75th anniversary of the Kinder Scout mass trespass

Tomorrow is the 75th anniversary of the mass trespass that took place on April 24 1932.

This is what Wikipedia says about it. "The mass trespass of Kinder Scout was a notable act of willful trespass by ramblers. It was undertaken at Kinder Scout, in the Peak District of England, on 24 April 1932, to highlight weaknesses in English law of the time. This denied walkers in England or Wales access to areas of open country, and to public footpaths which, in previous ages (and today), formed public rights of way. Political and conservation activist Benny Rothman was one of the principal leaders.

A commemorative plaque now marks the start of the trespass at Bowden Bridge quarry near Hayfield (which is now a popular area for ramblers). This was unveiled in April 1982 by an aged Benny Rothman during a rally to mark the 50th anniversary. The trespass proceeded via William Clough to the plateau of Kinder Scout, where there were violent scuffles with gamekeepers. Several ramblers were arrested and some would receive jail sentences of 18 months, merely for diverging a few yards from a right-of-way.

The mass trespass had a far-reaching impact, some of which is still playing out today. Eventually, changes in the law would allow all citizens access to public footpaths, regardless of whether they crossed private land. This culminated in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which legislates a limited right to roam over scheduled access land (see Open Country).

Ewan MacColl, the poet and folk singer, celebrated these events in his song The Manchester Rambler, and it is also the subject of a song on Chumbawamba's 2005 album A Singsong and a Scrap".

Most of the original trespassers (Manchester based, who had the main “ruck” with the 8 local gamekeepers) walked up from Hayfield.

On Saturday this year I walked up to Kinder Scout via Edale where the Sheffield marchers started off. Although I went up along the Grinsbrook Clough –Ugh – give it a miss! Came back down Jacobs Ladder.

Apparently David Milliband MP was there that day to celebrate the anniversary (but I didn't see him – I did however see a Lamb being born on the hillside!). For the first time ever in the Peak District, the weather was actually excellent (in my limited experience). Blue skies, dry and warm.

The above plaque picture (top right) is in the Peak District Visitors Centre in Edale. I must admit to thinking that despite the determined efforts of the trespassers in 1932, National Parks were only actually created by the election of a Labour government in 1945. Also, we only have the “right to roam” following the election of a Labour government in 1997. So I can’t resist posing the question – “What does direct action achieve without Power – Discuss?”