Monthly Archives: October 2012

Claim your greens!

Posted on 25/10/2012 by campaignerkate

This evening I spoke at the Milton Keynes Local Access Forum about the government’s threat to town and village greens. I said that it’s vital for communities to claim their town and village greens now, before the government’s Growth and … Continue reading →

Posted in green spaces, Growth and Infrastructure Bill, Milton Keynes, town and village greens, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The government’s assault on Octavia’s legacy

Posted on 22/10/2012 by campaignerkate

Octavia Hill campaigned to save open spaces.  Now the government intends to destroy them. Today I went to the service in Westminster Abbey, where a memorial was dedicated to the open spaces champion Octavia Hill.  Octavia, who founded the National Trust, … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, green spaces, Growth and Infrastructure Bill, National Trust, Open Spaces Society, People, town and village greens | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Trials for trails

Posted on 15/10/2012 by campaignerkate

This article was published in the guest column, The Extra Mile, in The Great Outdoors, November 2012. Kate Ashbrook, President of the Ramblers and Patron of the Walkers Are Welcome Towns Network, argues that we can’t afford to drop investment in our … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, AONB, National trail, Natural England, Public paths, Ramblers, Uncategorized, Walkers Are Welcome Towns, walking | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Military misuse of a national park

Posted on 14/10/2012 by campaignerkate

Once again the Ministry of Defence has applied to the Dartmoor National Park Authority for renewal of its consent for training on Cramber Tor, south-west Dartmoor. The formal position is that it is applying for planning permission for change of … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, Dartmoor, Devon, National parks | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Noisy neighbours

Posted on 13/10/2012 by campaignerkate

Thrice have I requested the estate agents, Knight Frank, to ask the new owner of Barn Cottage (sic), which overlooks our house, to give me a ring, and thrice in vain.  They may have asked him but he hasn’t done so. … Continue reading →

Posted in Public paths, Turville | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Slow down! It’s a common!

Posted on 12/10/2012 by campaignerkate

This ‘On the Agenda’ article appeared on Headline Environment‘s website on 12 October 2012. Responding to a recent Department of Transport consultation, Kate Ashbrook explains why the Open Spaces Society has advocated a 40mph limit on all roads through commons … Continue reading →

Posted in common land, common rights, Dartmoor, Dartmoor livestock, Open Spaces Society, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Champagne by the Thames at Shiplake

Posted on 08/10/2012 by campaignerkate

In pale autumn sunlight, on Sunday 7 October 2012, about 30 people gathered on the western bank of the River Thames near Shiplake in south Oxfordshire. Most had walked there from Shiplake on a newly-claimed footpath, the completion of which … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, Defra, National trail, Public paths, Ramblers, Ramblers' president, walking | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Two Welsh commons

Posted on 04/10/2012 by campaignerkate

I visited two very different commons in Bridgend borough this week, at the request of staff from the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) who wanted to show me, and get my thoughts on, what was happening there. Kenfig Common lies on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, Coastal access, common land, common rights, Countryside Council for Wales, Natural history, Open Spaces Society, Uncategorized, Wales, walking | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The battle for the Wolds Way – 30 years on

Posted on 01/10/2012 by campaignerkate

On 2 October we celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Wolds Way National Trail which runs for 79 miles between Hessle and Filey.  Its opening would probably never have made the national TV news had it not been for the Ramblers’ alternative opening … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, National trail, Natural England, Ramblers, walking | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment