Monthly Archives: April 2013

The South Shields dynasty: defenders of our freedom

Posted on 30/04/2013 by campaignerkate

The parliamentary constituency of South Shields, which has a by-election on 2 May, is significant for access campaigners. Since 1935 the south Tyneside seat has been held continuously by MPs who have promoted the cause of public access, public paths and common land. … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, Coastal access, common land, Open Spaces Society, parliament, Ramblers | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Kinder legacy

Posted on 29/04/2013 by campaignerkate

New Mills was a good choice for the first Spirit of Kinder Day, to celebrate the 81st anniversary of the Kinder Scout mass trespass on 24 April 1932.  The town is close to the north-west edge of the Peak District … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, Defra, green spaces, Growth and Infrastructure Bill, National parks, National trail, Open country, Open Spaces Society, parliament, Ramblers, Ramblers' president, town and village greens, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A spiteful act

Posted on 25/04/2013 by campaignerkate

The guillotine has dropped.  Today the government’s spiteful Growth and Infrastructure Act came into force, sweeping away the opportunity to register land as a village green in England when that land is earmarked for development. Not only does the act change the law which … Continue reading →

Posted in green spaces, Growth and Infrastructure Bill, Open Spaces Society, parliament, town and village greens | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

On this day

Posted on 24/04/2013 by campaignerkate

Little did I know, as the train bore me around the western side of Dartmoor to Tavistock, Devon, on this day 48 years ago, that it was the start of my campaigning career.  Nor did I know that on that … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, Dartmoor, National trail, riding | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Kilvey Hill’s culture

Posted on 23/04/2013 by campaignerkate

Macsen the skewbald horse, with his silent, unshod feet, carefully picked his way along the track, taking Richard Williams and me down the side of Kilvey Hill, east of Swansea.  It is an excellent way to travel, and carriage driving is … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, British Horse Society, Open country, Open Spaces Society, Public paths, Ramblers, riding, Wales | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Ramblers’ vital volunteers

Posted on 14/04/2013 by campaignerkate

Today at the Ramblers’ general council I presented 12 ‘president’s awards’ to our volunteers for their fantastic achievements, on campaigning, paths and access, work in the countryside, recruitment, led walks, committee work, media and individual achievement.  I preceded the award ceremony … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, green spaces, National trail, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, Open country, open spaces, parliament, Public paths, Ramblers, Ramblers' president, Uncategorized, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A glaring mistake

Posted on 12/04/2013 by campaignerkate

Buried within the new GOV.UK website is the Defra policy, ‘Protecting and improving people’s enjoyment of the countryside’.  This contains actions on public paths, coastal access, common land, town and village greens, protecting and enhancing English landscapes and funding the Canal and … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, Defra, Growth and Infrastructure Bill, open spaces, parliament, town and village greens | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Irene Bunting—‘backbone of the access movement’

Posted on 11/04/2013 by campaignerkate

Irene Bunting, 14 March 1918–16 March 2013 If you die at a great age, not many people will come to your funeral.  Not so with Irene Bunting—for her the chapel was full.  It was a chilly day on 2 April … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, Obituary, People, Ramblers | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Wanted—a national champion

Posted on 09/04/2013 by campaignerkate

The Friends of the Ridgeway’s debate last Sunday on the future of national trails was fortuitously timed.  It occurred a week after Natural England published its report The New Deal: management of national trails in England from April 2013.  So … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, National trail, Natural England, Public paths, Ramblers, Ramblers' president, walking | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Six short years

Posted on 05/04/2013 by campaignerkate

The Easter weekend of 2007 was sunlit and full of promise. On Good Friday, 6 April, the new law for new greens in the Commons Act 2006 took effect.  The Open Spaces Society celebrated ‘the doors opening’ for village greens … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, green spaces, Growth and Infrastructure Bill, open spaces, Open Spaces Society, parliament, town and village greens | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments