Britain’s oldest national conservation body is calling for a better deal for open spaces to ensure that everyone can enjoy safe open spaces within 300 metres of their homes.

The Open Spaces Society is a conservation organisation based in Henley.

In lockdown communities enjoyed their open spaces and the society has launched its charter for open spaces and has written to Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and to all of England’s planning authorities.

The organisation is calling on the government to introduce a national plan and standards for open spaces, and to place a duty on local authorities to ensure that everyone can enjoy open spaces close to their homes.

It is urging planning authorities to have a budget for open green spaces and wants to see greater use of the opportunity to register land as a town or village green.

The society also recommends communities fundraise, volunteer and get involved in their local planning processes before land is allocated for development.

The society pledges to lobby government to secure open spaces and access to nature through the 25-year environment plan, the Agriculture and Environment Bills and the new Environmental Land Management Scheme.

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Phil Wadey, the society’s newly-elected chairman said: "During lockdown people have enjoyed their local spaces and paths as never before, and this use continues beyond the pandemic. We know there is a great disparity in the distribution and quality of open spaces, and that investment in these assets provides excellent value for money by improving people’s health and well-being.

"We therefore call on government, local authorities and communities to work together to ensure that everyone has access to good-quality green space close to home. This is a vital element of the green recovery after the pandemic. We have made proposals as to how this can be achieved."