Posts by Laura Smith
Two Cornish lost commons restored
We welcome two decisions by the Planning Inspectorate to grant applications to register common land in Cornwall. These are about three hectares at Burngullow Common (6.4 kilometres north-west of St Austell), and about five hectares at West Looe Downs at West Looe. The application for Burngullow Common was made by Tomas Hill on behalf of…
Read MoreRingwood & Fordingbridge Footpath Society celebrates 50th anniversary
‘The Ringwood & Fordingbridge Footpath Society (RFFS) is a vital eyes and ears on the ground in this part of Hampshire, adjacent to the New Forest.’ So said Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary, speaking at the lunch in Ibsley to celebrate the RFFS’s 50th anniversary on Saturday (18 May). ‘The RFFS has been a member of…
Read MoreGovernment goes nowhere on green spaces
We are deeply disappointed at the government’s lacklustre response to the recent Urban Green Spaces inquiry. Last year the House of Commons’ Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee conducted an inquiry into the ecological, environmental, and human benefits of green space, and the most effective solutions to making cities greener and nature rich. The society…
Read MoreLoss of Longhorsley green refused
We have welcomed a decision to retain part of Longhorsley village green, which the parish council wanted to convert to a private driveway. Longhorsley Parish Council wanted to sell off around 54 square metres of Longhorsley green, in this case part of the verge of East Road, in the Northumberland village east of the junction…
Read MoreHertfordshire green to garden gambit rejected
We have welcomed a decision to preserve part of Preston recreation ground, in Hertfordshire, which the parish council wanted to convert to a private garden. Preston Parish Council wanted to sell off around 70 square metres of Preston recreation ground, which lies on the west side of Hitchin Road, in the village west of Stevenage. …
Read MoreCoronavirus (Covid-19) Update
We thank you for visiting our website and hope that you remain safe and well. The society team is working as usual during lockdown allbeit remotely. With our physical office running on a skeleton staff, responding to postal enquiries will take a much longer than usual and we would ask you not to telephone if…
Read MorePlanning (Wales) Act
Update 7 November 2017 The Welsh Government issued a consultation on town and village greens on 23 October 2017. It is a highly technical document which deals with the proposed content of regulations which will be required to commence sections 52, 53 and Schedule 6 of the Planning (Wales) Act 2015. The regulations will govern…
Read MoreRights of Way Training Courses – Restoring the Record
Following publication of the 2nd edition of their book, Rights of Way – Restoring the Record, our trustee, Phil Wadey, and his colleague Sarah Bucks will resume training on applying the methods in their book in October and November. The book and training aim to enthuse, enable and empower rights of way researchers to make…
Read MoreMember Feedback
Chris Peat, Carlton, Leicestershire A formal opening ceremony was held in Carlton recently to open an improved footpath. Over the last two years Carlton Parish Council has worked with the County and Borough Councils and the Carlton Footpath Group to install 13 gates and kissing gates in place of stiles on two local footpaths, and…
Read MoreOur 150th Anniversary
2015 marks 150 years of the Open Spaces Society – Britain’s oldest national conservation body – and we invite you to help us celebrate this special year. Follow our 150th anniversary tweet-of-the-day. Every day we are posting a tweet and message on Facebook with the hashtag #saveopenspaces150 to celebrate an achievement in our 150-year history.…
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