Posts by Abbie Cavendish
Our path claim enables cyclists to use Itchenor ferry, West Sussex
Thanks to our local correspondent Chris Smith, the ancient way between Bosham and the Itchenor ferry, west of Chichester in West Sussex, has been added to the official map of public rights of way, enabling cyclists to gain access to and from the ferry. For many years the ferry across Chichester Harbour between Bosham and Itchenor has carried pedestrians and cyclists. It is a popular journey. But the route between…
Read MoreWe win back common land in Hertfordshire
We are delighted that land in Hertfordshire has been registered as common, giving it protection, and the public rights of access there. The land failed to be registered as common land when the registers were first opened under the Commons Registration Act 1965 (the 1965 Act) for a three-year period. Hertfordshire County Council has granted two of the society’s applications for land just…
Read More150th anniversary of landmark act
Yesterday, 11 August 2026, was the 150th anniversary of the Commons Act 1876, the Act which spelt the death knell for the parliamentary inclosure of common land in England and Wales. Our society, then the Commons Preservation Society, played a part in its enactment. Our president, Lord Eversley, with vice-presidents James Bryce MP, Charles Dilke MP, Henry Fawcett MP, and other supporters, won amendments to strengthen the Bill against inclosures, and in the interest of agricultural…
Read MoreWe threaten legal action to reopen blocked paths in Herefordshire
We are delighted that its threat of legal action has caused Herefordshire Council to reopen obstructed and overgrown paths in Abbey Dore parish, in south Herefordshire. Our local correspondent, Dave Howerski, has reported issues to the council, as highway authority, over the past year. This produced no resolution, so he served eight legal notices on the council, four of them under section 56 of the Highways Act 1980 stating that the highways…
Read MoreWe help to save valuable footpath at Wimbish, Essex
We have helped to save the attractive 463-metre footpath, south of Wimbish Green, six kilometres south-east of Saffron Walden, in Uttlesford District, Essex. The path, known as Wimbish footpath 70, runs through the grounds of three residential properties. The owner of one of them, Midfield, applied to close the route under section 118 of the Highways Act…
Read MoreIt’s time to complete unfinished business on commons and greens
Our call to government on the twentieth anniversary of landmark legislation We are marking the twentieth anniversary of the Commons Act 2006 by urging the government to complete the job this landmark legislation began for protecting these vital green areas. The Commons Act 2006 won royal assent on 19 July 2006. The society hailed the Act as…
Read MoreWhat will government’s plans for nature provide for public access?
We have questioned what the government’s plan to protect 30 per cent of England for nature will do for public access. The society welcomes the government’s commitment to provide funding, particularly for protected landscapes, to restore nature, and notes that it also promises to ‘improve access to green space’. The government statement says that ‘the country’s new national forests are a key part of that’. Says…
Read MoreTwo beauty-spot commons in Cornwall saved
We are celebrating the quashing of an inspector’s two decisions to refuse to register new commons in Hayle, Cornwall. On 30 December 2020, two applications were made to register common land, one by Tomas Hill in relation to 99 hectares of tidal land at Hayle Estuary, and another in relation to 54 hectares of land at Hayle Towans with Tomas Hill acting for the applicant. The applications were made under the Commons…
Read MoreBlackwell Parkland, Darlington, secured as a village green
On 23 June 2026 Darlington Borough Council registered Blackwell Parkland as a village green, ensuring that it is protected for ever and local people have rights of recreation here. This was a culmination of an eight-year campaign by the Parkland Heritage Network, backed by the society. The Network had joined us and sought our advice…
Read MoreChris Beney, accessibility champion
We are extremely sad to report that Chris Beney, our trustee and local correspondent, has died aged 93. He was active to the end. Chris was an electrical engineer who was able to retire at the age of 55. That was to the great benefit of the Bushey and District Footpaths Association, which he founded…
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