Saturday April 27^th, 2024 1pm – 6 pm

Kinder Pledge to be launched at Hayfield.

Hayfield Kinder Tress Group, the Tent People and Outdoors for All

The 92^nd  anniversary of the Kinder Mass Trespass  will be marked by an access festival at Hayfield on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

As well as marking the anniversary of the 1932 trespass, the theme of  the day will be the current campaigns to secure and enhance responsible access to open spaces in the countryside and our towns and cities.

As part of the event, the Hayfield Kinder Trespass Group, together with representatives of the Ramblers’ Association, Right to Roam, the British Mountaineering Council, Spirit of Kinder and outdoor swimmers, will formally launch the Kinder Pledge, based on Benny Rothman’s 1989 Rivington Pledge, updated to reflect current issues and campaigns.

The event will also host speakers who will address how best we achieve greater access and will include (with more to be confirmed):

Kate Ashbrook, General Secretary of the Open Spaces Society, who has been a tireless advocate for preserving and championing open spaces, and continues as a prominent advocate for greater responsible access to the outdoors.

Dave Morris, former Scottish Ramblers’ leader and a dedicated environmental campaigner, has made significant strides in advocating responsible access to green spaces, notably in obtaining the Right to Roam in Scotland under the Scottish Land Reform Act.

Dave will highlight the stark contrast between Scotland and England when it comes to public access to nature. Under the Scottish Land Reform Act of 2003, public access rights apply to most land and water, even around densely populated cities, as long as people adhere to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

Dave Morris will claims that Westminster politicians should learn from Scotland’s approach and work toward delivering equal rights of access to nature for all in England.

Music will be provided by Johnny Campbell. Johnny is a multi-disciplinary folk musician who passionately promotes the radical history of Northern English working-class struggles and celebrations through original and traditional songs.

There will also be stalls, exhibitions and a mummers’ play about Land Justice, all taking place in and around Hayfield Village Hall, Green and St Matthew’s Church. The Tent People

In this election year, it is crucial that everyone who cares about protecting and extending responsible access comes along to show support for campaigns being organised by the new Outdoors for All coalition and manifesto ( see under Notes for Editors).

There will also be stalls, exhibitions and a mummers’ play about Land Justice, all taking place in and around Hayfield Village Hall, Green and St Mattew’s Church. The Tent People will be providing food and drink throughout the day and evening – and in Hayfield itself there are three cafes and four pubs.

Parking is very limited in Hayfield, so we are requesting people arrive by public transport if possible.

For further information: Contact Dave Toft of the Hayfield Trespass Group

trespass92@cantab.net

1: The Kinder Pledge

We declare our commitment to a universal right of free and responsible access to all landscapes, rural and urban, for all.

We pledge to peacefully campaign to enshrine in law the right of universal open access to land and water, urban and rural, across all of the UK. This law should be similar to those currently in place in Scotland. We will also support the actions of those who undertake forms of non-violent direct action to campaign for these rights.

We pledge to do no damage to any landscape and to recognise that some areas may not be available to everyone at all times, in order to protect the environment and wildlife.

Through formal and informal programmes of education, we will seek to extend popular understanding of the natural and built environments and how we can best protect and enhance the rich diversity of the life and lifestyles that they enable and support.

Individually and with others we will explore, enjoy, exercise, and simply be in open urban and rural spaces. We respect the rights of others to do likewise. We will work to ensure that open spaces are welcoming and accessible to anyone and everyone on an equal basis.

2: The Outdoors for All Manifesto:

Outdoors For All – 36 organisations support manifesto

●          36 leading national governing bodies and environmental organisations have signed up to support a manifesto, seeking to extend responsible access to more green and blue spaces.

●          The Outdoors For All coalition is calling for new legislation to open up more of our countryside, including waterways, woodland, riversides and downland for public enjoyment

●          A new bill will create opportunities for people to enjoy more land and water for activities including cycling, walking, climbing, horse riding, caving, swimming, flying and paddling.

●          The UK ranks lowest of 14 European nations on connectedness to nature. It also ranks 11th out of 15 European nations on levels of physical activity. Nations that rank higher than the UK, have far more freedom to enjoy their outdoor spaces.

Thirty six leading national governing bodies and environmental organisations have joined together to support an Outdoors For All manifesto, seeking to extend responsible access to more green and blue landscapes.

The government has set its sights on getting 3.5m more people active by 2030, through its ‘Get Active’ Strategy. It has also committed to giving the public access to green and blue spaces within a 15-minute walk of home, through its Environmental Improvement Plan.

The Outdoors For All manifesto argues that to meet these targets, rights to responsibly access the outdoors must be expanded.

Less than 4% of rivers in England have an uncontested public right of access. The path network is frequently inaccessible and 19.6m people do not live within a 15-minute walk of green and blue spaces.

Access land which gives us our current and limited right to roam covers just 8% of England. This right extends only to those on foot and excludes others such as equestrians, paddlers and cyclists

Physical inactivity is associated with 1 in 6 deaths in the UK and is estimated to cost the country £7.4bn annually (including £0.9bn to the NHS). Our population is 20% less active than in the 1960s and is forecast to be 30% less active by 2030. It is estimated that good access to green and blue spaces would save an astonishing £2.1bn in health spending every year.

Comments made by a selection of organisers and signatories of the manifesto:

Ben Seal, Head of Access & Environment at British Canoeing said: “I am extremely proud British Canoeing is part of the Outdoors For All Coalition. With a general election on the horizon, it is so important that we speak with a unified voice.  Outdoors For All sets out a really compelling case for change. We have a real opportunity now to create a lasting legacy for the next generation.

Dr Catherine Flitcroft, Senior Policy and Campaigns Manager, British Mountaineering Council said:

“The outdoors really is for everyone and the past few years have demonstrated this.  And yet those in power have yet to fully realise the huge health, economic, and social benefits of this – for too long access to our green and blue spaces has not been seen as a priority and it’s heart-warming to know that so many of us believe this needs to change.  The BMC is proud to support this partnership vision for action.”

Andrew Denton, Chief Executive of the Outdoor Industries Association said: “The Outdoor industries are delighted to support this document – our core mission is to Get more people , more active , outside and many of the proposals and recommendations in this document  supports just that. We look forward to the response from all political parties, and their proposals on how to link the outdoors to health and many other positive incomes for the UK in their own 2024 manifestos.”

Tom Platt, Director of Advocacy and Operations at the Ramblers said: No one should have to travel far or make a big effort to experience the enormous health and wellbeing benefits of being in nature. Yet almost 20 million people in England do not have easy access to a green or blue space close to home and many people also face physical or social barriers that prevent them from getting outdoors. We’re delighted to be part of the Outdoors for All coalition, supporting a range of reforms to ensure that everyone can access nature. 

Jon Moses of the Right to Roam Campaign said: ‘Two years ago the government promised a “quantum shift” in access to the outdoors and called for “big creative ideas” for “structural and system changes” on access reform. They may not have delivered, but we have. Outdoors for All represents the collective voice of the millions of people calling for the right to access nature on their doorstep, and the skills, confidence and infrastructure they need to do it.”

Kate Ashbrook, General Secretary of the Open Spaces Society, said: ‘We are delighted to sign up to this manifesto for the outdoors, and in particular to call for better access and high quality open space on people’s doorsteps.’

David Toft, Chair of Hayfield Kinder Trespass Group:  “Our group is extremely excited to be part of the Outdoors for All Coalition. This is a critical moment for everyone who wants to secure and, crucially, extend our access to open spaces, urban and rural, land and water. The breadth, depth and clarity of the arguments and proposals set out in the coalition document form a robust platform for us all to campaign together to achieve the advances we need to benefit everyone, now and in the future.”

Kate Rew, The Outdoor Swimming Society said: The Outdoor Swimming Society sees first hand the barriers to swimming in rivers, reservoirs and lakes. We know how easy they would be to remove and how much free health and happiness that would give millions of people. We are proud to stand united with all our partners in the Outdoors For All Coalition, asking for that change to come now.

For more information and to arrange an interview please contact:

British Canoeing: mediaenquiries@britishcanoeing.org.uk

Right to Roam: hello@righttoroam.org.uk

The Ramblers: press@ramblers.org.uk

BMC: press@thebmc.co.uk

Open Spaces Society: hq@oss.org.uk

Campaign for National Parks: Rose@cnp.org.uk