Category Archives: Access

Alan Haworth, the radical rambler

Posted on 26/04/2024 by campaignerkate

My friend Alan Haworth would have been 76 today, 26 April. Tragically he died while on a cruise last August. His partner Maggie Rae died, on another cruise, in November. It is such a sad story; I am privileged to … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, Obituary, Open country, Open Spaces Society, parliament, People, Public paths, Radical Ramblers, Ramblers, Scotland, walking, wild country | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Walking in the wind with Ramblers Cymru

Posted on 21/04/2024 by campaignerkate

Ramblers Cymru’s AGM this year was held in Llandudno in north Wales, a delightful Victorian seaside town. We were on the seafront, in the teeth of Storm Kathleen so we were blown about a bit, but it was exhilarating. My … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, Birds, campaigns, Obstructed path, Public paths, Ramblers, Wales, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kilvey Hill for ever

Posted on 14/04/2024 by campaignerkate

On 18 April Swansea Council is set to decide in principle whether to dispose of open space on Kilvey Hill, north-east of the city. The hill is threatened with an egregious development by New Zealand company Skyline. This consists of … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, green spaces, Open country, Open Spaces Society, planning, Public paths, riding, Woods and forests | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Forty fab years at the Open Spaces Society

Posted on 05/04/2024 by campaignerkate

On 2 April I celebrated 40 years as general secretary of the Open Spaces Society. They have been very happy ones. The job specification said ‘Despite its long and productive history the society’s membership and public image are not all … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, commons, green spaces, Henley-on-Thames, Obstructed path, Open Spaces Society, planning, Public paths, riding, town and village greens, walking | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

A people’s charter 75 years on

Posted on 31/03/2024 by campaignerkate

Seventy-five years ago today, 31 March 1949, Lewis Silkin, then minister of town and country planning, spoke of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Bill as ‘a people’s charter’. This was the second reading of the bill, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, AONB, campaigns, Countryside Council for Wales, Dartmoor, National parks, National trail, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, Open country, parliament, planning, Public paths, walking, wild country | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Launch of the River Coln Trail

Posted on 30/03/2024 by campaignerkate

I was in Fairford, Gloucestershire, on 23 March to open the River Coln Trail. This 33-mile route links the Walkers are Welcome Towns of Winchcombe in the north and Fairford in the south. It takes in the source of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, AONB, Cotswolds, Obstructed path, Public paths, Ramblers, Walkers Are Welcome Towns, walking, walks | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ramblers Scotland, working for walkers

Posted on 28/03/2024 by campaignerkate

I headed north on Friday 15 March for the Ramblers’ Scottish Council meeting at Croy in North Lanarkshire; I was pleased to be sitting on the east side of the train. That gives me a glimpse of Lincoln cathedral from … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, Ramblers, Scotland | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Radical Ramblers and parachuting pipits

Posted on 10/03/2024 by campaignerkate

I joined my first walk of the Radical Ramblers since the tragic and untimely death of our leader, Alan Haworth, last August. Roger Hough has generously stepped in to keep the walks programme going. On 9 March eight of us … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, AONB, Birds, Chilterns, National trail, Radical Ramblers, walking, walks | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

St David’s Day, women, and wheelchairs

Posted on 08/03/2024 by campaignerkate

On 1 March I visited the Newport wetlands nature reserve, to celebrate St David’s Day, National Wheelchair Day, and (a week early) International Women’s Day. The event was organised by Ramblers Cymru, and I felt honoured to join some energetic … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, Birds, campaigns, Ramblers, Wales, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Twas ever thus

Posted on 02/03/2024 by campaignerkate

Seventy years ago today there was a debate in the house of commons about the membership of the National Parks Commission, formed by the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act five years before. Questions were raised about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, National parks, Natural England, Open Spaces Society, Ramblers | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments