Category Archives: National parks

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

‘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

Learning about landscape

Posted on 28/02/2024 by campaignerkate

What is landscape? was the subject of a seminar at the Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) in December, on which I lit by chance—and am glad I did. The event was organised by the ‘Changing Landscapes’ research network, originally funded … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, common land, common rights, commons, Cumbria, Dartmoor, Exeter University, National parks, Open Spaces Society, wild country | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Duchy’s first plan for Dartmoor

Posted on 30/12/2023 by campaignerkate

Forty years ago this month the Duchy of Cornwall published its first management plan: Future Management of the Dartmoor Estate. In the press release accompanying its publication on 6 December the Duchy said that this was ‘the first full inquiry … Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, common land, commons, Dartmoor, National parks, National Trust, Open country, riding, walking, wild country | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Forty fab years with CNP

Posted on 09/11/2023 by campaignerkate

Forty years ago, on 3 November 1983, I went to my first meeting of the executive committee of the Campaign for National Parks (CNP). I remained a member of the committee (now board of trustees) until 2019, and gladly returned … Continue reading →

Posted in campaigns, Dartmoor, National parks, wild country | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Return to the Rhôs

Posted on 25/10/2023 by campaignerkate

The Dartmoor Preservation Association conservation volunteers returned to Common Wood on Dartmoor on 16 October, to improve the habitat for Marsh Fritillary butterflies. We hadn’t worked there since a wet day in February 2016, when we were interviewed by Jo … Continue reading →

Posted in butterflies, Common Wood, commons, Dartmoor, National parks, Natural history | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

From Steyning to the Ring

Posted on 06/08/2023 by campaignerkate

On a day of unpromising weather, I walked from Steyning to Chanctonbury Ring, and it was great. Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, National parks, National trail, Poetry, Public paths, South Downs, walking, walks | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Cambrian Mountains: the park that never was

Posted on 17/07/2023 by campaignerkate

Fifty years ago the designation of the Cambrian Mountains as a national park was rejected by the Welsh Secretary, Peter Thomas, without even a public inquiry. Continue reading →

Posted in AONB, campaigns, National parks, Natural Resources Wales, wild country | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Michael Dower, doyen of the countryside

Posted on 22/02/2023 by campaignerkate

Adrian Phillips writes an obituary of Michael Dower, 1933-2022, both important figures in the development of British and European rural policy. Continue reading →

Posted in Access, National parks, Natural England, Obituary, Peak District, planning, rural services, Woods and forests | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Stop a dual carriageway through the Peak District!

Posted on 23/01/2023 by campaignerkate

CPRE PDSY must urgently raise money for legal action against the Mottram bypass, which will lead to a dual carriageway across the Peak District National Park. Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, National parks, Peak District, planning, wild country | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments