We have welcomed the new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature. The report, which was launched in parliament on 15 September, contains a comprehensive set of recommendations which will ensure that England’s outdoors becomes more accessible to more people. The report is here. The Department for Environment,… The post New report gives a vital boost to access in England appeared first on Open Spaces Society.| Open Spaces Society
Proposals for the route of the England Coast Path on the Isle of Wight look set to avoid some of the best bits of coast. We are dismayed that Natural England’s proposed route for the England Coast Path (ECP) on the Isle of Wight veers inland when it reaches the Osborne and Barton estates between… The post Osborne frustrates coastal path appeared first on Open Spaces Society.| Open Spaces Society
We have appointed Katherine Evans as our local correspondent to watch over the public paths, commons, greens, and other open spaces in Essex. Katherine lives in Braintree District in north-east Essex. She says: ‘I volunteered to be the Open Spaces Society’s local correspondent for Essex because I care about keeping our public rights of way and other public open spaces—such as village greens, common land, and access land—open, usable, and available to the public. ‘With the pressure t...| Open Spaces Society
We are pleased that unenclosed land adjacent to Trewellard Common has been recognised as common land. Planning Inspector Paul Freer has granted the society’s application to register as common about 0.7 hectares of land situated south-east of the village of Trewellard. The land comprises brambles and bracken. It is about seven miles north-west of Penzance. … The post Land restored to Trewellard Common, Cornwall appeared first on Open Spaces Society.| Open Spaces Society
On the sixtieth anniversary of the Commons Registration Act 1965, we have challenged ministers to re-open the closed registers in England, and save thousands of square miles of green land for the people to enjoy. In a letter to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Rt Hon Steve Reed MP,… The post Government challenged to save missing commons appeared first on Open Spaces Society.| Open Spaces Society
We are delighted that Plymouth City Councillors have rejected the proposed development of Wilmot Gardens, Crownhill, and now calls on the council to register it as a town green. After a long debate at the planning committee meeting on 24 July, members voted by 10 to 2 to reject the application for five houses, primarily… The post We call for Wilmot Gardens, Plymouth, to be made a town green appeared first on Open Spaces Society.| Open Spaces Society
Another piece of the Dartmoor National Park in Devon has been registered as common land. Planning Inspector Nigel Farthing has granted the society’s application to register as common about 82.25 hectares of part of Ditsworthy Warren. The land, which is about 2.5 kilometres east of Sheepstor, is grazed and uncultivated. In 1968, a tract of… The post More Dartmoor land restored as common appeared first on Open Spaces Society.| Open Spaces Society
We are deeply concerned that on 24 July Plymouth City Councillors are being recommended to approve the development of Wilmot Gardens, Crownhill. The case officer, Mr Macauley Potter, is recommending approval with conditions of five houses on Wilmot Gardens, a 0.3-acre much-loved open space. The 32-page report is here. There are 49 objections. The council’s… The post We call on Plymouth Council to reject development on unique Wilmot Gardens appeared first on Open Spaces Society.| Open Spaces Society
We are delighted that the Senedd has repealed the 2026 cut-off date for public rights of way in Wales[1]. The Legislation (Procedure, Publication and Repeals) (Wales) Act 2025, which contains this provision[2], won royal assent on 10 July. The Welsh Government had included these repeal provisions in a consultation draft of the Bill in 2022,… The post Senedd saves unrecorded public paths appeared first on Open Spaces Society.| Open Spaces Society
On 19 July 1865, 160 years ago today, we were launched as the Commons Preservation Society. Since then, we have saved countless commons, green spaces, and public paths for all to enjoy. Our founders went on to form the National Trust in 1895, believing that the most effective way to save land was to own… The post We mark our 160th anniversary appeared first on Open Spaces Society.| Open Spaces Society