Posts by Abbie Cavendish
We win path improvements in Herefordshire
We are delighted that our local correspondent in Herefordshire, David Howerski, has won some valuable improvements to public paths. He has reported over 250 rights-of-way defects in the county since January 2025. In addition to reporting problems to the county council, Dave writes to the parish councils asking for their help and influence with local…
Read MoreHelp to secure a new national park in Wales
The plan for a national park in north-east Wales, provisionally called the Glyndŵr National Park, is reaching its culmination, and it needs your help—whether you live in Wales, you visit there, or you believe in national parks. This will be the first new national park in Wales since 1957, and is a truly exciting prospect. …
Read MoreNew village green at Maes Glasfryn, St Davids, Pembrokeshire
We are celebrating the generosity of brothers Malcolm, Andrew and Stuart Gray, who voluntarily registered some of their land as a village green. This is at Ty Glasfryn (known locally as Maes Glasfryn) in the heart of the city of St Davids, Pembrokeshire, and it is thereby protected for ever for local people to enjoy.…
Read MoreGreen spaces rescued from damaging law-change
We are delighted that a damaging amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, proposed by Lord Banner and others, was dropped. The amendment aimed to remove long-standing public rights on green spaces when the land is sold by a local authority. It was debated in the House of Lords on Monday night (3 November) but not then moved. We had urged peers to oppose it and are highly relieved that the amendment…
Read MorePublic rights on green spaces to be expunged?
An amendment[1] to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, due to be debated in the House of Lords on Monday 3 November, aims to remove long-standing public rights on green spaces when the land is sold by a local authority. We are urging peers to oppose it. The amendment would make it much easier for local…
Read MoreHawkhurst Moor, Kent, protected for ever
Hawkhurst Moor, Kent, protected for ever We have welcomed the restoration of Hawkhurst Moor to the register of town or village greens which will confer lasting protection. Hawkhurst is 19 kilometres south-east of Tunbridge Wells. The Moor was registered by Hawkhurst Parish Council in 1967 without objection as a town or village green. But Wye…
Read MoreEmma’s opportunity
Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, urges the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds, to act for access. Kate welcomes Emma to the role and writes: We hope Emma will bring change where now there is stagnation. Let’s hope she recognises that public access, too often relegated to the bottom…
Read MoreOur new advocate for paths and green spaces in Ealing
We have appointed Kit Cawthorn as our local correspondent for the London Borough of Ealing. Kit is studying to become a barrister and, upon gaining pupillage, hopes to develop a specialism in land law. He is keen to defend open spaces and paths, and to develop and apply his growing knowledge to his new role. …
Read MoreWiltshire councillors must reject rail-crossing closure
Update from 09 October 2025: We are delighted that Wiltshire councillors have rejected Network Rail’s proposed closure of the Penleigh level-crossing in Westbury. The Western Area Planning Committee unanimously opposed the plan at its meeting on 8 October (you can watch it here). The proposal was to close the direct, 20-metre path across the railway…
Read MoreClyne Common, Swansea, saved from housing development
The attempt by the Duke of Beaufort’s Somerset Trust to take part of Clyne Common at West Cross for housing development has finally been refused. The deputy minister, Huw Irranca-Davis, has rejected the trust’s application to deregister 2.8 hectares on the eastern side of the common (the ‘release land’) and replace it with 3.4 hectares…
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