Monthly Archives: May 2015

A fresh wind is blowing

Posted on 26/05/2015 by campaignerkate

It is good to be here in Edmonton, Alberta, just as the new social democratic government for the province takes office after 44 years of Conservative rule. On Sunday Rachel Notley of the New Democratic Party (NDP) was sworn in as the province’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, commons, International Association for the Study of the Commons | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The longest stretch of parkland in North America

Posted on 25/05/2015 by campaignerkate

A redeeming feature of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, is its park system.  The North Saskatchewan River snakes through the city and the linear park runs to its south.  It is said to be the longest stretch of connected urban parkland in … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, commons, green spaces, International Association for the Study of the Commons | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Campaigning for commons: anti-GMO protest

Posted on 24/05/2015 by campaignerkate

By chance when I was visiting the Strathcona farmers’ market yesterday in Edmonton, Canada, I found myself in the midst of a campaign.  This was a march against genetically-modified (GM) crops, Monsanto and the failure to label GM crops so people are … Continue reading →

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Arriving in Edmonton

Posted on 24/05/2015 by campaignerkate

I arrived in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on Thursday evening, 21 May, for the biennial conference of the International Association for the Study of the Commons.  Once again I am being generously funded by the Elinor Ostrom Award.  I travelled with … Continue reading →

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Hunting for house martins

Posted on 15/05/2015 by campaignerkate

I drive home from work every day through the pretty village of Stonor in south Oxfordshire, but I have never looked carefully at the houses.  Now that I have claimed this grid square for the British Trust for Ornithology’s house … Continue reading →

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David Sharp, father of the Thames

Posted on 13/05/2015 by campaignerkate

David Sharp—designer, illustrator, writer, campaigner, organiser, walker, vice-president of the Ramblers and much else—has died aged 89.  He was a great man in many respects—and all the greater for his self-effacing modesty.  His work was the public face of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, National trail, Obituary, Public paths, Ramblers, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Environment down the pecking order?

Posted on 10/05/2015 by campaignerkate

It’s Sunday afternoon, 10 May, and David Cameron has announced eight new (well, mostly recycled) ministers, but the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is not among them. While I realise the PM doesn’t necessarily make appointments … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, Defra, National parks, parliament | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Voting for path people

Posted on 08/05/2015 by campaignerkate

While we know before the votes are counted who will be our MP and district councillor in the Hambleden Valley in Buckinghamshire’s Wycombe District, we do at least have the excitement of an election for Turville Parish Council with unpredictable … Continue reading →

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The night Rainbow Bridge was red

Posted on 06/05/2015 by campaignerkate

A few weeks ago I visited Oxford’s Parks and walked over the lovely little bridge, known as High Bridge or, because of its shape, Rainbow Bridge.               This was built in 1923 to provide … Continue reading →

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A cacophany of birds

Posted on 04/05/2015 by campaignerkate

I was heralded by my first cuckoo as I got out of the car early this morning.  I had arrived at Prestwood in the Bucks Chilterns, to do the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Breeding Bird Survey (BBS).   It … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, British Trust for Ornithology, Bucks, Chilterns | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments