Latest news with #OpenSpacesSociety
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
More Dartmoor National Park land restored as common
Another chunk of land in Dartmoor National Park has been registered as common land, which forms part of Ditsworthy Warren, is grazed and uncultivated, according to the Open Spaces Society (OSS).It was provisionally registered as common land in 1968 but in 1982 a commons commissioner refused the registration of part of Ditsworthy Common because there were "no rights of common", the society Frances Kerner, from the OSS, said it was "particularly rewarding" to see another piece of land on Dartmoor restored as common land. Isolated building It comes as part of a campaign by the OSS to get more common land Inspector Nigel Farthing granted the society's application to re-register the land, which is about 82.25 hectares (204 acres).The society said its application showed the land is "waste land of a manor" which meant it could be registered as common Warren is host to Ditsworthy Warren House, a Grade II-listed building near isolated building was used in 2010 as a filming location for the Steven Spielberg film War Horse.
North Wales Live
7 days ago
- General
- North Wales Live
Thousands of stiles could start disappearing from the Welsh countryside
Stiles, so long a staple of the Welsh countryside, could start disappearing under a new financial support scheme for farmers. Landowners can choose to remove them, or replace them with gates, to improve public access to farmland. The Welsh Government hopes this will enable more people to 'enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of exploring nature and our farmed environment'. Removing stiles is among the many options farmers can choose to implement under the industry's new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS). Published on July 15, and seven years in the making, the controversial scheme offers greener farm subsidies in return for carrying out environmental work. Other options include installing seats at viewpoints, and erecting information boards. Theses boards could describe local landscape feaures or deliver educational messages, such as the importance of closing gates. Thousands of stiles – steps or ladders over fences and walls – are thought to remain in Wales, though in recent years some have been replaced with kissing gates. Many are iconic features of stone and wire boundaries in Eryri National Park and along the Wales Coast Path. By improving access on farms, ministers say there will be 'fewer barriers to people enjoying the outdoors safely'. Better on-farm signage will also enhance visitor experiences and reinforce messages about the responsible use of the countryside. Farmers can choose to remove stiles only where livestock security is no longer needed – more likely on the hills. Despite this, workshop surveys found that, among Welsh farmers, increasing public access was one of the scheme's least popular goals. Although billed as a way of educating the public about farming, half of all landowners said they would baulk at the idea. A report by ICF Consulting Services noted widespread alarm about the potential for public misbehaviour on farms if they were opened up. It said: 'Strong concerns were raised around biosecurity and negative behaviour associated with greater public access such as fly tipping, increases in rural crime and hare coursing, cutting fences, dogs (and) noisy motorised vehicles.' Neither is Aberconwy Senedd Member Janet Finch-Saunders a fan of the concept. 'The removal of stiles on footpaths could open up farms to the risk of damage from illegal scramble biking, causing additional issues to farmers,' she said. Previous versions of the scheme included proposals to pay farmers for creating new paths. The Ramblers had wanted the SFS to go further, funding farmers to repair existing paths. By excluding this as a scheme option, the group said it was a 'missed opportunity' for the unblocking of 'thousands of miles of routes' in unusable or poor condition. Similarly, the Open Spaces Society had wanted farm funding to be provided only if all rights of way and access were 'in good order'. As a basic SFS requirement, landowners will be expected to continue complying with existing legislation that provides the public with some access to farmland. These include the Public Rights of Way and Countryside Rights of Way (CRoW) Acts. In 2022 Lesley Griffiths, then Rural Affairs Minister, said the scheme's aim was to increase the proportion of public rights of way that are 'open, easy to use and well signed' beyond the legal requirements. With over two thirds of public rights of way in Wales on farmland, the SFS would 'allow farmers to contribute further to our nation's health and prosperity, whilst also providing greater access to our cultural and heritage rural areas', she added. Although the SFS is expected to go live on January 1, 2026, last-minute tweaks are not expected to be finalised until the autumn.
South Wales Argus
20-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire offers options for wild camping enthusiasts
The county is home to a variety of campsites, from family-friendly parks to rustic getaways. This comes as the Open Spaces Society has called for wild camping to be legalised across all open country in England and Wales, following a Supreme Court decision. Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, said: "What is valid for the Dartmoor commons is valid for our open countryside generally. "We want the public to have a right to wild camp on access land designated under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 [the 2000 Act] in England and Wales." While wild camping remains restricted in most areas, Monmouthshire offers plenty of sites for those seeking a night under the stars with a few more comforts. Red Sky at Night Campsite in Monmouthshire is set on a working family farm and offers peaceful pitches, scenic walks, and dark skies. Red Sky at Night campsite (Image: Visit Monmouthshire) The site describes itself as "the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of day to day life and enjoy a peaceful, yet exhilarating camping experience." Facilities include a compost loo and a covered sink area. For a touch of glamping, 'Blodwyn the Bell Tent' sits at the edge of the site, offering privacy and panoramic views. Another option is Pont Kemys Caravan and Camping Park, located in Chainbridge, Abergavenny. Pont Kemys Caravan and Camping Park (Image: Visit Monmouthshire) The site is just eight miles from Abergavenny and four miles from Usk, and is close to the Usk Valley Walk and Cycle Route 42. Pont Kemys is Monmouthshire's only five-star touring caravan park, offering a wide range of facilities. These include a fully-equipped facilities block, free wifi, an adult-only area with fully serviced super-pitches, a laundry room, and a television lounge. All caravan pitches come with electric hook-ups, and there is a reception area and shop on site. Penydre Caravan and Camping Site in Llanfihangel Crucorney offers a quieter stay, with space for 12 caravans and 12 tents. Penydre Caravan and Camping Site (Image: Visit Monmouthshire) Located five miles from Abergavenny, the site is close to a variety of outdoor activities, including pony trekking, gliding, mountain biking, and caving. Hendre Farmhouse Orchard Campsite in Wonastow is set on the historic Offa's Dyke and offers spacious pitches, modern facilities, and easy access to nearby attractions. Hendre Farmhouse Orchard Campsite (Image: Visit Monmouthshire) The site is pet-friendly by prior arrangement and costs start from £20 per night. Highlands Camping and Caravan Site in New Mills, Whitebrook, offers panoramic views of the Welsh hills and a relaxed, rural setting. Highlands Camping & Caravan Site (Image: Visit Monmouthshire) Pitches are mostly grass and sheltered by trees, with electric hook-ups available for tents, campervans, and motorhomes. The site also features a hand-crafted Orchard Wagon for glamping, equipped with a wood burner, large bed, and electricity. Basic facilities include a water tap, cold water washing-up area, and a trailer with two hot showers and two flush toilets. With its scenic landscapes and range of camping options, Monmouthshire offers the perfect setting for anyone looking to reconnect with nature and enjoy a night under the stars.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Quarry land swap plan in 'Brontë country' rejected
Plans to expand a sandstone quarry in Bradford's Brontë country have been blocked by a Government inspector for a second time after a land swap offer was rejected. Company Dennis Gillson and Son wanted to extend its existing Naylor Hill Quarry on to a 3-acre stretch of common land at Brow Moor in Haworth. The firm had offered to swap the land for a site that was more than twice the size, about 2km (1.2 miles) away. However, campaigners argued the replacement land did not "measure up" and a government inspector agreed that deregistering the site as common land "would deter a proportion of the public from walking on it." Gillsons, originally a family firm with a long history in Haworth, had won permission from Bradford Council for an expansion. But the company also needed consent from the Secretary of State to remove the common land designation and complete the land swap. Conservation group the Open Spaces Society opposed the swap, arguing the new land was inaccessible for locals and lacked the character of the original space. They also feared farmers would find it difficult to let their livestock graze on the new land because of a lack of a reliable water supply. A spokesperson for Gillsons said the decision to reject its plans had put the future of the firm in doubt. Refusing consent in his ruling, the inspector said the remoteness of the new site "would negatively outweigh any…benefits." He concluded that Brow Moor had much "positive ecological value", but the replacement site offered "would deter a proportion of the public from walking on it". Hugh Craddock, case officer at the Open Spaces Society, said the land swap offer was "inadequate and inappropriate". "It would have replaced the joy of the heather and gorse-covered heights of Brow Moor with characterless enclosed fields," he said. "The public would hardly know the replacement common land existed." He said: "We're not against quarry extensions outright. "But if developers want to take away part of the common, they need to offer something genuinely worthwhile in return. This proposal just didn't measure up." However, Darrell Whittlestone, manager of Gillsons, said the decision had put the future of the company in doubt. He said it would result in about 13 job losses during the next 18 months. There were also wider concerns about delays to housing projects, he said. "[The government] claim they're relaxing planning rules to build more houses, but where will they get the materials? We provide sand, gravel, and natural stone," he said. "Unfortunately, we can't appeal. This quarry has been here for centuries, and now it's being put out of business." He said his firm "did offer better land" in the swap proposal, but believed it was declined primarily due to its distance from Brow Moor. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering by emailing yorkshirestories@
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Quarry land swap plan in 'Brontë country' rejected
Plans to expand a sandstone quarry in Bradford's Brontë country have been blocked by a Government inspector for a second time after a land swap offer was rejected. Company Dennis Gillson and Son wanted to extend its existing Naylor Hill Quarry on to a 3-acre stretch of common land at Brow Moor in Haworth. The firm had offered to swap the land for a site that was more than twice the size, about 2km (1.2 miles) away. However, campaigners argued the replacement land did not "measure up" and a government inspector agreed that deregistering the site as common land "would deter a proportion of the public from walking on it." Gillsons, originally a family firm with a long history in Haworth, had won permission from Bradford Council for an expansion. But the company also needed consent from the Secretary of State to remove the common land designation and complete the land swap. Conservation group the Open Spaces Society opposed the swap, arguing the new land was inaccessible for locals and lacked the character of the original space. They also feared farmers would find it difficult to let their livestock graze on the new land because of a lack of a reliable water supply. A spokesperson for Gillsons said the decision to reject its plans had put the future of the firm in doubt. Refusing consent in his ruling, the inspector said the remoteness of the new site "would negatively outweigh any…benefits." He concluded that Brow Moor had much "positive ecological value", but the replacement site offered "would deter a proportion of the public from walking on it". Hugh Craddock, case officer at the Open Spaces Society, said the land swap offer was "inadequate and inappropriate". "It would have replaced the joy of the heather and gorse-covered heights of Brow Moor with characterless enclosed fields," he said. "The public would hardly know the replacement common land existed." He said: "We're not against quarry extensions outright. "But if developers want to take away part of the common, they need to offer something genuinely worthwhile in return. This proposal just didn't measure up." However, Darrell Whittlestone, manager of Gillsons, said the decision had put the future of the company in doubt. He said it would result in about 13 job losses during the next 18 months. There were also wider concerns about delays to housing projects, he said. "[The government] claim they're relaxing planning rules to build more houses, but where will they get the materials? We provide sand, gravel, and natural stone," he said. "Unfortunately, we can't appeal. This quarry has been here for centuries, and now it's being put out of business." He said his firm "did offer better land" in the swap proposal, but believed it was declined primarily due to its distance from Brow Moor. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering by emailing yorkshirestories@
