Monthly Archives: March 2014

Salford has no centre—but it does have a trail

Posted on 25/03/2014 by campaignerkate

We emerged from the path by the River Irwel on the nascent Salford Trail into a draughty, neglected car-park with a derelict air.  Our leader, local historian and creator of the trail Roy Bullock, told us that this was Greengate, … Continue reading →

Posted in Public paths, Ramblers, walking | 1 Comment

Not all hot air

Posted on 23/03/2014 by campaignerkate

There is a little-known ladies’ loo in the Houses of Parliament, right by St Stephen’s entrance.  It is not waymarked, but it is not out of bounds. Go up the main steps, through the heavy doors, turn right up a … Continue reading →

Posted in parliament | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Insomniac birds

Posted on 20/03/2014 by campaignerkate

I was sorry for the robin which was singing its heart out at 11 pm in High Wycombe station car-park.  It was a lovely accompaniment while I found my car, but it felt all wrong. The artificial light must have … Continue reading →

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Henley’s pavement clutter

Posted on 14/03/2014 by campaignerkate

Henley-on-Thames, on the Thames Path National Trail and at the south-east corner of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, should be a walker-friendly hub.  Indeed it ought to aspire to be a Walkers Are Welcome Town. But the clutter … Continue reading →

Posted in AONB, Chilterns, National trail, Walkers Are Welcome Towns, walking | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Marika’s ‘eureka’

Posted on 10/03/2014 by campaignerkate

It was appropriate that on International Women’s Day, 8 March, Marika Kovacs of the Hereford Ramblers led her third walk.  I was happy to be one of the party. Marika has been blind since childhood.  She loves walking and last … Continue reading →

Posted in Ramblers, walking | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Myton Lane Spinney saved for all

Posted on 05/03/2014 by campaignerkate

My last act on Friday, before leaving the Open Spaces Society’s office for the weekend, was to look in the files for examples of new village greens in Warwickshire.  This was in preparation for a workshop I was running at … Continue reading →

Posted in green spaces, Open Spaces Society, town and village greens | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Well-named Watery Lane

Posted on 03/03/2014 by campaignerkate

‘It rained and it rained and it rained. … The little dry ditches in which Piglet had nosed about so often had become streams, the little streams across which he had splashed were rivers, and the river, between whose steep … Continue reading →

Posted in Bucks, Public paths, Turville | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Barn-blight volte face?

Posted on 02/03/2014 by campaignerkate

Unusually, government is listening to the people and may actually decide not to dilute planning controls in our protected landscapes. Last year the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) consulted on proposals to introduce permitted development rights for redundant agricultural … Continue reading →

Posted in AONB, Chilterns, Defra, National parks, parliament, planning, Yorkshire Dales | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments