The commons’ people
This article by our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, was published in the spring 2015 issue of the Campaign to Protect Rural England‘s magazine Countryside Voice. The name ‘common’ is scattered all over maps of England. But that does not mean the land is common today—rather the word is a memento from a time when much of…
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Happy birthday Pennine Way
Fifty years ago today, on 24 April 1965, the Pennine Way was opened. This was the first of Britain’s long-distance paths (now called national trails in England and Wales) and the event took place on Malham Moor with the Minister of Land and Natural Resources, Fred Willey, in attendance. The path was the inspiration of…
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We object to ugly tower above Shepherd’s Bush Common
We have objected to an application from Dorsett Hospitality International to demolish the existing former Walkabout building and replace it with a 16-storey tower, next to Shepherd’s Bush Common in west London. We consider that this ugly tower would dominate the green space of Shepherd’s Bush. It would have an overpowering and unpleasant influence on…
Read MoreLocal Green Space Designation
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published by the Department for Communities and Local Government in March 2012 provides communities with a means of protecting local green areas as a local green space. Read more here. This will enable communities, in particular circumstances, to protect areas of land that are of value to them, through…
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We fight access track across historic common
We have objected to plans for an access track across common land at Newbiggin, near Penrith in Cumbria. The common is known as ‘public watering place’ and has a number of springs with a series of ancient stone troughs and culverts. The common was featured in the Friends of the Lake District’s Our Green Space…
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We celebrate the partial opening of Panshanger Park
Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, spoke at a walk to celebrate the first anniversary of the public opening of one-third of historic Panshanger Park. Read about the day and listen to Kate’s speech here. 26 March 2015 – We call for swift opening of long overdue Panshanger Park We are joining our member, the Friends…
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New book to celebrate our commons
We have published a new book, Common Land, to celebrate the ancient common land of England and Wales. It is written by our chairman Graham Bathe. Says Graham: ‘Most of us are familiar with commons. We may have played on them when young and visit them with our own children. Commons are woven into our…
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Outsized development in Chiltern valley
We have objected to a further attempt to redevelop Valentine Farm in the Hambleden Valley. The site is near Skirmett, in the heart of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Buckinghamshire. The applicants, Mr and Mrs Neil Woodford, want to build a two-storey, five-bedroom ‘Arts and Crafts’-style house, with garage store, detached leisure…
Read MoreThe fight against massive potash-mine in North York Moors National Park
We have objected strongly to the application from York Potash Ltd to open a massive potash-mine within the North York Moors National Park. The mine is planned to be the largest in the world. The site for the mine head is at Sneaton, three miles south of Whitby, in the north-east part of the park.…
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Now you can walk the secret multi-million pound footpaths of Firle
But you will need your wellies on! Open Spaces Society member Chris Smith has created a walk highlighting the secret multi-million pound footpaths of Firle. You can find it on-line here. The Firle Estate, near Lewes in East Sussex, contains some of the most iconic walking landscape in the country, including the Firle Beacon stretch…
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