Kate Ashbrook
@campaignerkate.bsky.social
Campaigner, loves walking, landscapes, birds, archaeology, wild country. Own views. General secretary Open Spaces Society, vice-president Ramblers, vice-chair Campaign for National Parks & Dartmoor Preservation Association, patron Walkers are Welcome towns
Walk from Aston Tirrold to Lowbury Hill in N Wessex Downs National Landscape @ramblers.org.uk campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/11/22/f...
From Aston Tirrold to Lowbury Hill
The village of Aston Tirrold, in the North Wessex Downs National Landscape in Oxfordshire, was a roughly central location for my two friends, Mary Alexander and Drusilla Belfield, and me to start a…
campaignerkate.wordpress.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Walk from Aston Tirrold to Lowbury Hill in N Wessex Downs National Landscape @ramblers.org.uk campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/11/22/f...
Bucks Bird Club outing to College Lake last Sunday @bbowt.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/11/20/c...
Clockwise round College Lake
The Bucks Bird Club’s November outing was to College Lake, near Tring. We normally go to Wilstone Reservoir in November but it was closed for embankment strengthening. We gathered outside the…
campaignerkate.wordpress.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Bucks Bird Club outing to College Lake last Sunday @bbowt.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/11/20/c...
Great meetings @waleslink.bsky.social last week @campaign4parks.bsky.social @ramblerscymru.bsky.social @openspacessociety.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/11/16/f...
From Belém to Cardiff
Wales Environment Link (WEL) provides excellent value for organisations like the Open Spaces Society (OSS). It supports its 32 members, non-governmental bodies within and beyond Wales, influencing …
campaignerkate.wordpress.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:07 PM
This is shocking news, fight on @ramblersscotland.bsky.social !
Scotland’s long-awaited overhaul of farming subsidy has faieds to replace “invaluable” lost funding for paths and public access, warns @ramblersscotland.bsky.social
www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/post-br...
www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/post-br...
Post-Brexit farm payments betray Scottish walkers, charity warns
Scotland’s long-awaited overhaul of farming subsidy fails to replace “invaluable” lost funding for paths and public access, a leading walking charity has warned.
It had been widely expected th...
www.walkhighlands.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 10:08 PM
This is shocking news, fight on @ramblersscotland.bsky.social !
Great annual get-together organised by 4 Walkers are Welcome towns, Bingley, Baildon, Burley in Wharfedale & Otley, with welcome visit from @annadixonmp.bsky.social walks, talks & entertainment @bradford2025.co.uk, campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/11/09/w...
Walkers are Welcome: a quietly radical thing
This year’s Walkers are Welcome (WAW) annual get-together was hosted by four towns in west Yorkshire: Baildon, Bingley, and Burley in Wharfedale (in Bradford), and Otley (in Leeds). It was a …
campaignerkate.wordpress.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Great annual get-together organised by 4 Walkers are Welcome towns, Bingley, Baildon, Burley in Wharfedale & Otley, with welcome visit from @annadixonmp.bsky.social walks, talks & entertainment @bradford2025.co.uk, campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/11/09/w...
Relieved that Lord Banner's amendment to threaten green spaces was not moved in House of Lords on Monday, thanks to all the peers who opposed @openspacessociety.bsky.social @ramblers.org.uk campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/11/06/g...
Green spaces reprieved
It was a huge relief when a damaging amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill was dropped. This occurred at report stage in the House of Lords on the night of 3 November. As I wrote here, …
campaignerkate.wordpress.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Relieved that Lord Banner's amendment to threaten green spaces was not moved in House of Lords on Monday, thanks to all the peers who opposed @openspacessociety.bsky.social @ramblers.org.uk campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/11/06/g...
Great walk in Cotswolds from Painswick @cotswoldsnl.bsky.social @ramblers.org.uk @openspacessociety.bsky.social @nationaltrailsuk.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/11/05/h...
Have I not sat on Painswick Hill?
I stood rather than sat on Painswick Hill, because it had just been raining. And the naked nymph from James Elroy Flecker’s poem, Oak and Olive, was absent. But the view was splendid. On Pain…
campaignerkate.wordpress.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Great walk in Cotswolds from Painswick @cotswoldsnl.bsky.social @ramblers.org.uk @openspacessociety.bsky.social @nationaltrailsuk.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/11/05/h...
Glorious autumnal walk from Painswick today in @cotswoldsnl.bsky.social @nationaltrailsuk.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Glorious autumnal walk from Painswick today in @cotswoldsnl.bsky.social @nationaltrailsuk.bsky.social
New threat to green spaces in the Lords on Monday campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/11/01/n... @openspacessociety.bsky.social
New threat to green spaces
A last-minute amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill threatens green spaces with recreational rights under a statutory trust. There was a time, before the Thatcher government changed the…
campaignerkate.wordpress.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:47 AM
New threat to green spaces in the Lords on Monday campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/11/01/n... @openspacessociety.bsky.social
Reposted by Kate Ashbrook
Good news! The attempt by the Duke of Beaufort's Somerset Trust to take part of Clyne Common at West Cross for housing development has finally been refused. We're relieved that the unique land has been saved for all to enjoy: bit.ly/4pMQK2j
September 30, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Good news! The attempt by the Duke of Beaufort's Somerset Trust to take part of Clyne Common at West Cross for housing development has finally been refused. We're relieved that the unique land has been saved for all to enjoy: bit.ly/4pMQK2j
Reposted by Kate Ashbrook
We have called on Wiltshire councillors to reject the Network Rail’s proposed closure of the Penleigh level-crossing in Westbury. The plan will be considered on 8 October, and the proposal would force walkers to use a circuitous one-kilometre diversion: bit.ly/3WqoaGx
October 7, 2025 at 3:13 PM
We have called on Wiltshire councillors to reject the Network Rail’s proposed closure of the Penleigh level-crossing in Westbury. The plan will be considered on 8 October, and the proposal would force walkers to use a circuitous one-kilometre diversion: bit.ly/3WqoaGx
100th anniversary of Guy and Sylvia Sayer's wedding @matthewjkelly.bsky.social @dpadartmoor.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/10/24/w...
Wedding centenary
One hundred years ago today, on 24 October 1925, Guy and Sylvia Sayer were married in Emmanuel Church, Mannamead, Plymouth. Syl (Dartmoor campaigner) was 21 and Guy (to become a vice-admiral) was 2…
campaignerkate.wordpress.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:25 AM
100th anniversary of Guy and Sylvia Sayer's wedding @matthewjkelly.bsky.social @dpadartmoor.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/10/24/w...
Remembering the brilliant, quiet, Will Lovell from Northants Ramblers @ramblers.org.uk campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/10/22/w...
Will Lovell, a quiet achiever
I suspect that it was a surprise to many of us to discover, at Will Lovell’s funeral, that he was a Buddhist. His ‘dharma’ name was Hozan which (appropriately) means ‘walkin…
campaignerkate.wordpress.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Remembering the brilliant, quiet, Will Lovell from Northants Ramblers @ramblers.org.uk campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/10/22/w...
Great walk with Radical Ramblers along the @thamespathnt.bsky.social & Jubilee River campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/10/20/r...
Radical rambling by the river
Thirteen members of Radical Ramblers met at Windsor & Eton Riverside station for a walk along the Thames Path National Trail and the Jubilee River, led by Roger Hough. We crossed the river, adm…
campaignerkate.wordpress.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Great walk with Radical Ramblers along the @thamespathnt.bsky.social & Jubilee River campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/10/20/r...
Brilliant but so awful.
Today's column is about the government's huge, unprecedented assault on nature ... and about the eerie, astonishing silence of the big nature groups. The RSPB, National Trust, Wildlife Trusts have 7.5m members between them. A vast force, completely unmobilised. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Wage war on nature to build new homes: that’s Labour’s offer, but it’s a con trick | George Monbiot
The government’s new planning bill is tearing down environmental protections to benefit developers. This nation of nature lovers won’t stand for it, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
October 17, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Brilliant but so awful.
Great day with @dpadartmoor.bsky.social conservation volunteers on my land at Common Wood, improving the habitat for butterflies @savebutterflies.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/10/16/a...
Autumn workday at Common Wood
I joined seven volunteers from the Dartmoor Preservation Association on my patch at Common Wood on western Dartmoor on 6 October, to continue our improvement of the habitat for butterflies. To the …
campaignerkate.wordpress.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Great day with @dpadartmoor.bsky.social conservation volunteers on my land at Common Wood, improving the habitat for butterflies @savebutterflies.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/10/16/a...
Reposted by Kate Ashbrook
It's now clear that the gov't are NOT proposing to repeal the Protected Landscapes duty 🙌
A huge thank you to the more than 200 charities, businesses & organisations who joined us in writing to Keir Starmer 💚
Now to focus on improving our Protected Landscapes...
www.cnp.org.uk/news/plans-t...
A huge thank you to the more than 200 charities, businesses & organisations who joined us in writing to Keir Starmer 💚
Now to focus on improving our Protected Landscapes...
www.cnp.org.uk/news/plans-t...
Plans to weaken Protected Landscapes Duty quietly dropped
Westminster government published its list of amendments for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and there are no proposals to weaken protections for National Parks.
www.cnp.org.uk
October 14, 2025 at 10:21 AM
It's now clear that the gov't are NOT proposing to repeal the Protected Landscapes duty 🙌
A huge thank you to the more than 200 charities, businesses & organisations who joined us in writing to Keir Starmer 💚
Now to focus on improving our Protected Landscapes...
www.cnp.org.uk/news/plans-t...
A huge thank you to the more than 200 charities, businesses & organisations who joined us in writing to Keir Starmer 💚
Now to focus on improving our Protected Landscapes...
www.cnp.org.uk/news/plans-t...
Vital campaign to stop govt wrecking our protected landscapes' protection, pleased to have signed letter to PM www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Plans to weaken protections for national parks will have ‘disastrous consequences’ say green groups
Exclusive: Letter from 170-plus organisations calls on government to drop proposed changes to planning law
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Vital campaign to stop govt wrecking our protected landscapes' protection, pleased to have signed letter to PM www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Time to say no, Wiltshire councillors.
We have called on Wiltshire councillors to reject the Network Rail’s proposed closure of the Penleigh level-crossing in Westbury. The plan will be considered on 8 October, and the proposal would force walkers to use a circuitous one-kilometre diversion: bit.ly/3WqoaGx
October 7, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Time to say no, Wiltshire councillors.
Reposted by Kate Ashbrook
New Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds urged to act on access to the countryside - great to see this gauntlet being thrown down by @campaignerkate.bsky.social & Open Spaces Society:
leftfootforward.org/2025/10/new-...
leftfootforward.org/2025/10/new-...
New environment secretary urged to act on access to countryside
Britain’s oldest national conservation charity is calling on Emma Reynolds to prioritise legislation for wider and fairer access to nature.
leftfootforward.org
October 6, 2025 at 1:30 PM
New Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds urged to act on access to the countryside - great to see this gauntlet being thrown down by @campaignerkate.bsky.social & Open Spaces Society:
leftfootforward.org/2025/10/new-...
leftfootforward.org/2025/10/new-...
This is wonderful news! Thanks so much to @huwirrancadaviesms.bsky.social for this great decision.
September 30, 2025 at 1:34 PM
This is wonderful news! Thanks so much to @huwirrancadaviesms.bsky.social for this great decision.
The third New Perspectives residential organised by @campaign4parks.bsky.social for young campaigners in @bannaubrycheiniog.bsky.social with @roseoneill.bsky.social @ebenmyrddin.bsky.social @ruthlovell.bsky.social @tirweddaucymru.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/09/30/o...
O dan y bannau
Beneath the beacons, o dan y bannau, sounds as lyrical in Welsh as it does in English. That’s where we were for the third of the Campaign for National Parks’s New Perspective residentia…
campaignerkate.wordpress.com
September 30, 2025 at 1:25 PM
The third New Perspectives residential organised by @campaign4parks.bsky.social for young campaigners in @bannaubrycheiniog.bsky.social with @roseoneill.bsky.social @ebenmyrddin.bsky.social @ruthlovell.bsky.social @tirweddaucymru.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/09/30/o...
It was lovely to walk with Freddie this morning, to talk about rights of way and access and what needs doing to improve them @openspacessociety.bsky.social @ramblers.org.uk
This morning, I had the pleasure of joining Helen from the Open Spaces Society and Kate & Stephen from The Ramblers for a walk around Henley.
Both organisations work nationally and locally to protect and expand public access to the outdoors—a cause that benefits us all. 🌿🚶
Both organisations work nationally and locally to protect and expand public access to the outdoors—a cause that benefits us all. 🌿🚶
September 29, 2025 at 10:35 PM
It was lovely to walk with Freddie this morning, to talk about rights of way and access and what needs doing to improve them @openspacessociety.bsky.social @ramblers.org.uk
A day for @openspacessociety.bsky.social members to celebrate the society's 160th anniversary on its land at Parliament Piece, Kenilworth @warwickshirewt.bsky.social @warwicksramblers.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/09/28/c...
Celebrations at Parliament Piece
The Open Spaces Society offered a day for its members on 13 September, in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. This was to celebrate the society’s 160th anniversary, and to show members the society̵…
campaignerkate.wordpress.com
September 28, 2025 at 9:09 AM
A day for @openspacessociety.bsky.social members to celebrate the society's 160th anniversary on its land at Parliament Piece, Kenilworth @warwickshirewt.bsky.social @warwicksramblers.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2025/09/28/c...
Thank you Sarah! And we appreciate your support and interest in our work over many years, with some great articles!
Thank you @campaignerkate.bsky.social for a lovely review of Wildly Different in the new issue of Open Space magazine! I've admired Kate's work at the Open Spaces Society, protecting greens, rights of way & other public spaces for many years and so this means a lot to me @manchesterup.bsky.social
September 27, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Thank you Sarah! And we appreciate your support and interest in our work over many years, with some great articles!