Campaigns Update

We’ve long campaigned for better use of previously developed land, known as brownfield land, for housing.

Using derelict land before building on the countryside both protects the green spaces we love, and helps to deliver homes where people really need them.

And, it’s a viable solution to the housing crisis: our research has shown that there’s space for a million more homes on brownfield sites, and that two-thirds of this land is ready to be developed right now.

So we’re really pleased that our campaigning has paid off! The housing secretary has laid out intentions to prioritise urban regeneration, and make better use of brownfield land.

This could be a crucial first step towards a planning system that works for people and the countryside.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone that took part in our Star Count last month!

We hope you used the opportunity to enjoy the magic of the night sky. We had a record number of entries and are now collating the results to create a map that shows where to find the best views of the stars, and where the worst affected areas for light pollution are. Stay tuned for further updates...

In the meantime, why not listen to our starry skies expert Emma Marrington discuss all things dark skies with BBC Sky at Night podcast?

An estimated 10,000 miles of paths across England and Wales could soon be lost forever, unless we come together to save them. We’re excited to be supporting The Ramblers’ new campaign to help map them before it’s too late.

Our paths are one of our most precious assets and are often taken for granted. They allow everyone to enjoy the countryside, both on our doorstep and across our most iconic landscapes, and tell the story of the history of our countryside.

But many paths are not recorded on the definitive map of rights of way, and if they’re not found and added by the cut-off date of 2026, they could be lost to public access forever.

Our friends at The Ramblers have launched a brilliant new tool that splits the country into 150,000 1km squares and makes it easy to compare current and historic maps side by side. You can start using it now.