Category Archives: wild country

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

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

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

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

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

Go for it, Dartmoor National Park Authority!

Posted on 21/01/2023 by campaignerkate

It is crucial that the Dartmoor National Park Authority resolves to appeal against the high court ruling on wild camping on the Dartmoor commons. Continue reading →

Posted in Access, campaigns, commons, Dartmoor, National parks, Open country, parliament, riding, walking, wild country | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Young wilders bring hope

Posted on 04/10/2022 by campaignerkate

I was honoured to join the Youngwilders and Heal Rewilding to write a manifesto for the next generation. Continue reading →

Posted in Access, Birds, campaigns, Natural history, walking, wild country, Woods and forests | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tony Hams remembered

Posted on 27/06/2022 by campaignerkate

Remembering Tony Hams on what would have been his 76th birthday, a great leader and a dear friend. Continue reading →

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