Latest News

Herefordshire’s historic Boat Lane, near Ross-On-Wye, is now on the map

April 21, 2022

We are delighted that the ancient Boat Lane, in the parishes of Goodrich and Walford south of Ross-on-Wye, has been added to Herefordshire Council’s definitive map of public paths, after a 20-year campaign. The route was claimed in 2003 by the society’s former local correspondent for south Herefordshire, Owen Morgan.  He argued that the lane…

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Oyster Wharf, Tivoli Square, in 2017. Photo: Janet Probert

Oyster Wharf stays public

October 26, 2021

We have welcomed news that Oyster Wharf, part of the seafront at Mumbles, will remain a public place. In 2017, application was made by Nextcolour Ltd to Swansea Council for planning permission for development at Oyster Wharf, in which the wharf was described as: ‘Area to be closed off to vehicles…and used as public realm/piazza’. …

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Attendees at the event on 15 July

The Society celebrates the strength of people power

October 25, 2021

‘So often success depends on the power of people coming together.’  So writes Kate Ashbrook, the general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, in Opinion (page 1) of the society’s magazine Open Space, published today (25 October). Kate cites recent examples in which the society has been involved: saving Bristol’s downs from car-parking by the Downs…

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Placemaking Wales Charter First Year Anniversary

October 14, 2021

A year on since  the Welsh government and the Design Commission for Wales collaborated with the Placemaking Wales partnership to support the development of high-quality places, there are just short of 100 signatories from the public, private and not for profit sector that share this committment for the people of Wales. As one of those…

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Our new advocate in Northamptonshire and Ceredigion

September 28, 2021

We have appointed Gerald Davies as our local correspondent for the old Daventry district of Northamptonshire, and five communities in Ceredigion.  It may seem a strange combination but while Gerald lives in Brixworth, about five miles north of Northampton, his heart is in mid Wales. Gerald was raised on a farm in mid Wales and…

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We support Climate Cymru – voices for Wales

July 27, 2021

Climate Cymru is a campaign working for meaningful, evidence-based and fair action to protect the Wales we love from the climate and nature emergency. The campaign wants to make sure the voices of ordinary people from all over the country are heard by the people in power. Climate Cymru is aiming to take 50,000 voices…

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Pentyrch Community Council voluntary registration for Ael y Bryn

July 20, 2021

We have recently received confirmation from the town clerk at Pentyrch Community Council, Helena Fox, that land know as Ael y Bryn was voluntarily registerd as a village green in 2014 and we have some photographs below of this open space near Cardiff and the plaque recording the event – local people can now enjoy…

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Illustrative photo of the mast from the developer’s design and access statement

We fight ugly mast on Pumlumon common

June 22, 2021

We have objected to plans for an ugly mast on Eisteddfa Gurig Common, on the slopes of Pumlumon in Ceredigion. The society is supporting the Cambrian Mountains Society (CMS) which has also submitted a strong objection. Lluest y Gwynt Wind Farm Ltd applied for an 80-metre-high, steel, meteorological monitoring mast and associated paraphernalia, for three…

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Planning to grant a green?

June 15, 2021

Grant a Green On 26 April we launched our Grant a Green campaign, calling on local councils in England and Wales voluntarily to register their open spaces as town or village greens. Registration will give local people rights of recreation on the land and protect it from development. Now is the time to secure our…

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Rhos Gelli Gron common, by Peter Foulkes

Ceredigion common saved from ugly fencing

May 11, 2021

We are delighted that a planning inspector has rejected an application from the Caron Estate for a 1,589-metre fence across Rhos Gelli Gron common, near Tregaron in Ceredigion. The estate applied for the fencing under section 38 of the Commons Act 2006.  The application is determined by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the environment…

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