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Kate Ashbrook

@campaignerkate.bsky.social
905 followers 305 following 252 posts

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

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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Great outing with @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social to Stoke Common & lake at Low Farm, Fulmer campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/08/30/g...
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Glorious greenshank
Ten members of Buckinghamshire Bird Club met for the August outing to Stoke Common and Low Farm lake at Fulmer, uncertain of what we might see. August can be quiet but there’s always a chance…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
50 yrs ago today I had an article published in the Sunday Times criticising the car-park surveys I did for the first Dartmoor National Park plan @campaign4parks.bsky.social @dpadartmoor.bsky.social @ramblers.org.uk @openspacessociety.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/08/08/t...
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They only wanted toilets
That was my title for an article, published in the Sunday Times 50 years ago today, on 8 August 1976. It occupied the ‘Opinion’ slot, for contributions by the public, with the staider t…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Interesting walk on the Sussex Border Path with the Radical Ramblers campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/07/31/f... @ramblersGB @openspacessociety.bsky.social Many path-problems reported.
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Fleeing the flight path
It’s not often one starts a recreational walk with a tromp through Gatwick airport, but the Radical Ramblers can be unconventional. Ten of us gathered near the departures at Gatwick on 26 Jul…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Thank you @marycreagh.bsky.social for your time as minister for nature, championing protected landscapes, nature, and access campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/07/25/t...
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Thank you, Mary Creagh
I am sad that Mary Creagh has lost her post as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Nature, which she had held since Labour won the election in 2024. It had been good to see her hold office in…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Lovely walk at Linford Lakes with @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/07/16/l...
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Lingering at Linford Lakes
Bucks Bird Club visited Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes, on 11 July. This reserve is by permit only so I was especially keen to visit. Eleven of us met by the old visitor centre with Mike Haberfield a…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Glorious event to celebrate 50th anniv of Godalming & Haslemere Ramblers, with walks & of course tea campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/07/12/g... @ramblers.org.uk @openspacessociety.bsky.social
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Golden Godalming
The Godalming and Haslemere Ramblers’ group (G&H Group) celebrated its fiftieth-anniversary on 27 June in true Ramblers’ style: a walk and a tea. I was pleased to join them, having …
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Annual nightjar-count at Barossa with Surrey Wildlife Trust @naturalengland.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/07/05/a...
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At the top of Kings Ride
On 30 June I joined local volunteers at the top of Kings Ride, Camberley, for the annual nightjar count at Barossa nature reserve, organised by Surrey Wildlife Trust. This was later in the year tha…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
My tribute to Terry Robinson, formerly of the Countryside Commission, Countryside Agency & @naturalengland.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/07/03/t...
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Terry Robinson, a commons man
I first met Terry Robinson, who died in January aged 77, in 1984 when he was the Countryside Commission’s representative on the Common Land Forum. I was there for the Open Spaces Society. Ter…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Delighted to be on That'sTV Oxon talking about urgent need for govt to legislation for new access & developers to be mandated to provide new village greens in developments www.facebook.com/reel/1522869... @openspacessociety.bsky.social @ramblers.org.uk
facebook.com
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
First leg of Thames Path relay from source to Ashton Keynes campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/06/12/a... @thamespathnt.bsky.social
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At the source of the Thames
There was no sign of water when we met at the source of the River Thames, near Kemble in Gloucestershire, on 5 June. The gathering was to start of the 24-day relay along the Thames Path National Tr…
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Reposted by Kate Ashbrook
Thames Path National Trail @thamespathnt.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
👏👏 The Thames Path 30th anniversary Relay featured in tonight's BBC South Today news, from 14.45 www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis... and on the Oxfordshire local news page www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
South Today - Evening News: 08/06/2026
The latest news, sport and weather for the South of England.
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Celebrating 50 years of the Two Moors Way campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/06/07/f... @dartmoorjohn.bsky.social @exmoornp.bsky.social @dpadartmoor.bsky.social
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Fifty years of the Two Moors Way
It made me feel rather old. There were only two of us at the Two Moors Way (TMW) fiftieth anniversary celebration who were at the launch on 29 May 1976. But, as I assured the audience, I was young …
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
It was lovely to be at the start of the relay, and I look forward to joining again on 25 June when we pass the bench in honour of David Sharp, who invented the national trail and worked so hard on it.
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Happy 90th birthday @campaign4parks.bsky.social defending the parks for all to enjoy @roseoneill.bsky.social @andrewmccloy.bsky.social @openspacessociety.bsky.social @ramblers.org.uk @cprecountryside.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/05/26/n...
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Ninety years of leading the national park movement
Ninety years ago today, 26 May 1936, the Standing Committee on National Parks held its first meeting, at 4 Hobart Place in London. This was before there were any national parks in the UK; they were…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Fab walk with @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social on Greenham Common @bbowt.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/05/25/g...
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Greenham in the heat
It was extremely hot when members of Buckinghamshire Bird Club congregated at the Greenham control tower car-park, at 3 pm on 23 May. This was a rare out-of-county trip (we were in West Berkshire).…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Early-morning walk in @peakdistrict.bsky.social last month when on @campaign4parks.bsky.social away event for trustees @andrewmccloy.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/05/24/d...
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Down dale up
It was a misty mid-April morning at Hartington Youth Hostel in the White Peak, Derbyshire. I got up before 6am to make the most of my time. I was there with the Campaign for National Parks for a tr…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/05/19/r...
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Roaming round Rushmere
On 17 May the Bucks Bird Club returned to Rushmere Country Park, for a stroll around the woods and heath, led by Rob Andrews who knows his patch intimately. We were on greensand, on the border of B…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Lovely visit to Forest of Dean campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/05/16/b... @rspb.bsky.social @gloswildlife.bsky.social
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Back to the Forest
I cannot resist visiting the Forest of Dean in springtime, and so I returned on 2 May, with my visually-impaired friend Marika Kovacs, to enjoy the birdsong. We started on Crabtree Hill, near the S…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Path reopened on Cornish coast, thanks to @ramblers.org.uk & @openspacessociety.bsky.social www.voicenewspapers.co.uk/news/environ...
voicenewspapers.co.uk
70-year blocked footpath reopens near Penzance
A blocked public footpath has been reopened after seven decades, thanks to a persistent campaign by The Ramblers and the Open Spaces Society.
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Amazing nightingales @berksbirdclub.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/05/09/l...
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Light-winged dryad
When the chairman of the Bucks Bird Club, Dave Bevan, dropped a pin on a map and said ‘park here, turn right and walk along the path into scrub thicket, the nightingales are all in there&#821…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Pleased to take part in the bicentenary celebrations of the 1826 Glorious Majority vote in parliament to save the Eton lammas lands from inclosure @openspacessociety.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/05/07/t...
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The Glorious Majority
Two hundred years ago, on 1 May 1826, the lammas lands of Eton and Eton Wick were saved for the people. These commons extend between the two settlements in Windsor and Maidenhead borough. In 1826 t…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Splendid visit to @rspbframptonmarsh.bsky.social & Freiston with @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/05/04/l...
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Lifers in Lincs
I enjoyed a glorious birdfest at RSPB Freiston Shore and Frampton Marsh, thanks to the Buckinghamshire Bird Club (BBC). In one day I saw seven lifers and a further 19 year ticks, and the joy was al…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
My encounter with the king at England Coast Path launch and my explanation of the problem at Osborne, Isle of Wight @englishheritage.bsky.social @ramblers.org.uk @openspacessociety.bsky.social @nationaltrailsuk.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/04/24/a...
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A royal gap
I was invited to celebrate the (almost) completion of the King Charles III England Coast Path. I had been involved from the very start, when Ramblers, Open Spaces Society, and others lobbied the go…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Fab @ramblerscymru.bsky.social annual meeting where we discussed senedd elections, campaigning & celebrated volunteer successes @ramblersGB #AccessDenied campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/04/15/t...
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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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
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...
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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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Second gate to celebrate John Esslemont and his contributions to @ramblers.org.uk campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/04/11/j...
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John’s second gate
Wycombe District Ramblers have dedicated a gate to founder member, John Esslemont.  It replaces a tricky stile on the boundary of John’s home parish, Lane End (footpath 58), and Piddington and Whee…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
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...
bucksfreepress.co.uk
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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
My lovely bird site at Hazlemere, Bucks, threatened @chilternsnl.bsky.social @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social @nickmarriner.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/04/07/a...
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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 …
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
A few sightings from Little Marlow gravel pit today, blackcap, little ringed plover, and green woodpecker.
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
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...
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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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
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...
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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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
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...
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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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Great morning at Floodplain Forest @theparkstrust.bsky.social with Bucks Bird Club campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/03/17/a...
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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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
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
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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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
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...
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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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Great work by @dpadartmoor.bsky.social conservation volunteers at Common Wood, clearing for butterflies @savebutterflies.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/02/24/m...
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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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
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
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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…
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Katrina Navickas @katrinanavickas.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
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
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
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...
bbc.co.uk
'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.
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Great visit to @rspbotmoor.bsky.social with @chilternsnl.bsky.social Tracking the Impact last Sat campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/01/23/a...
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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…
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Reposted by Kate Ashbrook
Open Spaces Society @openspacessociety.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
📣 “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/... ⬇️
bbc.co.uk
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
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
bbc.co.uk
Today - 21/01/2026 - BBC Sounds
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 18/01/2026
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
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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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
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...
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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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Walk along the River Leach with my visually-impaired friend Marika Kovacs @cotswoldsnl.bsky.social campaignerkate.wordpress.com/2026/01/03/m...
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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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
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...
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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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
My new year message about the work of the Open Spaces Society in 2025.
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
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...
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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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
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
campaignerkate.wordpress.com
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…
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Kate Ashbrook @campaignerkate.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
Open Spaces Society forces new town green in Swaffham, Norfolk, development, huge public benefit @bbcnorfolk.bsky.social www.edp24.co.uk/news/2572062...
edp24.co.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.
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