Every-day access for all
The long-delayed access to nature green paper must address the gross inequalities in public contact with the outdoors, says our general secretary Kate Ashbrook. The green paper was announced in the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan in December 2025—but regrettably given no priority. Kate writes in her Opinion in the spring issue of Open Space, our…
Read MoreTrustee Director
The Open Spaces Society has been campaigning to protect rights to common land, village greens and public paths for more than 160 years. It is Britain’s oldest national conservation organisation. We are looking for additional trustees to join our enthusiastic board of seven members. The role is part-time, averaging about five hours a month. The role will be mostly homebased…
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Our new activist in Wiltshire
We have appointed Becky Dymond as our local correspondent in north-west Wiltshire. Becky takes on four parishes (Biddestone, Box, Colerne, and North Wraxall) where she will respond to proposals to alter the routes of public rights of way, assist in claiming paths for the definitive map, and defend commons, greens, and other open spaces for people to enjoy. Becky is a horse-rider and is out riding around the countryside…
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Our victory on map scales
We have compelled the Planning Inspectorate to adopt new internal guidelines on the maps used for common-land applications. In October 2024 Moreton C Cullimore (Gravels) Ltd, represented by Burges Salmon LLP, applied to the Planning Inspectorate under section 16 of the Commons Act 2006 to deregister and replace a hectare of Lower Cow Pasture, part of Shuthonger Common north…
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We deplore proposed cut to statutory-planning advisors
We have slated plans by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) to strip powers from the Gardens Trust and Sport England, which are statutory consultees in the planning process. We say this poses a threat to vital green spaces throughout England. We were responding to MHCLG’s consultation on Reforms to the Statutory Consultee System. There are currently 27 bodies which are statutory…
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Our chairman, Phil Wadey, honoured
Our chairman, Phil Wadey, has been made an MBE in the New Year’s Honours, for services to rights of way. Phil, a walker and rider, specialises in historical research with the aim of adding paths to the official (definitive) maps. Having been working on this for more than 35 years, he has so far…
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Open Spaces Society celebrates new town green in Swaffham, Norfolk
We’re delighted to have won a new town green in Swaffham, Norfolk. The land is to the east of the town between Norwich Road and North Pickenham Road. The society negotiated the registration of the green within BDW Trading Ltd’s development in exchange for withdrawing its objection to the diversion of a footpath across the site. The society’s…
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Activists press government to act for access
Activists for greater rights of public access to the countryside, gathering at Hebden Bridge town hall in Calderdale on 29 November, called on the government to legislate for access to the land and inland waters of England for outdoor recreation and enjoyment of nature. This was the eve of the 25th anniversary of the landmark…
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Popular path at Ashby de la Zouch reopened
A long-closed footpath in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, has today been reopened, thanks to the efforts of campaigners, including the Ashby Footpaths Group and North West Leicestershire MP Amanda Hack. Footpath O89, part of an ancient route which runs from the new Money Hill car-park to the top of North Street, has been closed…
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Welcome steps for access—but where is the timetable?
The society is pleased that the government has set out some encouraging steps for more and better public access in its Environmental Improvement Plan (published 1 December), but we want to know when they will happen. We welcome the government’s plans to ‘consult on measures to ensure that everyone has access to nature close to…
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