The first day of spring (Diwrnod cyntaf y gwanwyn) On 21 March, Ramblers Cymru held its annual meeting, once again at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells. It was a weekend of swapping campaign ideas, and of course some walks. I arrived on Frid…

Fab @ramblerscymru.bsky.social annual meeting where we discussed senedd elections, campaigning & celebrated volunteer successes @ramblersGB #AccessDenied campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/04/15/t...

Drinks at Dorchester It is nearly ten years since the then owner of Bishops Court Farm, in the lovely Oxfordshire village of Dorchester on Thames, erected fences around land which local people had used for decades, and…

Lovely to celebrate new plaques on village greens at Dorchester on Thames. The greens were dedicated by the landowner Keith Ives & have been enjoyed by local residents for decades. A great example to other landowners. @openspacessociety.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/04/13/d...

Second gate to celebrate John Esslemont and his contributions to @ramblers.org.uk campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/04/11/j...

Wycombe group remembers one of its founding members with new gate The Ramblers Wycombe and District Group has marked the contribution of one of its founder members with a lasting tribute on the paths he has spent…

Celebrating with a new gate the massive contribution of John Esslemont to Ramblers, founder member Wycombe Group, holding nearly every post in Bucks Area @ramblers.org.uk @chilternsnl.bsky.social www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/2600001...

A place for birds A few weeks ago, in my role as Area footpath secretary for the Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, and West Middlesex Ramblers, I received a consultation from Buckinghamshire Council for the diversion …

My lovely bird site at Hazlemere, Bucks, threatened @chilternsnl.bsky.social @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social @nickmarriner.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/04/07/a...

A few sightings from Little Marlow gravel pit today, blackcap, little ringed plover, and green woodpecker.

The ineffable Eugene Eugene Suggett has left the Ramblers after 38 brilliant years. The prosaic title of Senior Policy Officer belied his vital role of championing public paths; he is one of the most knowledgeable peop…

Celebrating Eugene Suggett's 38 glorious years @ramblers.org.uk expert in public paths, the law, and much else campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/04/03/t...

World-class rights need world-class funding Ramblers Scotland is calling on the new Scottish Parliament to introduce a £50-million Scottish Paths Fund, to improve the quality, accessibility, and visibility of paths. We learnt about this, and…

Visit to @ramblersscotland.bsky.social council & AGM, walked to #Radicalroad and saw #Accessdenied @ramblers.org.uk @gavincorbett.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/03/31/w...

Things are starting to happen It was 7am on a late-March morning, in glorious sun but with a biting wind. A group of fellow-volunteers from the Chilterns National Landscape’s Tracking the Impact project met at Startop&#82…

Grand walk this morning around Tring reservoirs with @chilternsnl.bsky.social Tracking the Impact volunteers led by Dave Parmenter. Some year firsts @nickmarriner.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/03/28/t...

A goosander amble The day did not look promising for birdwatching, but it proved otherwise. Ten members of Bucks Bird Club, led by Rob Hemsley, met at the Manor Farm car park to walk round Floodplain Forest, near Wo…

Great morning at Floodplain Forest @theparkstrust.bsky.social with Bucks Bird Club campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/03/17/a...

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...