Octavia – open spaces champion
Octavia Hill was an activist and committee member of the Open Spaces Society 20 years before she helped to found the National Trust. She campaigned for open spaces and public paths for the benefit of the public. We celebrated the centenary of her death on 13 April, and Radio 4 had a programme about her life.
Read MoreAncient Warwickshire landscape under threat
Developers A R Cartwright Ltd propose to build 130 houses on fields at Galley Common, south-west of Nuneaton in Warwickshire. The houses will destroy the route of the promoted Centenary Way and an ancient ridge-and-furrow landscape. We have objected to Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. Says our local member, Mark Hood: ‘I am opposing this…
Read MoreWorks approved on Lindfield Common
The environment secretary has granted Lindfield Cricket Club consent for works on Lindfield Common, north of Haywards Heath in West Sussex. The society, with Lindfield Parish Council and some individuals, objected to the application under section 38 of the Commons Act 2006 for the extension of the cricket pavilion, two permanent cricket-nets, and other works.…
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We oppose land swap in Rhondda village
We have objected to plans to swap part of the village green, at Chapel Street, Blaencwm, to allow development. Glaister Russell Developments Ltd has applied to the Environment Minister for permission to deregister 238 square metres of the green and to provide land in exchange, under section 16 of the Commons Act 2006. Says Jay…
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Update on development next to Ibstone Common
We are delighted to report that on 6 June 2012, Wycombe District Council rejected this application because the development would cause adverse visual detriment to the special landscape character and scenic beauty of the Chilterns AONB and would harm the rural character and appearance of the surrounding open countryside, and the access track would visually…
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Community champion praised for inspirational efforts
The singular determination of a Yorkshire woman to inspire her local community and return a memorial garden to its former glory has been celebrated in the inaugural Open Space Award. Judges have awarded Jade Smith a commendation for her extraordinary contribution to Royd Regeneration, a community-driven project in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire. Royd Regeneration was one…
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Victory for Surrey campaigners who saved wild meadow
An ambitious community campaign to preserve a threatened 30-acre beauty spot in Farnham has been named winner of the first-ever Open Space Award. The amazing success of The Bishop’s Meadow Trust impressed judges from Open Spaces Society and earned it the top spot, despite strong competition nationwide. Jo Aylwin, chairman of the trust, attended the…
Read MoreOur campaign challenges for the year ahead
‘We should never forget that the Open Spaces Society is a hard hitting, agile and quick reacting campaigning organisation, able and willing to be controversial, radical and perhaps at times unpopular in pursuit of its charitable objects.’ So said Tim Crowther, our chairman, in moving the adoption of the society’s annual report at our annual…
Read MoreKentish green space saved
A lovely green space at Wittersham in south Kent has been protected for all time. We welcome the decision of the Planning Inspectorate to allow the correction of a mistake on the register of town and village greens. One and a half acres at Poplar Farm Field and Pond, Wittersham, Isle of Oxney in Kent is…
Read MorePublic inquiry for contentious land swap at Westfield Common, Woking
Woking Borough Council’s proposed land swap at Westfield Common, Woking in Surrey is the subject of a public inquiry which opens on Wednesday (27 June) at the H G Wells conference centre in Woking. Woking council wants to deregister part of the common to enable an access road to be built, serving a proposed housing…
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