Kate Ashbrook

Richard’s hedge On a grey, cold day in February a group of us gathered to plant a hedge. But this was no ordinary occasion, nor was it an ordinary hedge—and we were not deterred by the weather. The hedge is to cel…

Wonderful event to plant Richard's hedge, celebrating the life and achievements of the late Richard Lloyd ampaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/03/09/r...
@cpreglos.bsky.social @naturalengland.bsky.social
@gloswildlife.bsky.social @campaign4parks.bsky.social

Congratulations!

StEpping out I joined the Radical Ramblers, led by the intrepid Roger Hough, for a walk from Chingford to Theydon Bois, through the northern half of Epping Forest, on 22 February. We left Chingford station in g…

A walk in Epping Forest with the Radical Ramblers and a bit about @openspacessociety.bsky.social role in saving it @ramblers.org.uk @eppingforest.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/03/01/s...

Make way for butterflies The Dartmoor Preservation Association conservation volunteers did a great job at Common Wood, my common near Horndon on western Dartmoor, on 16 February. Sadly I was not with them. Eight volunteers…

Great work by @dpadartmoor.bsky.social conservation volunteers at Common Wood, clearing for butterflies @savebutterflies.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/02/24/m...

Winter-bird survey—tick On Valentine’s day, a rare day of sunshine, I completed my winter-bird surveys (WiBS) for the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). This is a new survey, and I was asked in the autumn if I wan…

I've completed my winter bird survey for @btobirds.bsky.social and report on it campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/02/18/w... @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social

It collates much of the really vital and interesting work being done on rural and land rights, history and life at the moment, including:
@guyshrubsole.bsky.social
Nick Hayes,
the amazing Leah Gordon,
@threeacresacow.bsky.social
the indefatigable Kate Ashbrook and @openspacessociety.bsky.social

'We shouldn't take outdoor access for granted' Legislation to access to common land turns 100 but some fear the right could be taken away.

Celebrating centenary of landmark law which gave us the right to walk & ride on 1/3 of the commons of Eng and Wales. @openspacessociety.bsky.social was fundamental in its achievement @ramblers.org.uk @ramblerscymru.bsky.social @friendsoflakes.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Always more at Otmoor I joined volunteers from the Chilterns National Landscapes Tracking the Impact project at Otmoor RSPB reserve car park at 8am on Saturday 17 January. I am involved in this project because I do a br…

Great visit to @rspbotmoor.bsky.social with @chilternsnl.bsky.social Tracking the Impact last Sat campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/01/23/a...

📣 “Local authorities are strapped for cash, and there is the commercial abuse of open spaces for events. There really are a lot of threats to green spaces throughout England and Wales.”

Did you hear @campaignerkate.bsky.social on BBC Radio 4? Catch up at 2h45: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... ⬇️

Today - 21/01/2026 - BBC Sounds News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.

On Today prog talking abt need to register green spaces as village greens to protect them for ever, on back of @cprelondon.bsky.social report on parks & spaces www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... 2.45 @openspacessociety.bsky.social

Cromford Canal catch up There’s nothing like a walk and talk. Access campaigners were pleased to have the chance, on 13 January, to walk part of the Cromford Canal in Derbyshire with officials from the Department fo…

Great to walk along Cromford Canal, Derbyshire with access friends & talk to Defra officials about what we would like to see campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/c... @ramblers.org.uk @openspacessociety.bsky.social @paddleuk.bsky.social @naturalengland.bsky.social

Harry’s patch At first glance Harry Appleyard’s birding patch at Tattenhoe, Milton Keynes, might appear unpromising, but that would be the wrong conclusion. In more than 20 years of studying birds here, Ha…

Lovely visit to Tattenhoe Valley Park, Milton Keynes, with @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social great spot and productive morning @btobirds.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/01/12/h...

Thanks Steve, I know she'd like to do more if she gets the chance.

Meandering along the Leach On a grey 29 December, I set off on a short walk from Eastleach in Gloucestershire, with my visually-impaired friend Marika Kovacs. We were wearing similar hats, mine was a gift from Ramblers Cymru…

Walk along the River Leach with my visually-impaired friend Marika Kovacs @cotswoldsnl.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/01/03/m...

My bird year 2025 This year’s count was about average for me, 124 species seen, and four heard*—but I did get four lifers. It was an enjoyable year and once again I am grateful to the Bucks Bird Club (BBC) for…

My year of birds, thanks to all who helped make it happen @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbotmoor.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/01/01/m...

It's a lovely book.

My new year message about the work of the Open Spaces Society in 2025.

There’s hope for the future On 16 December, the 76th anniversary of the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, the Campaign for National Parks (CNP) culminated its brilliant New Perspectives project with a cel…

Great event in parliament to celebrate success of @campaign4parks.bsky.social New Perspectives, & now we have a cohort of young leaders & campaigners @tarynnixon.bsky.social @roseoneill.bsky.social @andrewmccloy.bsky.social @vanessarowlands.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/12/30/t...

Wes the walker Once again, on 21 December, The Observer carried a story about a minister who likes walking. This time it was the health and social care secretary, Wes Streeting. I followed up with a letter, which…

I keep trying to attract the attention of ministers who enjoy walking, to persuade them to act! campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/12/28/w... @openspacessociety.bsky.social @ramblers.org.uk

Developer forced to create new town green in deal for major housing estate A developer seeking to build a 185-home estate in Swaffham has been forced to create a new town green.

Open Spaces Society forces new town green in Swaffham, Norfolk, development, huge public benefit @bbcnorfolk.bsky.social www.edp24.co.uk/news/2572062...

Fluke! Wordle 1,652 2/6

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Boxing Day offerings The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) seems to make a habit of Boxing Day announcements. On Boxing Day 2024 it pledged to repeal the 2031 cut-off for recording historic…

Defra's habit of Boxing Day announcements, it has yet to implement last year's, the welcome repeal of 2031 cut-off for claiming unrecorded highways. This year's is not new at all, National River Walk @ramblers.org.uk @openspacessociety.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/12/26/b...

New National River Walk ‘a damp squib’ - Open Spaces Society The proposed first new National River Walk, the government’s Boxing Day announcement, is a ‘damp squib’, we argue. The government claims that it will provide ‘21 kilometres of new paths’ along the Mer...

Government's proposed new National River Walk a damp squib says @openspacessociety.bsky.social -it's not new, but on existing rights of way. Priority should be green paper on access to nature, and new legislation. www.oss.org.uk/new-national... @ramblers.org.uk @naturalengland.bsky.social

Burnham Beeches, a precious place My final Dadima’s walk of 2025 was to Burnham Beeches (or Beenham Birches as my Dad always called it), on an unexpectedly sunny November Sunday. The event was organised by Tito Hanspal and we…

Lovely visit to Burnham Beeches with Dadima's campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/12/24/b...

Thank you so much, that's a charming piece (though Princetown isn't the highest town in England!).

An appointment with starlings Unlike last year, when the Bucks Bird Club December outing to Otmoor experienced very few starlings, this year the birds kept their appointment with us and we had a fine murmuration. But we couldn&…

Great visit to @rspbotmoor.bsky.social with Bucks Bird Club last week campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/12/20/a...

Starmer loves to walk. Now he should act for access On 7 December The Observer reported that the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, loves to go walking on his own. Keir told Rachel Sylvester that ‘the thing he misses most as prime minister is takin…

Time for Keir Starmer to act for access @ramblers.org.uk @openspacessociety.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/12/14/s...

A super event, and lovely to meet so many parliamentarians too.

CROW Act’s quarter century Hebden Bridge is a place of memories for me. It was here that we held many rallies when we were campaigning for freedom to roam on open country, which led to the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (…

Here's my blog on the wonderful event at Hebden Bridge to celebrate the CROW Act's 25th anniv @ramblers.org.uk @openspacessociety.bsky.social @philbrickellmp.bsky.social @amyjanebeer.bsky.social @andrewbibby-writer.bsky.social @andrewmccloy.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/c...

Wow Stuart, well done!