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Monthly Archives: November 2014
Bypass surgery—a week of political theatre
Thirty years ago today, 27 November 1984, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. It was the end of a frantic seven days. For, as I wrote in the Open Spaces Society’s magazine Open Space (spring 1985), ‘in an unprecedented series … Continue reading
Posted in Access, Dartmoor, Growth and Infrastructure Act, National parks, Open Spaces Society, parliament, Ramblers
Tagged access land, Dartmoor, Dartmoor Preservation Association, development, national parks, Okehampton, Okehampton bypass, open country, Open Spaces Society, Ramblers, road, special parliamentary procedure
5 Comments
PM’s piecrust promise
Last Sunday I did a live interview on BBC Wiltshire’s programme Wild About Wiltshire. Before turning to me they played a recording of David Cameron on the BBC’s Countryfile in 2012. He said: Here we are in West Oxfordshire, … Continue reading
Posted in AONB, green spaces, National parks, parliament
Tagged AONBs, BBC Wiltshire, Countryfile, David Cameron, development, green belt, national parks, SSSI, village green
5 Comments
An inalienable public service
The daily postal delivery should be an inalienable public service. Just as the National Trust’s inalienable land cannot be bought, sold or mucked about with, so the Royal Mail’s universal service 0bligation, to collect and deliver mail six days a week … Continue reading
Posted in parliament, rural services
Tagged CLA, Commission for Rural Communities, daily post, government, Iona, National Trust, Royal Mail, Rural Payments Agency
2 Comments
Anne of the greensand
Anne Lloyd Jones, who died last month aged 102, always yearned to live on the greensand. A keen gardener, she found this soil to be the best for her plants. In her middle life she found her way to the … Continue reading
The express train won’t draw up there
Unlike Adlestrop, Swanbourne station in mid-Buckinghamshire won’t have any trains stopping when the line is reopened between Oxford and Bedford. This is a great pity. It’s a lovely little station, about a mile from the village of Swanbourne, with the platform … Continue reading
Posted in Access, Bucks, Public paths, Ramblers, walking
Tagged Bucks County Council, East-West Rail, Footpath, Ramblers, Swanbourne, walking
8 Comments
The biggest heath in Bucks
Stoke Common, just north of Stoke Poges (of Gray’s Elegy fame), is the biggest heath in Buckinghamshire. It is less then two miles from Burnham Beeches (see blog), and is owned by the City of London Corporation, but is completely … Continue reading
Posted in Bucks, common land, Public paths
Tagged access land, Bucks County Council, common land, Public paths
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No show, no go
As a child I visited Burnham Beeches in Bucks regularly with my parents, sister Sue and dog Elmer. If Dad was in charge the chances are that we got lost among the beech trees around Egypt, Dad’s sense of direction not being great. Those … Continue reading
Posted in Bucks, common land, Woods and forests
Tagged common land, development, grazing, management, virtual fencing
4 Comments
O sylvan Wye
—Once again Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs, Which on a wild secluded scene impress Thoughs of more deep seclusion; and connect The landscape with the quiet of the sky. From Lines written a few miles above Tintern … Continue reading
Posted in National trail, Public paths, Wales, Walkers Are Welcome Towns, walking
Tagged Birds, Blocked path, Footpath, Walkers are welcome, walking
4 Comments
Loss at Larkhill
Thirty years ago today, on 6 November 1984, a public inquiry opened in Devizes. It was to investigate the Ministry of Defence’s plans to close 32 miles of public paths across the Larkhill artillery ranges in Wiltshire. I was there … Continue reading
Posted in Access, British Horse Society, campaigns, Open Spaces Society, Public paths, Ramblers, riding, walking
Tagged campaigns, military training, Open Spaces Society, Public paths, Ramblers, riding, walking, Wiltshire
5 Comments
In the steps of the navvies
In February 1866 the trustees of Lord Brownlow’s estate enclosed part of Berkhamsted Common in the Hertfordshire Chilterns with iron railings, unlawfully excluding those with common rights, and the local inhabitants who traditionally visited the common and cut fern and gorse for use … Continue reading