AGM 2026 write-up
We were pleased to hold our 2026 annual general meeting as a hybrid event for the fifth time, with members attending by video conference or in person at Friends House in Euston on 2 July.
The event was chaired by Phil Wadey, our chairman, and we were joined by 53 members in total, of whom 29 attended in person and 24 online.
Phil began the meeting by welcoming everyone and reflecting on the year since our last AGM. He gave a touching tribute to Chris Beney, our trustee and local correspondent who died aged 93, with well over 30 years of service to the society.
The society had given Chris our Eversley Award in 2022, marking the decades of his life he dedicated to making paths accessible to all, defending and improving the path network in Hertfordshire, and helping and training others to do similar work.
Phil looked back over the history of post-war Labour governments and the commitments they had made to preserving and defending open spaces. ‘Promises to take action’, said Phil, ‘are not substitutes for actually taking the action.’
After Phil’s speech, we approved last year’s minutes.
Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, presented the 2025 annual report. She spoke of the recent unearthing of a brilliant piece of Open Spaces Society history: the receipt for a donation of one pound and five shillings to our Stonehenge Fund, dated 31 December 1904.
‘We are part of an organisation which, over 100 years ago, was fighting a case and raising money to do so. In 2026 we’re still doing this,’ said Kate.
She went on to outline some highlights of the last 12 months, including winning a court case on map scales related to common-land exchange, registering 38 hectares of land at Saint Just in Cornwall, challenging an inspector’s decision not to register two areas of common land in Cornwall, and saving a footpath in Essex just weeks before the AGM.
She spoke of new plaques marking village greens in Dorchester on Thames, a manifesto for the Welsh Senedd, and the society’s response to the National Planning Policy Framework. She echoed Phil’s words in her disappointment with unfulfilled promises from the Labour government which had taken credit for work started before the election but so far done little for public access.
Kate ended her speech with some personal acknowledgements, paying tribute to Chris Beney, who was always ready to help and will be sorely missed. She also thanked Phil Wadey who, after six years in the role, was stepping down as our chairman; his wise counsel and leadership had been exemplary.
She thanked the society’s local correspondents for their brilliant work, the trustees for their tremendous support, and our staff for making it all happen.
We then heard from James Lean, our treasurer, who spoke to the 2025 accounts. James answered some questions on our approach to ethical investments, and confirmed that we are in a strong financial position to keep fighting for open spaces.
Following the ballot, all those standing as vice-presidents and trustees were elected, and the independent examiners for 2027 was appointed.
Presentations from members
After the break for lunch, we heard from some of our members about their campaigns.
Richard Clarke, our newly-elected trustee, gave an update to his 2025 presentation in which he spoke about the reopening of a path to the hills at Cwmparc, Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf. He explained the success of local campaigners in 2025, and how this spurred him to run as a councillor, championing open spaces.
Peter Norris, in Adventures of a Litigant In Person, described a lengthy and complex case of a footpath unlawfully blocked by two large metal gates and explained how others can address similar issues.
Parkland Heritage Coordinators Angela and Michael Green shared their brilliant, hard-won success in securing Blackwell Parkland, Darlington, as a village green after an eight-year campaign. They described their journey, along with an inspiring video from Chris McEwan, deputy leader of the council.
David Lauder spoke about his campaign to restore historic routes in and around North London and South Herts. David shared the South Herts Footpath Society’s background along with some of its brilliant wins in Watford, Chipping Barnet, and Potters Bar.
Finally, Mark Olney gave an update on last year's presentation on The Glorious Majority, the 200th anniversary of saving Eton Wick lammas lands in Windsor and Maidenhead from inclosure.
2026 draft minutes
The draft minutes from the 2026 AGM are available here, for approval at the 2027 AGM.