Common landscapes
Today a taskgroup of 27 organisations launches its report Landscapes for Everyone (see below) in parliament, calling on politicians to champion our unique British landscapes. We shall be there. Our special message is that we must look after the 2,212 square miles of common land in England and Wales. Do this and we secure a…
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Our 150th birthday
This year, 2015, we celebrate our 150th anniversary—the first national conservation body to do so. Founded on 19 July 1865 as the Commons Preservation Society we first saved London commons from destruction and 30 years later created the National Trust—and we are still fighting. Now the society campaigns throughout England and Wales to protect common…
Read MoreLandscapes for everyone
Great Britain’s diverse landscapes need champions. A consortium of national organisations has taken up the challenge. We have a shared vision of why our unique British landscapes should be protected for the benefit of current and future generations and what Government action is needed. Read more here. The official launch of ‘Landscapes for everyone’ will…
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Firle Estate – tax free and for what?
The Firle Estate, near Lewes in East Sussex contains some of the most iconic walking landscape in the country, including the Firle Beacon stretch of the South Downs Way. So it might not surprise you to learn that the Estate has obtained exemption from inheritance tax (2) on nearly all the estate (3) in return…
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Government boosts coastal access and parks
We are delighted at the announcement by Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, that the government will put more money into providing access around England’s coast and into producing online maps of publicly-accessible green space. Speaking at the Royal Society for Protection of Birds’ State of Nature conference, Mr Clegg said that the government would…
Read MoreGlobal commons conference, Canada, 25-29 May 2015
The commons amid complexity and change is the theme of the next global conference organised by the International Association for the Study of the Commons. It is to be held at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, from 25 to 29 May next year. Commons in an international sense are much broader than our ancient…
Read MoreChanges to judicial review process
New civil procedure court rules have been introduced for England and Wales for judicial review. Judicial review is the process of challenging the lawfulness of decisions of public authorities and the application for permission for judicial review has to be made within time limits set by the Court Rules. There is now a six week…
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Outdoor organisations call on MPs and peers to “champion outdoor recreation” for the good of the nation
Ten leading outdoor organisations are joining together in Westminster today (11 June) to urge parliamentarians to factor the benefits of outdoor recreation into their manifestos and policies ahead of the next general election. The event, organised by the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Mountaineering, co-chaired by David Rutley MP…
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Eightieth anniversary of milestone law for walkers and riders
The legal rule that a path becomes a right of way after 20 years’ unhindered public use is 80 years old today (1 January). The Rights of Way Act 1932 came into effect on 1 January 1934 and applied throughout England and Wales. We celebrate the eightieth anniversary of this milestone act of parliament for…
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Ministers will shoot themselves in the feet if they slash England’s coastal access
Ministers will be shooting themselves in the feet if they slash the England coast path and its adjoining access-land when they announce government spending cuts tomorrow (26 June). The society was reacting to comments made by the environment minister, Richard Benyon, at the Royal Cornwall Show and reported in Farmers’ Weekly (14 June), that government…
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