The society in action – spreading the word
The society’s digital content and marketing manager, Nichola Finan gave a talk at our recent AGM outlining how the website and social media are being harnessed to spread the word. We want to promote the Open Spaces Society vision and mission to a wide range of supporters and potential members, plus government and other organisations…
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The society in action – our approach to the common land re-registration challenge
Our commons re-registration officer, Dr Frances Kerner, is researching lost commons which are eligible for registration as common land under part 1 of the Commons Act 2006. At the recent AGM, Frances gave a talk about the work involved to make an application to re-register ‘lost’ commons. The re-registration of common land comprises three strands…
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The society in action – Why I went to Lima
The seventeenth biennial conference of the International Association for the Study of the Commons (IASC) was held in Lima and our general secretary represented the society. She writes of her experiences. This time the conference was called ‘In defence of the commons’, and it had a more practical feel about it than previous conferences which…
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The society in action – Six months on the National Trust council
Society trustee Graham Bathe is a council member of the National Trust and former director of the Foundation for Common Land. He gave a talk at our recent AGM about his role representing the society on the National Trust council. Governance Legally, the governance of the National Trust is in the hands of about 12…
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Urban commons – Brighton conference update
Nicola Hodgson, will be speaking tomorrow at Brighton University at a one day conference on “methodologies for engagement and four urban commons”. The day will bring together representatives, stakeholders and users of urban commons with experts in open space management and methods of public engagement. It is part of the “ Wastes and Strays project” …
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Land for the Many Report
The society welcomes the publication today of Land for the Many, a report commissioned by the Labour Party. The party will consider the proposals as part of its policy development ahead of the next general election. The report places land at the heart of political debate and discussion, and it proposes significant changes to land…
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Make OSS your Amazon Smile Charity Beneficiary
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Open Spaces Society every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.co.uk, you’ll find the same Amazon prices, selection and convenient shopping experience, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to the charity…
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How to use MAGIC
Natural England manage the MAGIC website under the direction of a steering group. It provides geographic information about the natural environment from across government. The information covers rural, urban, coastal and marine environments across Great Britain. It is presented in an interactive map which can be explored using the various mapping tools that are included.…
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Campaign to Double the Number of School Children Enjoying our National Parks
Although over 60,000 school children visit the national parks each year, the government has long promised increases to this number. The Society, as a member of a coalition of five charities including Campaign for National Parks and with celebrity support, has now demanded urgent action to more than double the number of school children who…
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Pledge To Protect And Preserve National Parks In Celebration Of Their Seventieth Anniversary
Seventy years after an Act of Parliament was passed creating national parks in England and Wales, five of the original campaigning organisations came together once again to pledge to protect and preserve the parks for future generations and make access for everyone easier. Campaign for National Parks, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), the Open…
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