Wales apes England and proposes law which will destroy village greens
We are dismayed that the Welsh Government proposes to copy England’s law and boost developers in destroying village greens. The Welsh Government in its Planning Bill, published today (6 October), copies England’s Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013. It prohibits the registration of land as a town or village green where it has been identified for…
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Saving our green spaces
If you want to save your open space you need to get involved. Our general secretary Kate Ashbrook tells you how. Communities need to be on their toes if they want to rescue their much-loved spaces from developers. The opportunity to register them as town or village greens has recently diminished in England, and…
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Gordon Garland, 1921-2013
Gordon Eric Garland, who died last year aged 91, was a long-standing member of the society and an effective, enthusiastic, campaigner for paths and open spaces. Gordon spent his 91 years in Hollingbury Park Avenue, Brighton. He is remembered for his tremendous, generosity and support; someone who unselfishly and tirelessly devoted his time, influence, and…
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Unwelcome development on Lake District common
The Lowther Estate wants to develop White Moss Common next to the A591 between Rydal Water and Grasmere in the Lake District National Park. The estate proposes to create a visitor centre and hierarchy of routes at the existing car-park and has submitted a planning application to the Lake District National Park Authority (ref 7/2014/5399).…
Read MoreGlobal commons conference, Canada, 25-29 May 2015
The commons amid complexity and change is the theme of the next global conference organised by the International Association for the Study of the Commons. It is to be held at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, from 25 to 29 May next year. Commons in an international sense are much broader than our ancient…
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Outdoor organisations call on MPs and peers to “champion outdoor recreation” for the good of the nation
Ten leading outdoor organisations are joining together in Westminster today (11 June) to urge parliamentarians to factor the benefits of outdoor recreation into their manifestos and policies ahead of the next general election. The event, organised by the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Mountaineering, co-chaired by David Rutley MP…
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The tide has turned
Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, writes about worrying changes in legal opinion. Fifteen years ago the Sunningwell case clarified the law on village greens in the public interest. Since then a series of cases has gone the same way—but now the tide has turned. Already this year we have had three judgments about greens in…
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Remove unlawful fence on Nottinghamshire common
We hope that Nottinghamshire County Council will take enforcement action against an unlawful fence on Hanging Hill Lane Common, Normanton-on-Trent. The common is a long strip, consisting of Hanging Hill Lane and a broad verge on either side. The verge is used by walkers and for access to adjoining fields, and the fence encloses part…
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Reignite the campaigning Kinder trespassers’ zeal
‘We must reignite the campaigning zeal of the Kinder trespassers. Times are tough for countryside campaigners, but the spirit of Kinder will carry us through.’ So declared our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, at the Spirit of Kinder event to celebrate the 82nd anniversary of the famous mass trespass. This was held at Sheffield Town Hall…
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Celebrating the South Downs National Park’s fourth birthday
‘We won the South Downs National Park just in time. Without the designation, the park might now be a very different place, with new development not only beating at its door, but trampling all over it.’ So said Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary, at a rally organised by the Hampshire Ramblers at Queen Elizabeth Country…
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