New correspondent for Barnet
We have appointed Peter Berrecloth as our local correspondent for Barnet. Peter is a keen walker, and has walked the length of both Wales and Scotland in winter, a total of 700 miles. He is currently working on a project to trace Barnet’s ancient drovers’ routes which would have been used to drive livestock from…
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Our new watchdog for Market Harborough
We have appointed Peter Pollak as local correspondent for Market Harborough District in Leicestershire. Peter will keep a close watch on paths, commons, greens and other open spaces in the area and will intervene when they are threatened. Peter was an Engineer Surveyor for the insurance business. During that time, he undertook surveys of local…
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We fight development on Conwy common
We have objected to a planning application on a common at Mynydd Bodrochwyn, Llanfair Talhaiarn, five miles south of Abergele in Conwy. The application, from Mr Norman Frost, is for a museum and car-park. The North Wales Ramblers are among the objectors. The Open Spaces Society has pointed out that, since the land affected…
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Celebrating the CROW Act’s 20th birthday
Today, 30 November, we celebrate 20 years since the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act obtained royal assent. Part one of the Act was a great milestone in the history of the access movement, giving the public the right to walk responsibly on all registered common land and mapped mountain, moor, heath and down…
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Gifting paths and open spaces via a society membership subscription
Do you know someone who enjoys spending time in open spaces or exploring our amazing network of paths? Would you like to buy a gift in this pandemic year that shows how much we have all come to value our outdoors, now more than ever? Would you like to make an environmentally friendly and ethical…
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Livestock diversions
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), the Tenant Farmers’ Assocation and the Countryside Alliance have asked Defra Ministers to legislate to facilitate farmer-managed diversions on public paths to avoid cattle and other livestock. The Ramblers’ website offers a good summary of the position. The society has attended meetings with the CLA…
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We win new green and new path for Witney
We have won a new town green and public footpath for the people of Witney in west Oxfordshire. These public amenities are on land at Coral Springs, between Thorney Leys and the A40, which four years ago was developed by Richmond Care Villages (RCV). In building an estate of retirement homes RCV illegally blocked a…
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Our new activist for the Isle of Wight
We have appointed Mrs Helen Slade as our local correspondent for the Isle of Wight. Helen, who lives in Ventnor, will be the society’s eyes and ears, keeping a close watch on paths, commons, greens, open spaces and the progress of the coastal path on the Island, and intervening as necessary. Helen has recently retired…
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Misdeeds and no deeds
On 28 September the Prime Minister pledged to protect an additional 400,000 hectares (1,562 square miles) of England’s countryside to support ‘the recovery of nature’. A fine promise but what does it mean? The recovery of nature is immensely important, so too is the recovery of people. The pandemic has shown the value of local…
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