Knutsford Heath event guidelines welcomed
The national Open Spaces Society is delighted at the enormous step forward for Knutsford Heath, an important area of common land in Knutsford, Cheshire East. The owner of The Heath, Tatton Estate, has signed an agreement with Knutsford Town Council and the Friends of The Heath (an Open Spaces Society member) to provide guidelines for the use…
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The society in action – our approach to the common land re-registration challenge
Our commons re-registration officer, Dr Frances Kerner, is researching lost commons which are eligible for registration as common land under part 1 of the Commons Act 2006. At the recent AGM, Frances gave a talk about the work involved to make an application to re-register ‘lost’ commons. The re-registration of common land comprises three strands…
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The society in action – Why I went to Lima
The seventeenth biennial conference of the International Association for the Study of the Commons (IASC) was held in Lima and our general secretary represented the society. She writes of her experiences. This time the conference was called ‘In defence of the commons’, and it had a more practical feel about it than previous conferences which…
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The society in action – Six months on the National Trust council
Society trustee Graham Bathe is a council member of the National Trust and former director of the Foundation for Common Land. He gave a talk at our recent AGM about his role representing the society on the National Trust council. Governance Legally, the governance of the National Trust is in the hands of about 12…
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Urban commons – Brighton conference update
Nicola Hodgson, will be speaking tomorrow at Brighton University at a one day conference on “methodologies for engagement and four urban commons”. The day will bring together representatives, stakeholders and users of urban commons with experts in open space management and methods of public engagement. It is part of the “ Wastes and Strays project” …
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Blackbushe airport ruling could put many commons under threat
We are dismayed that a planning inspector has ruled that part of Yateley Common in Hampshire should lose its common-land status. Mr Alan Beckett was the inspector at the public inquiry in April into Blackbushe Airport Ltd’s application to deregister nearly half a square kilometre of common land covering the airport. He has said that…
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Consent refused for iron railings on Nottinghamshire common
We are delighted that the environment secretary has rejected a retrospective application for fencing on Hanging Hill Lane common, Normanton-on-Trent. The common is a long strip, consisting of Hanging Hill Lane and a broad verge on either side. The verge is used by walkers and for access to adjoining fields. The one-metre-high iron railings…
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Land for the Many Report
The society welcomes the publication today of Land for the Many, a report commissioned by the Labour Party. The party will consider the proposals as part of its policy development ahead of the next general election. The report places land at the heart of political debate and discussion, and it proposes significant changes to land…
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Supporting Wastes and Strays
Our case officer, Nicola Hodgson, gave a presentation, at Newcastle university, to the inaugural Advisory Board meeting of the Wastes and Strays three year project which included reference to the Society’s publication Finding Common Ground about ascertaining local community interest on common land. The Society is a member of the Advisory Board which will oversee…
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Fylingdales fencing plan rejected
We are delighted that a proposal for fencing across splendid moorland in the North York Moors National Park has been rejected. Planning inspector Martin Elliott has refused consent to the Manor of Fyling Court Leat, to erect over five kilometres of fencing on Fylingdales Moor. The applicant wanted to graze livestock there, but was deterred…
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