Country groups divided by fence
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An acrimonious dispute has broken out between two of Britain's oldest amenity groups, the National Trust and the Open Spaces Society, over the trust's proposals to fence in common land, writes David Nicholson-Lord.
Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the society, yesterday accused the trust of arrogance, 'shabby' behaviour and ignoring the law in planning to fence in commons on land it owns at Holford in the Quantock Hills in Somerset. According to Ms Ashbrook, the trust's 'green credibility' is in doubt.
She said the proposals were the first of many fencing plans for commons managed by the trust, including Hindhead in Surrey, Dumpdon Hill in Devon and Danbury Common in Essex.
She added: 'Two hundred years ago, fences and quickset hedges were fast encompassing the commons. By a sad irony, a great organisation to which we look for the protection of our remaining open space repeats the process.'
The Holford commons will remain open to the public under the trust's plans. But the society says fences are contrary to legislation compelling the trust to keep common land unenclosed.
The trust yesterday said the fence was being erected to preserve wildlife. 'It is nonsense to say our green credibility is under fire. We are doing this for green reasons.'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments