The Open Spaces Society is Britain’s oldest national conservation body, founded in 1865. We campaign throughout England and Wales to protect common land, public open spaces and public paths for people to enjoy and we advise our members on the law and practice. We are by law consulted on all applications to erect works on common land and alter the routes of public paths and we comment on many of these.
We have existed since 1865 and in our early days were instrumental in saving Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Wimbledon Common and many other London spaces for public enjoyment. We drafted laws to protect and record commons and paths and have remained influential in legislation ever since.
We have about 2,000 members consisting of individuals, organisations and local authorities, who support our aims of preserving green spaces and paths, and who benefit from help and support with their campaigns. We publish a magazine, Open Space, three times a year.