Category Archives: Natural England

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

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

The three Ss

Posted on 13/08/2023 by campaignerkate

I attended Geeta Ludhra’s story-telling event to mark South Asian Heritage Month, at the Chiltern open-air museum, to discuss our connection with nature. Continue reading →

Posted in AONB, Chilterns, Dadima's walks, green spaces, Natural England, Natural history, walks | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Defra’s double standards

Posted on 16/03/2023 by campaignerkate

The government fails to take an opportunity to revoke the 2026 cut off and instead tables amendments to delay the review of access maps. Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, Natural England, Open country, Public paths | Tagged , , , , | 7 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

Aston Rowant festival

Posted on 06/11/2022 by campaignerkate

I took part in the celebrations of the seventieth anniversary of National Nature Reserves at Aston Rowant in Oxfordshire. Continue reading →

Posted in AONB, Chilterns, Natural England, Natural history | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Access regained

Posted on 16/04/2022 by campaignerkate

Access to downland at Chawley Manor in Bucks is not to be restricted, following a campaign but the Ramblers and Open Spaces Society. Continue reading →

Posted in Access, AONB, Bucks, campaigns, Chilterns, Natural England, Open country, Open Spaces Society, Ramblers, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Secret access

Posted on 09/11/2021 by campaignerkate

When continuing access restrictions were proposed on land in the Chilterns I visited and decided that such proposals were unacceptable. Continue reading →

Posted in Access, AONB, Bucks, Chilterns, Natural England, Open country, Open Spaces Society, Ramblers, walking | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

People at the heart of policy

Posted on 27/10/2021 by campaignerkate

I spoke at the recent national park societies’ conference: national parks have never needed us more. Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, commons, Dartmoor, green spaces, National parks, Natural England, Open country, Public paths, wild country | Tagged , , | 2 Comments