Fifty years since the start of commons registration
Fifty years ago today, on 2 January 1967, the commons and greens registers in England and Wales were opened, writes Kate Ashbrook. This was the start of a period of feverish activity for the Commons, Open Spaces and Footpaths Preservation Society, as we were then known. The registers were created following the Commons Registration Act…
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Make 2017 the Year of the Village Green
We have called on local authorities and developers throughout England and Wales to make 2017 the Year of the Village Green, by voluntary registering their land as greens. The society urges developers to include registered village greens within their sites so that local people have a guaranteed green space for recreation which is preserved for…
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We deplore Bristol Zoo’s selfish attitude towards the Downs
We have objected for the seventh time to Bristol Zoo’s application to use Bristol’s Downs for car-parking. The society has objected to this use since 1997 and each time the council has granted temporary permission. The current permission expires this month (December 2016). Before 1997 the zoo used the Downs for parking without seeking proper…
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Our new activist for Cheshire East
We have appointed Mr Chris Meewezen as our local correspondent for Cheshire East. Chris will be the society’s eyes and ears, keeping a close watch on paths, commons, greens and open spaces in the area and intervening as necessary. Chris, who lives at Wheelock near Sandbach, has until recently been footpath secretary for the Ramblers’…
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Margaret Bowdery, Berkshire path-campaigner
We are sorry to report the recent death of Margaret Bowdery, a long-standing member of the society who lived in Maidenhead. Margaret was so shocked at the state of the paths around Maidenhead when she moved here in 1964 that she called a public meeting and launched the East Berkshire Ramblers’ Group. She served as…
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Our campaign to save green spaces
We have launched our Save Our Spaces campaign, to tackle the mounting threats to public open spaces throughout England and Wales. We have written to our members to seek their support for our work in defending green spaces from the double whammy of neglect and commercial exploitation. In London, the society has helped Save Battersea…
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Get your greens now, we urge Cambridgeshire residents
We have urged Cambridgeshire residents to act now and save their green spaces, by registering them as town or village greens before it is too late. Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, was giving the annual Octavia Hill Memorial Lecture in Wisbech on Sunday 4 December. Said Kate: ‘Octavia Hill was one of the early activists…
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We deplore proposed sale of Eastbourne’s downland, ‘the Crown Jewels’
Eastbourne Borough Council plans to sell more than 3,000 acres of its downland. This land is so treasured by the public that we have termed it ‘the Crown Jewels’. The society has sent a message of support to Keep Our Downs Public which is organising a public walk and rally* on Saturday (3 December) to…
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Threat to Harrogate’s ancient Stray
Harrogate Borough Council in North Yorkshire plans to extend and expand the use of Harrogate Stray for commercial activities. The Stray, 80 hectares of open grassland embracing the town, has existed for centuries. Residents and visitors enjoy this beautiful green space for quiet recreation. The council is consulting the public on its proposals to weaken…
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Festival closure of internationally-acclaimed footpath
We have objected to plans by the Henley Festival for the temporary closure of the Thames Path National Trail in July 2017. Every year since 1998 the Festival has applied to Wokingham Borough Council, the highway authority, for the temporary closure of the path during the Festival, and the council has agreed. The Open Spaces…
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