, London 1890 

• Clapham Common, London 1891 

• Walton-in-Gordano Common, Somerset 1892 

• Coldhams Common, Cambridge 1893 

• Banstead Commons, Surrey 1893 

• Cambridge commons, 1894 

• Edles Common, Kenwyn, Cornwall 1894 

• Hatherleigh Moor, Devon 1895 

• Craig Leyshon and Gelligaer Commons, South Wales 1895 

• Ham Common Fields, Surrey 1896 

• Hollesley Common, Suffolk 1897 

• East Hill, Hastings, East Sussex 1897 

• Churchyard Bottom Wood, Highgate 1898 

• Tor Glass Common, Brecon 1899 

• Old Deer Park, Richmond, Surrey 1900 

• Footbridge over River Irfon at Doldymer, Llanwrtyd, Brecon 1900 

• Huntingdon commons 1900 

• Footbridge over brook at the old paper mills, Esher 1900 

• Merrow Downs, Surrey 1902 

• Extension of Hampstead Heath 1902 

• Frimley fuel allotments, Surrey 1902 

• View from Richmond Hill, Surrey 1902 

• Footpath at Dunsden, Berkshire 1902 

• 35 footpaths and bridleways on Chequers Estate, Buckinghamshire 1902 

• Acton Green, London 1904 

• Ruskin Park, Denmark Hill, London c1904 

• Earlstone Common, Burghclere, Hampshire 1904 

• Path through Hammonds Estate, Checkendon, Oxfordshire 1904 

• Stoke Common, Stoke Poges, Bucks 1905 

• Hindhead Common, Surrey 1906 

• Goodwick Moor and Hill, Pembroke 1906 

• Milford Common, Witley, Surrey 1906 

• Nettlebed Commons, Oxfordshire 1906 

• Replacement of stepping-stones over River Conwy 1906 

• Towyn Trewan Common, Anglesey 1908 

• Footpaths at Rivington, Lancs 1908 

• Whitley Links Common, Northumberland 1908 

• Public path at Conkwell, Wiltshire 1908 

• Public path at Hadleigh, Essex 1908 

• Llanlleiana headland, Anglesey 1908 

• Public path at South Hayling, Hampshire 1908 

• Public bridleway on Snowdon 1908 

• Wraysbury and Staines Commons, Surrey 1911 

• Colton Commons Lancashire 1911 

• Public paths at Sundon, Bedfordshire 1911 

• Public path reopened at Grindleford Bridge, Derbyshire 1911 

• Reopening of footpaths at Winthorpe and Skegness, Lincolnshire 1911 

• Six public paths at Oswaldkirk, York 1913 

• Footpath at Conwy 1913 

• Tiptree Heath, Essex 1918 

• Selsdon Wood, Croydon 1927 

• Hightown Common, Hampshire 1928 

• Goppa Mountain Common, Swansea 1930 

• Paths at Aber Falls, Caernarvonshire 1930 

• Broad Down, Dartmoor 1930 

• Southwold Common, Suffolk 1930 

• Magna Carta Island and Ankerwycke, Berkshire 1935 

• Sullington Warren, West Sussex 1935 

• Mow Cop, Staffordshire 1935 

• Hackney Marshes, London 1936 

• Hudnall Common, Hertfordshire 1936 

• Footpath at St Merryns, Cornwall 1940 

• Elsdon village green, Northumberland 1943 

• Wanstead Flats, Essex 1947 

• Midhurst Common, West Sussex 1947 

• Grove Fields, Harrow-on-the-Hill 1948 

• Public path at Littlehampton, East Sussex 1954 

• Public path at Windermere, Lake District National Park 1955 

• Woolacombe cliffs, Devon 1958 

• Berry Head, Brixham 1958 

• Rudge Hill, Edge Common, Gloucestershire 1961 

• Roborough Down, Devon 1961 

• Wycombe Rye, Buckinghamshire 1965 

• St Michael’s Common, Suffolk 1965 

• Staines Moor, Surrey 1982 

• Bournemouth turbary (fuel allotments) 1984 

• Copthorne Common, West Sussex 1985 

• Jubilee Gardens, Southall 1985 

• Portland Common, Dorset 1986 

• West End Common, Surrey 1987 

• Bird Rock common, Gwynedd 1988 

• Grassington Moor, North Yorkshire 1988 

• Footpath at Taplow, Buckinghamshire 1992 

• Public path at Llanwarne, Herefordshire 1994 

• Footpath at Hilmarton, Wiltshire 1995 

• Mulbarton Common, Norfolk 1995 

• Thwaite Common, Norfolk 1997 

• Over 100 public paths at Ombersley, Worcestershire 1997 

• Footpath at Lees, Manchester 1998 

• Village green at Sunningwell, Oxfordshire 1999 

• Bowden and Liddaton Downs, Brentor, Devon 2000 

• Footpath at Eaton under Heywood, Shropshire 2000 

• Footpath at Belvedere Place, Southwark 2001 

• Bridleway at Irlam, Manchester 2001 

• Footpath at Torbryan, Devon 2002 

• Footpath at Newchurch, Isle of Wight 2003 

• Wetley Moor, Staffordshire 2004 

• Footpath at Norcot Nursery School Reading 2004 

• Footpath at Church Langley, Essex 2004 

• Footpath at Castle Cove, Dartmouth, reopened 2005 

• Footpath at Northwick Park golf course, Brent 2006 

• Footpath at Brooklands passage, Lambeth 2007 

• Public paths at Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire 2010 

• Footpath at South Petherton, Somerset 2010 

• Sugary Green, Dartmouth, Devon 2011 

• Footpath to Margam Beach, Neath Port Talbot 2013 

• Undercroft, Southbank, Southwark 2014 

• White Moss Common, Grasmere, Cumbria 2014 

• Green at Talybont, Ceredigion 2014 

• Green at Nympsfield, Gloucestershire 2015 

• Byway dedicated at Sustead, Norfolk 2016 

• New village green and path at Witney, Oxon 2017 

• Paths across Harrow School grounds saved 2017 

• Amble Braid village green, Northumberland, saved 2018 

• Fencing at Fylingdales Common, North York Moors, rejected 2019 

• Leigh Common, Dorset, rescued 2019 

• Fencing on Bowes Moor, County Durham, rejected 2020 

• Todd Valley path, Cheshire East, saved 2020 

• Knowle Green open space, Solihull, saved 2021 

• Rhos Gelli Gron Common, Ceredigion, fencing rejected 2021 

• Car parking averted on Bristol Downs, 2021 

• Richmond Low Moor, North Yorkshire, saved from deregistration 2022 

• New village green at Dartmouth community orchard, Devon 2022 

• Boat Lane, Goodrich, Herefordshire, confirmed as right of way 2022 

• Path at St Ervan, Cornwall, reopened 2022 

• New village green at Portishead, North Somerset 2023 

• Football infrastructure on Tooting Bec Common, Wandsworth, rejected 2023 

• Access ways on Sneedhams Green, Glos, rejected 2024 

• Hanover Green Road, Redmarley, saved from closure 2024 

• Victory against unlawful traffic regulation order, West Northants 2025 

• Supreme court confirms right to backpack camp on Dartmoor commons 2025 

• Obstructing gate removed from path at Cwmparc, Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf 2025 

and plenty more to come.