Monthly Archives: April 2014

Spirit of Kinder lives on

Posted on 30/04/2014 by campaignerkate

The spirit of Kinder is certainly alive in Sheffield.  The majestic Mandela Room at the town hall was filled with 200 people on Saturday to celebrate the 82nd anniversary of the Kinder Scout mass trespass and to discuss the trespassers’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, green spaces, National parks, Natural England, parliament, Public paths, Ramblers, town and village greens, Walkers Are Welcome Towns, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Magic moment

Posted on 27/04/2014 by campaignerkate

We’ve reached that magic moment in the Chilterns, when the beech leaves are just coming out.  They float on the air.   I wrote about this last year here, but it was a week later then.  This year, unlike last, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Chilterns, walking | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Remembering Roy Bullen, the quiet campaigner

Posted on 25/04/2014 by campaignerkate

When access activists from all over the country gather in Sheffield Town Hall this Saturday to celebrate the 82nd anniversary of the Kinder mass trespass, we shall also remember the quiet but effective campaigner Roy Bullen, who died on 27 March aged 88. … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, National parks, Obituary, Ramblers, walking | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A jog on Shakespeare’s paths

Posted on 23/04/2014 by campaignerkate

I thought I’d mark Shakespeare’s 450th birthday (assuming he was born on 23 April 1564) with some of his references to paths and commons.  As a countryman and a walker, he knew the highways and byways. I am indebted to the Concordance to Shakespeare … Continue reading →

Posted in common land, Public paths, walking | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

A life-changing day

Posted on 20/04/2014 by campaignerkate

There are certain days which I count as life-changing, and 42 years ago today, 20 April 1972, is one.  This was when I first met Dartmoor champion Sylvia (Lady) Sayer.  We became friends instantly, a friendship which lasted for 28 years … Continue reading →

Posted in campaigns, Dartmoor, National parks, Open Spaces Society, Ramblers | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

‘There is rapture on the lonely shore’

Posted on 18/04/2014 by campaignerkate

The shore was anything but lonely last Tuesday when Ramblers’ groups walked all 55 kilometres of the new coastal access between South Bents in Sunderland and North Gare in Hartlepool—no mean feat.  It took some organising by Northumbria Area’s access … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, Coastal access, Natural England, Ramblers, Ramblers' president | 1 Comment

Cumbria’s coast for the most

Posted on 16/04/2014 by campaignerkate

The new stretch of coastal access, 36 kilometres from Whitehaven north to Allonby in west Cumbria, is a good thing for many reasons.  It will encourage people to visit this grand but unsung coast, bring important income to areas which suffer some … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, AONB, Coastal access, National trail, Natural England, Open Spaces Society, Ramblers, Ramblers' president, walking | 6 Comments

Public gets short commons

Posted on 11/04/2014 by campaignerkate

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is making great play of cutting red tape.  Earlier this week it celebrated its progress with an event in the Houses of Parliament where the various bits of Defra had exhibitions … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, common land, Defra | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The indispensable organisation

Posted on 09/04/2014 by campaignerkate

As president of the Ramblers I was invited to make the closing remarks at the recent general council (annual general meeting).  This is roughly what I said. Liverpool was home to one of the first Ramblers’ federations: the Liverpool and … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, green spaces, National parks, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, parliament, planning, Public paths, Ramblers, Ramblers' president, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dora Gaitskell’s nightie

Posted on 07/04/2014 by campaignerkate

For the first time in living memory, the Ramblers’ held their general council (annual general meeting and gathering), in a hotel not on a college campus.  We spent the weekend of 29-30 March at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool. This had advantages.  Everything … Continue reading →

Posted in Ramblers, walking | Tagged , , | 1 Comment