Category Archives: Defra

The clock is ticking for unrecorded paths

Posted on 24/02/2024 by campaignerkate

This is an article (with some amendments) which I wrote for Red Rope‘s bulletin, spring 2024. I am a long-standing member of Red Rope, the socialist walking and climbing club. One of the downsides of the Countryside and Rights of … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, Defra, Open Spaces Society, parliament, Public paths, riding, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

World Commons Week

Posted on 04/12/2023 by campaignerkate

Today is the start of World Commons Week, organised by the International Association for the Study of the Commons (IASC). World commons extend far beyond the ancient and historic land in England and Wales; this is an expanding academic discipline, … Continue reading →

Posted in campaigns, Canada, commons, Dartmoor, Defra, Elinor Ostrom, India, International Association for the Study of the Commons, Japan, Natural England, Netherlands, Open Spaces Society, Peru, Sweden, Switzerland | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

‘Turnip’ at the top

Posted on 25/03/2023 by campaignerkate

The government has broken its pledge to revoke the 2026 cut off for historic-path claims and instead extended it to 2031, a decision made by Therese Coffey. Continue reading →

Posted in Access, Defra, parliament, Public paths, riding, walking | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

For want of a comma

Posted on 29/10/2022 by campaignerkate

I trust that Thérèse Coffey will not demand the purge of the Oxford comma from Defra officials’ language. Continue reading →

Posted in Defra, grammar | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Walk for a minister

Posted on 31/07/2022 by campaignerkate

We devised a walk to demonstrate to the environment minister, Richard Benyon, how agricultural payments can fund more and better access. Continue reading →

Posted in Access, AONB, British Horse Society, campaigns, Defra, Open country, Open Spaces Society, Public paths, Ramblers, riding, walking, walks | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Agri-access betrayal: an update

Posted on 07/12/2021 by campaignerkate

A dismal revelation from environment secretary George Eustice about funding for farming. Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, Defra, green spaces, parliament, planning, Public paths | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Empty promises

Posted on 17/06/2021 by campaignerkate

The environment secretary’s big speech on 18 May has proved a disappointment. Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, comment, Defra, parliament, Public paths | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

A seventieth birthday gift?

Posted on 31/05/2018 by campaignerkate

The government’s review of national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty looks positive. We must make sure it is. Continue reading →

Posted in Access, AONB, Defra, National parks, Natural England, parliament, wild country | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The coast is our birthright

Posted on 24/12/2017 by campaignerkate

In 1936, my predecessor at the Open Spaces Society, Laurence Chubb, called for the protection of the coast and our access to it:  We have called attention more than once to the danger which confronts the people of this island of … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, Coastal access, Defra, National trail, Natural England, Open Spaces Society, Ramblers, walking | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What about Natural England?

Posted on 20/11/2017 by campaignerkate

Michael Gove has announced that he will set up a new environmental body post Brexit, but he already has one. Continue reading →

Posted in Defra, Natural England, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment