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,…
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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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Dick Hutchins—access man extraordinaire
Dick Hutchins: born 28 April 1915, died 19 January 2013 RN (Dick) Hutchins has died aged 97. He was a member of the society since the 1930s—while studying law at the London School of Economics he learnt about the campaigns for the right to roam (then gathering a head of steam) which inspired him to…
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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…
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The spirit of Kinder lives on—81 years later
The first in what is hoped will be an annual celebration of Kinder Scout and the mass trespass will be held at New Mills Town Hall on Saturday 27 April. The Kinder & High Peak Advisory Group has decided that such was the enthusiasm engendered by the 80th anniversary celebrations last year, the event should…
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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Open spaces to lose democratic protection
The government proposes to remove democratic protection from open spaces threatened with compulsory purchase. The House of Lords will debate these plans, which are in clause 22 of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill, on Monday (4 February). We are urging members of the House of Lords to oppose clause 22 because it puts open spaces…
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A battlefield at Cramber Tor – objectors warn
The Dartmoor National Park Authority will decide the future of military training at Cramber Tor, south-west Dartmoor, at its meeting on Friday (1 February). The military wants to continue using 848 hectares at Cramber Tor for ‘dry’ training, on a permanent basis. This training involves battlefield simulation exercises that include the use of pyrotechnics, blank…
Read MoreGloucestershire poultry farm threatens ancient highway
We have objected to plans for a poultry farm in open countryside at Starveall Farm, Ashchurch, near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire. The society has sent its objection to Tewkesbury Borough Council because of the effect the development would have on an ancient public path. Says Michael Hill, a member of the society who lives nearby: ‘I…
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Can their lordships save our greens?
We have called on members of the House of Lords to support amendments to the Growth Bill which will prevent the government from emasculating the process for registering land as town or village greens. The House of Lords is set to debate these tomorrow (Wednesday 30 January). Land can be registered as a town or…
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