Essex woodland protected as village green
Ancient woodland north of Coombe Wood in Thundersley, Essex, has been registered as a village green by Essex County Council. The society has given support and advice to the applicant, Friends of Coombe Wood, over many years. The Friends succeeded in registering part of Coombe Wood in 2007, but the northern part was excluded. The…
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Two new greens are registered in Kent for local people to enjoy
Two new village greens have been registered in Kent: Four Acres Green in East Malling and Willow Road Green in Larkfield. Now they are protected for ever more. Four Acres Green was set aside as a play area when the council estate was built in the 1960s. It has been used for informal recreation ever…
Read MoreFence allowed on Lancashire common—but only for ten years
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has allowed fencing on Champion Moss in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Lancashire but has limited the consent to ten years. The application was made by Mr Thomas Woodcock of Slaidburn for the erection of stock-proof fencing around 11 acres of…
Read MoreFootpaths at Cleeve, North Somerset, saved from alteration
Cleeve Parish Council, a member of the Open Spaces Society, and our local correspondent for North Somerset, John Ives, have succeeded in getting an Inspector to reject a proposal to move several footpaths at Main Road, Cleeve, two miles north-east of Congresbury. Originally the highway authority, North Somerset District Council, sought to overcome a longstanding…
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Village green victory at Steyning, West Sussex
With the Friends of Memorial Playing Field at Steyning in the South Downs National Park, we are delighted that West Sussex County Council has resolved to extend village-green status to the whole of the Memorial Playing Field (MPF). The council took the decision on Tuesday 26 February, to register land adjoining the existing village green,…
Read MoreVital local park in Redbridge faces disposal threat
The London Borough of Redbridge is planning to grant a 35-year lease of Goodmayes Park Extension to the Singh Sabha Football Club. We have objected. The park is greatly enjoyed by local people for informal recreation, it is a vital green lung in an urban area. The park is treasured by them, it is an…
Read MoreLincoln’s plan to axe commons warden service
We are dismayed that Lincoln City Council plans to axe the commons warden service for the Lincoln Commons. The council is seeking the views of members of the Lincoln Commons Advisory Panel and the society, along with many other members of the panel, has written to object. The council claims that the closure of the…
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Common land reclaimed at Zennor, Cornwall
Carn Galva Common, west of Zennor in west Cornwall, has been reclaimed as registered common land, using legislation which is being pioneered in Cornwall (part 1 of the Commons Act 2006). Following a public inquiry last month, planning inspector Mrs Helen Slade ruled that the land should be recorded on the commons register. Carn Galva Common…
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Open spaces need friends more than ever
‘Open spaces have never been more in need of friends.’ So declared Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary at a meeting of the London Green Spaces Friends Groups Network on Monday evening, 4 February, at City Hall, London. She was sharing her campaign experience of fighting threats to green spaces with friends groups from open spaces…
Read MoreWe need a champion for the environment and public access
We have called for there to be a strong agency to champion the environment, landscape and public access to and enjoyment of the outdoors in England. The society was responding to the triennial review of the Environment Agency and Natural England being carried out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The…
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