Kinder Scout Commemoration

On Sunday 22 April 2012 there is a commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Kinder Scout mass trespass. In 1932 land owners employed games keepers to keep out walkers who were determined that they should be allowed to walk the moors freely. There was scuffles and a number of trespassers were arrested and some were even jailed but the trespass was ultimately successful since it helped bring about the movement for the "Freedom to Roam" and the establishing of National Parks in 1949.

There are a number of events to celebrate this anniversary including this sponsored walk for the Morning Star. The Ramblers are encouraging people to send in photos of blocked footpaths.

By coincidence rather than design I walked up Kinder Scout during its 75th Anniversary.

I can't take part this year since on 22 April I will be be in London taking part in the Marathon (wishing I was somewhere, anywhere else, especially the lovely Peak District).

Hat tip Captain Swing

Boris the Bear

Yesterday, while out walking in the English countryside and woods in Bedfordshire I saw a black bear. The bear looked very much ill at ease, unsure of what to do and which way to turn. It moved slowly and awkwardly, stumbled from left to right, it was unkempt, overweight and bumbling and even at a distance of 100m you can sense a far from pleasant aroma. I kept my distance.

In the excitement of last week, my “better half” had insisted that since she was likely to become an “election widow” that we go off for a long walk on what could have been our last free Sunday for a while.

On the drive there we listened to Parkinson on Radio 2. Poor old Gordon was getting a bit of undeserved stick over the postponed election. In his honour Parkie played “It’s lonely at the top” by Randy Newman.

Admittedly the 8 mile circular walk (No 23 “one of the great classic walks in Bedfordshire”) was through the public footpaths that crisscross Woburn Abbey. Home of the famous Safari Park and 3000 acre deer park, golf courses, racing stables and farmland. The Abbey and Park are still owned by the latest descendant of the famous Russell family (currently led by the 15th Duke of Bedford).

It does stick in your throat that one family could own just so much land, you can walk for hours and hours and still be on the family estate. However, to be fair the deer park is well looked after and gorgeous, at least they haven’t turned it into an upmarket Country hotel and conference centre like they have with Brocket Hall.

For part of the walk the footpath goes alongside the Safari Park. To try and see the animals you have to recreate your own Kinder Scout trespass and leave the public footpath and cross over the road, the final perimeter fence is a further 50m away. Beyond the fences there is the bears and wolves reserve. Safari parks are much better than Zoo's but still not suitable for wild animals. Animals as well as Tory game show hosts should also keep to their own natural environment.

There we saw our bear. We just had to call him Boris. GLA elections May 2008. In London and elsewhere the battle continues.

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?”