Open
Spaces
J061
Annual Report and
Accounts 2025
25a Ball Streel Hon￿y￿)n-Th4Mes RG9 2BA
Email: hq@oss.org.uk
Website: www.oss.ory.uk
Charity no 1144840
Registerod in England and Wales, limited company no 7846516

THE OPEN SPACES SOCIETY
Victyresidents, officers, othor trusto08 and staff
31 Decern￿r 2025
Vice-presidents
Diane Andrewes
Mike Clarke
Richard MalKy
Phil Wad¢y (F.G.L)
Grdham B&h¢ (G) (lo July 2025k Stuart Bain (FG) (from July
2025)
Stuart Bain (FG) (to July 2025). James Lean {FG) (from July
2025)
David (Lord) Clark
Roger de Freit&s
Chairman
VKe-chairman
Treasurer
Other Iruslees
Chri5 Beney
John Hall (L),
Andrew Packman (L from August 2025)
Tara-jane Sutcliffe (L io August 2025)
mernber finance wmmittee
member general purposes committee
member legal cornmittee
Staff
Generalsecrerary
Case officers
Kate Ashbrook
Helen Clayton
Hugh Craddock
Nicola Hodgson (to February 2025)
Hel¢n Monger (from MaKh 2025)
Jes5 Tyl¢r
Commons re-regislration
o]ficer
Finance officer
Fran¢es Kerner
Glynis Smith (to April 2025)
Jenny Neagle (from July 2025)
Operalions marketing
manager
OJTice assEslant aml
membership secretary
Digital markefing and
contenl manager
Sarah Hacking
Lucy McKean
Abbie Cavendish
Bank:
Barclays Bank plc, Lei¢esfrr LE87 2BB
CAF Bank Ltd. 25 Kings Hill Avenue. Kings Hill. West Malling ME18 4JQ
Flagstone Group Ltd, Clareville House. 2fv27 Oxendon Street. London SWI Y 4EL
Soli¢itor8:
Mercers, 50 New Street. Henley-on-Thames RG9 2BX.
Richard Buxton, Dale's Brewery. Gwydir Street, Cambridge CBI 2LJ
Flnancial
Independent examiners: Villars Hayward LLP. Boston House. 2 Boston Road. H¢nley-
on-Thame5 RG9 1 DY
Investment advisers.. JM Fin￿ 25 Copthall Avenue. tA)tMlon EC2R 7AH

Open Spaces Society
Trustees, report for 2025
Highlights of 2025
During the year we:
helped our members and others protect more than 830
commons. greens, open spaces, and paths under threat of
welcomed the Welsh Government's repeal of the 2026
date for extinguishment of unrecorded highways;
celebrated the supreme court's confirniation of backpack-
camping rights on Dartmoor, in which we intervened.
through legal action secured the removal of unlawful
obstructions from paths in West Northamptonshire, and a
wall on a South Gloucestershire common.
rejoiced at the Welsh minister's decision to reject the
deregistration of West Cross Common, swans￿ for
housing;
celebrated the registrdtion of seven lost commons, in
Cornwall, Devon, Hertfordshire and North Yorkshire,
totalling 1,290 hectares"
gave advice and support to our network of 45 local
correspondents who protect many open spaces and paths"
ted our legal-action fund.
Reference and administrative infonnation
Reglstered charity name and number
The Open Spaces Society. registered number 1144840.
Roglstered company name and number
The O￿n Spa￿$ Society. registered number 7846516.
Principal and registered offico
25a Bell Street. Henley-on-Thames RG9 2BA
Names of trustées. advisers and staff
The tNste¢s are li￿ed aknve, together with deiails of adviser5 and the names ofthe staff.

Structure, governance, and management
Governing documont
The charity is controlled by its governing document. the memorandum and articles of
association, and constitutes a IiTnikd company. limited by guarantee. os d¢fined by the
Companies Act 2(Kl6.
The charity is the successoT to the Commons. Open Spaces and Foolpaths Preservation
s￿le¢Y (r¢gisl¢r¢d charity number 214753) which was established by a trust d¢ed dated
6 December 1963. originally having been founded in 1865. It was registered &s a
Company limil¢d by guaran1¢¢ on 14 November 2011.
Rocrullment and appointrnont of trusto
Trustees are apwinted by the Members of the ¢ompany (ie the societyk in accordance
wilh the memordndum and articles of association.
Related party dlsclosuros
No ITansa¢tion whi¢h would need to k disclosed h&s been notified by any tn15t¢¢. in
relation to the year. nor any balance outstanding from previi)us years.
Declarations of internst
An agenda item for recording these. if any d¢¢lar¢d. appears on the agend& for each
tr￿stee meeiing. The society'5 insurer5 require a statemenl lo k minuted at each
(quarterly) meeting that the trusiees are not aware of anything arising which might lead
to a claim on the society's indemnity wlicy.
Risk.managoment slatement
The society maintains a risk register which is Tegularly reviewed by trustee5 with
practical precautions being implemented by officers and staff.
Public benefit ststement
Section 4 of ihe Clwities Act 201 I requires the charity trnstees to comply with their duty
to have due regard to public benefit guidan¢¢ published by the Charity Commission in
exercising their powers or duties.
The Iruslees are mindful of this obligation and have been referring to th¢ guidance when
reviewing their aims and objeclives and in planning their future activities. They have
considered how planned a￿1VitIeS will contribute to the aims and objectives they have
set.
Objectives and activities for the public benefit
Summary of the charity's objects and strategy for achieving them
The objects of the society are campaigning to ¢ieale and conserve comtnon I&T]d, village
greens. open spaces. and rights of public ac¢ess in town and country. in England and
Wales. These obj¢¢ls are furthered boih locally and nationally. The society maintains a
network of local ¢orr¢sw>nd¢nls who can make site visits where problerns arise and
submit appropriat¢ representations regardin& for example, proposed changes to the
public-paih n¢twork. The society also secures the registration of new village greens.
resists encroachments on common land. and defends common land and greens against
deregistration.

At a national level the society's unique expertise is its accumulaled knowledge in the
omplicated case law and common law that apply to ¢ommon land and its user rights.
Bodies such 8S the Departmeni for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). the
Welsh government. Naturnl Englan￿ Nalurdl Resources Wales. and lh¢ National Trust
acknowledge the society's primacy in this are& The Society is a mandatory consuliee for
certain applications for works on common land and for changes to publi¢ rights of way.
The society also endeavours to improve the law for the benefit of the public. By
Challenging una¢c¢ptable pro￿SaI$-thrQUgh the courts if necessary-and more
generally by seeking media attention and lobbying parliaments and local authoriti¢5. it
protects places of beauty and inter¢sL and achieves better public access throughout
England and Wal¢s.
Achievements and perforniance, delivery of
public benefit
Summary of main achievements durlng the year
tkspite the continuing threats to open Spaces and paths. from d¢v¢lopm¢nt and lack of
funding especially. we remain upbeat and can celebrate many su¢c¢ss¢5 in 2025. We had
hoped for more. sooner. from the Westminster govemm¢nt. and have lobbied minislers
repeatedly on public ￿¢¢$s, with little result. But we are not to be deterred.
Boosted by our legal-action fund we pursued s¢v¢ral wes in the courts and backed our
members in doing so. We renewed our appeal to members to supwrt Ihe fund and were
pleased that. thanks to their generosity. we had raised a year-end total of £41,137
(including Gift Aid).
The m3in achievements during the year are listed below under headin&% which refiect the
four main objects in our constitution.
To protect commons, gmns. and other open spaces
We Tespond¢d io calls from members for advice on protection and management of at
leasi 149 ¢ommons. 80 greens, and 213 other open spaces. Othercases and disputes came
to us from consultations from official iM)dies OT were dealt with by our I￿al
corresEX)ndents.
OUT re-registTation officer. FTances Kerner. fundal by the generous legacy from Jack
Candy. continued her work on applications. submitting a further one in North Yorkshire.
She also pursued and defended applications w¢ had already made in oih¢r English
counties before their registers closed to new applications on 31 December 2020, and
app¢ared at Ihree public hearing5 in Cornwall (and a further two in sUPPOrt of
applications made by our dedicated supwrter Tom&5 Hill). and one each in Devon,
Hertfordshire. and North Yorkshire. During the year we celebrated the addition of seven
commons lo Ihe registers. Covering about 1290 hectare5 (five square miles). thanks to
our efforts. These are in Comwall at Trewellard Common. in Devon at Ditsworthy and
Legistor. Peter Tavy Gre￿ Common, and Walkhampton Common, and in North
Yorkshire at Gr¢ta Wood. We continued to scoF the work to be done in Wale5. where
Ihe deadline for applications is 2032. five years after Curnbria and North Yorkshire.
In May the supreme court ruled that Ih¢r¢ is a right to backpack camp on the Dartmoor
commons. we had intervened in support ofihe Dartm(K)rNational Park Authority arguing
Ihat ihere was such a right. Our general secreiary sFKTrke al a celebratory rally at Huytor
on Dartmoor shortly after. We wrote to the then environment secretary, Steve Reed, and

the Welsh Deputy First Minister. Huw Irranca-tknvie4 Callillg on them to amend by
regulations the Countryside and Rights of Way Aci 2000 to extend the right to mapped
acce55-land throughout England and Wales. bul to no avail.
We were d¢lighi¢d when Huw Irranc&Davie5 refused the application to ¢x¢hange part
of Clyne Common at West Cross, Swansea thus preventing development for housing. we
app¢ar¢d as an obje¢lor at the public inquiry in 2024. and rn￿e a donation to the Gower
So¢iely for legal representation in the fight.
In celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Commons Registration Aci 1965 IT] July. we
called on ministers to extend part l of the Commons Acl 2(K)6 10 the whole of England.
to redre5S the balance whereby landown¢rs throughoui England apply to deregister
wrongly-regisiered land. We weTe pleased to meet the environment minisier, Sue
Hayman. io discuss this in more detsil and we look forward to following up with her next
year.
Our enforcement officer. Jess Tyler. wntinued our actions at Th¥0 sites against unlawful
inclosures on commons. One of these went to ￿urt and, as a resul¢ a stone wall wa5
removed from part of Patchway Common in South Gloucesletshire.
At the year's end we were challenging with pre-action protocol l¢tt¢rs three d¢¢isions for
common land by lh¢ Planning InsFeCtorate where we believeAI errors had been made.
Applicants for work5 on. or exchang¢ of. common land nolified us of41 cases. We raised
objeciions to 15 of them.
Of the 46 statutory applications for works which were determined during the year. 21
were granted with no objection fTom ths. and 14 were granted despite our objection. These
included a lido building on Tooting B¢c Common. Wandsworth- works connected to
highway development at Hempton Green ¢ommon in Norfolk. and an electricity
substation on Brickenden IAne verges in Hertfordshir¢' Coastal revetmenls at Summerhill
Marsh, Walney. in Cumbria. 8nd road widening at Frimley green, and exchange of land
for a car park at Haslemere. both in SurTey.
Six applications were rejected following our advice. These included the above-
mentioned exchange of land ai West CTOS4 for housing development. and the
deregistration and exchang¢ of land at Brow Moor, near Haworth in Bradfor￿ and
Adwalton Common in t£eds.
Three applications were withdrawn-. for resurfacing and an equipment shed ai Therfield
Heath in H¢rtfordshir¢. and exchange of land at Cefn Hirgi)ed and Hirwaun Common.
Bridgend. for an energy hub.
We helped a resident to confirni Hawkhurst green in Kent as a village green, correcting
a mistake by the county council in 1974 during the original registration process.
When recreation rights on green spaces were threatened by a proEK)sed amendment to the
Planning and InfrLstru¢lure Bill we briefed peers to reject it. The amendment would have
made il easier for I￿al authorities to disEK>se of or appropriate open spaces with rights of
recreation. The am¢ndm¢nl was wiihdrawn when Sharon Taylor. the minister for
housing. and local gov¢rnm¢nL promised an inquiry into the tnatter. (Early in the new
year She gave us an assuranc¢ that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and LA)cal
Government would engage us in that review.)
Wilmot Gard¢ns in Plymouth, a much-loved community space. wa5 saved from
development followtng a high court case. we had backed the local camFAigners fighiing
this. We hope that it will now k Tegistered as a town green. We were also relieved when

Lambeth Council withdrew its legal appeal against Protect Brockwell Park which was
campaigning to stop the coun¢il's occupation of the park for commercial events. In
Bridport. Dorset. we supw)rted a resid¢nt to challenge Bridwrt Town Council over its
attempts to sell bits of public open spa¢¢ which had p￿ViOUSly been given to it by Dorset
Council.
Our case olTi¢¢rs Hugh Craddock and Helen Monger delivered two online trnining
packages on Commons and greens. an￿ with general secretary Kale Ashbrook. spoke at
an event organised by ihe Uniied Kingdom EnviTonmental Law Association.
To protect and enhan￿ publk rlghts of way and publlc access
The Henley office dealt with 350 requesls for advice on paths. and our local
¢orresw>ndent5 pursued many others.
We were delighted when the Welsh govemment repealed the 2026 cut•off for recording
historic paths, thanks to our prompting. However. we continued io be frustrdted by the
Westminster government's failure to fvlfil its Boxing Day 2024 promise to re￿al the
2031 cut-off in England.
Our legal ¢hallenge to the wrongly-made temw)rdry tralyic regulatton order (TTRO) in
Wesl NorthamplonshiTe was 5ucce5sfvI. the council conceded before th¢ matter ￿ached
court. and il subsequenily reopened the illegally-blocked paths at Staverton. This
outcom¢ has deterred other auihorilies from making TfROs to evade their duty of
reopening obstrnct¢d routes.
In Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. the COU￿11 had made a TTRO to stop up a valued
foolpath. Our local corresN)ndent. Bany Thomas. with other campaigners and Amanda
Hack. MP for North West Leicestershire. ￿rslladed the council instead lo reopen it.
We are backing our local corresFM)nd¢nls in serving notices under 5￿tIOn 130A of the
Highways Act 1980 where local authoTlties are failing to wry out their duties lo reopen
blocked paths. At the end of the year we had three outstanding cases against three
councils and anticipate going to the magistr*¢s' court over some of them.
A blocked path at Cwmparc. Treorchy in Rhondda Cynon Taf was re0￿ned thanks to
the efforts of local camp2igneTS SUPWrted by the society. (￿r generdl secretary joined a
celebratory walk there in S¢pt¢mb¢r.
The Closure of cro&sings over railway lines continues to be a cO￿¢m. but we cheered
when Wiltshir¢ Council refi￿ed to make an order c105ing a path across the line at
Westbury. to which we had objected.
The rights-of-way siakeholders. working group. of which Kate Ashbrook is a member,
supported by Helen Clayton and Hugh Craddo¢k. remained domjant throughout the year.
with no progress on implementing the provisions in the Deregulation Act 2015; these
would improve and accelerdte th¢ procedures for claiming public paths in England.
Indeed, by the end of the year. there Seem￿ to slim prospects for any progre55 on
rights-of-way reforni.
In Wales we continued to work with the cross-party group for oUtd￿r activity. and
attended the launch of its manifesto for the senedd election in 2026. We also p3rticipai¢d
in Wales Environment Link's work on access.
(Mr general secretary S￿ke at the 93 anniversary celebration of the Kinder Scout mass
trespass, the Wild Summit organised by Wildlife and Countryside LinK and the gathering
in Hebden BTidge Celebrating ihe 25 anniversary of the Countryside and Righis of Way
Act 2000. We expressed our disapwinthient that no minister marked this mileston¢. (￿r

c&se oificer Helen Clayton gave two online Iraining sessions to local councils and
as5i5ted with a day of T¢Storing-th¢-T¢wrd training.
At th¢ year's end we congratulated our chairman. Phil Wadey. on being mad¢ an MBE
for servi¢¢s to rights of way.
To secure the creatlon of now public paths and open Spaces
Chris Smith, one of our East Sussex local corresw)ndents. made 27 appli¢ation5 for
definitive map m￿difiCation orders in the Society's name. in West Sussex (two).
Shropshire (four) and Powys (21). We made a further application on ￿half0fa member
in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
We continued to encourdge local authorities and other landowners voluntsrily to register
their land as town or village green. thereby giving local ￿PIC rights of recreation there
and prote¢iing it from development. We celebrated the voluntary registration of 1.5
h¢¢tar¢s at Swaffl)am, Norfolk, secured by our local correspondent lan Witham as part
of a new development. This was in exchange for the withdrnwal of his objection to the
diversion of a footpath which crossed ihe site which would have delayed progffss. We
were also pl¢as¢d lo leam of the dedication of1.6 hectare5 a5 green at Mae5 Glasfryn al
St David's, Pembrokeshire. We continued to campaign for a mandate on developers to
register new greens. and called out those developers who advertised a 'village Er¢¢n' as
part of a new d¢v¢lopm¢nt when they had no intention of registering it as such.
We sup￿rted ihe launch of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on Outdoor
R¢¢r¢ation and Access to Nature. and participated in ils inquiry to make
recommendations to govemment on ihis topic. We believe that the comprehensive set or
ommendalions could forni the basis of ihe goveTnment's promised green paper into
access to nature. and w¢r¢ deeply disapFvinted when. in publishing its Environm¢ntal
Improvement Plan in tkc¢mt¢r. minislets gave this low priority. We joined a drop-in
for parliamenlarians in November to ¢n¢ourage them to press foT access legislation. and
we shall ¢onlinu¢ to lobby for th¢ green paper as a vital precursor to a new law.
The government announced on Boxing Day. the first of its National River Walks. the
'Mersey Valley Way,. We argued that this was not new-the route was already a public
right of way. While we welcome the greater investment in improving the path. we do not
believe this should have PTiority over the much wider-ranging and more beneficial access
green paper. and we consid¢r that the National River Walk5 should primarily be aboul
creating new of wider access rights ak>ng England's rivets.
We continued to press for the England Co&st Path to go along the beach al Osknrne
Hous¢, managed by English Heritage. on the Isle of Wight, and were disappointed when
Natural England published an inland route instead. We hope for a public inquiry lo argue
the case for a truly coastal route.
We advised at l¢ast 40 m¢mbeffS and other inquirers about claiming greens.
To protoct tho beauty of tho country8lde
We conlinued to work with the Campaign for National Parks {CNP) and the Alliance of
Welsh Designated Landsca￿& and lo press for the proposed national park in north-east
Wales. We attended the launch of the APPG on Nalional Parks and National Landscapes.
and pledged our suprK)rt for CNP'S New PeTspectives programme for young leaders and
npaigners.
We were dismayed that Sw2nsea Counctl detemitned to proceed with it5 massive tourist
development on Kilvey Hill. north<&st of Swansea. giving planning perniission to

Skyline Swanse4 appmpriating publi¢-acc¢ss land. and ignoring public rights of acces5.
We sUp￿)rted local ￿0p1¢ in th¢ir fight against this.
Our case officers regularly attended external meetings with fellow stskeholders including
Wildlife and Countryside Link (WCL), the Parks Working Group host¢d by MHCLG
and the Better Planning Coalition (BPC). Boih WCL and BPC s￿nt significant parts of
the y¢or challenging amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill wheTe we
contributed.
Organisational management
We were greatly sadden¢d when our case otTicer. Nicola Hodgson. retired in February
2025 after 25 years devoted seTvice. In recognition of thi5. we gave her honorary lif¢
m¢mb¢rship al our AGM. We appointed Helen Monger in her place. Our finan¢e o(fi¢er
Glynis Smith left in April. and Jenny Neagle replaced her in July.
We now have 41 local corre5p)ndents. In 2025 w¢ appointed Kit Cawthom (London
Borough of Ealing). We were Sad to lose Chris MeeWe￿n. Ashley Redsell, and lan
Witham. and thank them for their exemplary seTViCe.
We held our annual general me¢ling in London with an online option. In total 46
mernbers attended, and others participaied by proxy. Voting w&$ undertaken online, with
64 votes c&st. James Lean. Andrew Packman. and Phil Wadey were re-elected to the
board of trustees. We were sorry that Graham Bathe stood down as our vice-chaimian
and a I￿￿tee after many years. dedi¢aied seryice. Stuart Bain took hi5 place as vice-
chaimian. while Jarne5 Lean Teplaced Stuart as treasurer.
We mourned the death of our fornier lo￿1 correspondent Gordon Sencicle.
We held a succe&%ful membets. day in Kenilworth. Warwickshire. on 13 September.
Fifty memkTS joined us in exploring our land at Parliament Piece and saw th¢ Ire¢s
planted in honour of the $￿Iety'S 160, , and the general secretary's 40, . anniversaries.
In conjunction with the Museum for English Rurnl Life. we funded the digitisation of a
survey by the National Federdtion of Women's Inslitul¢s. in the early 1990s, of village
greens" this is a useful Te50urce which w¢ shall arrang¢ to hav¢ hosted online.
We resFrf)nded to several national consultation papers, including the Law Commission's
on compulsory purch&se, the Defra land-use framework. and the trees action plan.
We issued 53 pre55 releases and published thr¢¢ ¢dilions of our magazine Open Spaee.
Staffand members appeared at I￿¢ three times on the radio. and nine timeson lelevision.
At the year's end we were looking forward to the launch of our new website. on which
our operations and marketing tnanager. Sarah Hackin& and digital marketing and content
manager, Abbie Cavendish, have worked incredibly hard. a5SiSted by freelance Laura
Smith. Abbi¢ Cavendish continued her detsiled research with new audiences. increasing
our influ¢n¢¢ and reach. and therefore our campaigning clout.
On 31 December. membership stood at 2.428. a net gain of 22. This number is comprised
of1,789 individuals, and 639 organisations and local authorities. We welcomed 235 new
voting member5 and 25 members who had lapsed and rejoined. 19 members died during
the year and a further 223 lapsed.
We made Paul Johnson an honorary life memberon his retirement from Naturdl England
where he had latteTly Sc￿ed as Ihe principal O￿LCer for statutory access. but had
previously worked for the Countryside Agency and Countryside Commission, playing
an outstanding part in lh¢ prot￿li0n of ￿MMons. greens, and public acctss for 40 years.

Our dedicated staff. Kate Ashbrook. Abbie Cavendish. Helen Clayton. Hugh cradd￿k,
Sarah Hackin& Frances Kerner. Lucy McKean. Helen Monger, Jenny Neagle, and Jess
Tyler have had another busy year. We thank them warmly for their commitment and
success in furthering Ihe work of the society.
Financial review
Financial operations
In 2025. the society's income was split across rn¢mi￿r subscriptions, donations
(including legacie5), returns from our investments and fvndraising through appeals.
Donations and legacies increased by £32.876 (including gift aid) and focused appeals
generated £70,532 for which we are extremely grateful. This valuable support ¢nsur¢s
that fu￿re generations in IK)th rural and urban settings will enjoy access to commons.
open spa¢es and paihs throughout England and Wales. Jncome exceeded that of 2024 and
provided a reassuring coverage of our fixed costs.
EXpendi￿re throughout 2025 a total of £573.533 bro&lly in line with our 2024
administrative and charitable costs. Professional and extemal fees associated with
delivering our new website and online service deliv¢ry are ongoing and will continue
into 2026. This is a very exciting and important investment.
During 2025. following tTUStee 2greemenl, our long-tem) investments were transferred
frorn M&G Securities to JM Finn. This has increased the diver5ificalion of our ￿rtfoliO
in tenns of geography and asset class to balance risk, wilh a greater focus on Capital
growth to creale unrestricted funds to support our charitabl¢ obje¢tiv¢s for decades to
otne. The rnarket value of our long-temi inv¢stm¢nts at year end wer¢ £932.203. up
from £777.350 at the saTne wint in 2024.
Investment in¢om¢ (interest received) from our short, medium and long-terni
inveslments was £54.705 down from £101,471 in 2024 bul reflecting slightly lower
int¢Test rate availability and a switch of our long-temi investment strntegy as ab)ve. Our
short and medium-terni funds ar¢ held on instant &￿e$S and fixed temi treasury deposits
where the capital is guaranteed.
Legacles recognised in 2025
Moird Ruth Bishop. George and MargaTet Gaffney. Alan G¢org¢ Gow¢r, John Stuart
Northover, Margaret Ethel R(M)ker.
We ar¢ grat¢ful for all legacies and donations. and your gift to the s(Kiety will help to
ensuTe that futur¢ g¢nerations will enjoy commons. open spaces. and paths. in towns
and countysid¢ through0￿ England and Wales.
Please see our websi*:
.uklwhal-
infomation.
ou-can-dolle
for more
Reserves policy
The Open Spaces Society financial ￿)sItIon at yearend total charity funds of£l.88m.
Our resetves and financial commitments are reviewed quarterly and at year end to ensure
thal we have the resources to Me￿ both current and future year ca5hflows. Our work
extends across multiple years and with unpredictable timing and outcomes. Our reserves
policies help us to maintain committed resources and deliveT in full our charitable aims.

With recu￿ing planned deficits. we continue lo hold a strategic reserve fund that provides
for those cashflows up to four years ahead. Following approval of the 2026 budget we
are reducing this reserve to £864k as one-off¢osts for the websile should complete within
the year.
The applications ￿serve fund is increased slightly to £250k. Trusiee5 acknowledge this
resetve is essential since ihe costs ass￿lat￿ with iaking applicaiions to completion are
variabl¢ and ¢an run ov¢r a long period.
We have reviewed our restricted and endowment funds whi¢h provide ongoing support
for the society and are now able to deploy the Buxton Fund on our core ¢haritable aims
and close this down in the accounts. A hug¢ thank you to the original donors of these
funds.
Our generdl fund remains stmng at £577k and reflects the financial capability we are
building to meet our long-t¢rni goals.
Conclusion
Once again. this society has had an excellenl year of achi¢vemenl. Seizing on the
opportunity presented by the consideration of th¢ Legislation (Procedure, Publication
and Repeals) (Wales) Bill. we persuaded th¢ senedd to includ¢ the repeal of the 2026
Path Extinguishmeni Day in Wales. This saves countless unrword¢d and under-
recorded rights of way in Wales.
Our legal work has continued to show real value for open spaces and access. W¢ were
delighted to iniervene in the supreme court to help gain the confirniation of backpack-
amping righis on Dartmoor, and to take cases in the lower courts to prevent commons
en¢roachm¢nt and path obstruction. Once again. we have seen the benefit of earlier
proactive work io record over 1.200 hectaTes (over 3.IXIO acres) of common land giving
rights of access to lh¢ public on foot, and in tnany places also on horseback.
I thank our dedicated staff, increasing number of local ¢orrestx)ndents. and members.
and all who have hel￿d in SUp￿rt of the society and its activities in pursuit of ihese.
nd other. successes. I commend thi5 report to our ￿em￿[s.
Signed
Phil Wadey {chairn)an, on behalf of the trnstees)

Equallty, Inclusivity. and diverJity statement
We shall seek to urkderstand. and where appropriate. reach out to those parts of society
that are under-represented within our membership. staff. volunteers or trustees, and
>tential members outside our existing network. We have an objective of learning from
relevant groups when ext¢nding our r¢ach.
Our vision is that everyone Can enjoy public ￿th$ and open spaces through ihe exercise
of their rights. We work to protect. incre&s4 ¢nhan¢¢ and champion the Common land,
village green4 public patlL8. and ot*n sp￿S in England and Wales, and the public's
rights to enjoy them. We want to see a thriving and bea￿lFUl Countrystde, cities, towns,
and villages to which everyone has access and which all benefiL for their well-being
and to rArticipate fully in th¢ enjoyment. ¢nhanc¢menL and protection of nature. We
want these pla￿ to be incI￿1ve and diverse for th0￿ who live there and those who visit

5 Soci
Nufflber.
stered Com
dent Examinerfs Ae
Theo
to the Trustees of
I report to the charity tWUStees on my examinaiion of the financKal statements of the COMp￿V for the year ended 31
December 2025 Set tyjt on pages nine to 51xleen.
Respondbllltbes arA basts of r•￿)rt
A5 the charitfs trustee5 of the company land its directors for the putposes of c¢)mpany lawl you are responsible
for ihe Preparati(￿ of the fifi•ncial 5taternents in accordan￿ with the requirements of the Cornpanie5 Act 2(K61'the
2(K16 Act'l.
Having satisfed mysdf that the finantial statements of the u)mpany are not required to be audited under Parr 16 of
the 2(¥J6 Art and are el¥ible lor independent examination. I rep)rt in ￿pect of my examination of your charit¢s
financial staiements as cairied out under sertK)rt 145 of the Charities Art 2011 (the .2011 Act'l. In carrying out my
e¥arnination I have fo1kn¥4Ed the DirectMs given by the Charity Commission under settion 14515llbl of the 2011 Act.
Indtpendent exarninerf5 report
Since the companls gross IncomÈexceeded E250.Cthy0urexami￿r must bea meM￿r01 a bth listed in section 145
of the ZOII kl. l ¢onfinn that l am Qualified to undertake the examiThation because l arn a memberof the knstitute of
Chartered Accountsnt5 in England and wa￿5. whith is one rjf the listed Wies.
I have ci)mpkned rny exarnination. I confirrn that no matters have come to my attention in connettion wlth the
examination 8Nin8 me oiise to believe..
tountin# record5 wwe not kept ￿ respect of the mmpany as required by section 386 ot the ZCI)6 Act,. or
the financial State￿nts do not accord with tlhjse accounting recgrds-
the financial Statements do not compty wf(h the acctyJntin8 requirements ol section 396 of the 2CQ6 Aci
other than any requirement that the finanoal statements 8T¥e a'irue and fairf view which is not a matter
considered as part of an independent e¥amination.' or
the finanaal statements have not been p￿parert in accordance with the methods and principles of the
Statement of Recommended practKe for accounting and reporting by charities lapplicable to tharities
eparing their financial statements in accordance with the Finanoal Reportin8 Standard applicable in the
UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021.
I have no ¢orKems and halt come across no other matter5 in connection with the exarnination to whKh attentvn
sh¢)uld be drawn in this report in orderto enablea proper understanding of the financral statements to be ￿¥hed.
8FP ACA, CTA
Nichola5 M Smith BFP. ACA. CTA
Ilars Hayward LLP
Chartered Accountsnts
StatutoryAuditors
Chartered Tax Advise
Boston House
Henley-on-Thame5
RG9 IDY
Dale..
16M
..2026
Page 8

Number. 07846516
tat ment of FS
I Att￿t￿5
Income and E
nditure Account
Fof the Year Ended 31 Oectrnber 2025
Unrestrlcted Restrfcted Endowment
(und5
fvnds
l￿d%
Total
fund5
2025
Total
funds
2024
Income and endowments Irom:
Donat10115 linc. Gift ￿"d) and legacies
155.440
155,440
122.564
Charitable aCtI￿￿e$
Subscriptions
Appeuls
80.380
70,532
80.380
70.532
78,860
47,974
Other trading activitie5
Sole olpublicLTtions. Trusts. Royolties etc.
7.778
7,778
6.774
Investments
41.635
12.477
593
54,70S
101.471
Total
355.765
12.477
593
368.835
357,643
EJtpendit*we OTh:
Raising fund5
Otherpublicotion5 costs
Charitable activities
Staff salaries ondreloted costs
Premise5 costs
Admintstrution costs
L¢xolcorrespgndents
Open 5poce ond website
Othercosts
Governunce costs
2￿.872
14.652
50.030
954
35,783
J12.855
25,0
37.913
328,785
14.652
$0.030
954
35.783
118.249
25.080
325.225
24,6%
44,451
6,394
22.528
129.083
11.2È10
5,394
io
Totsl
530.226
43,307
573,533
564.385
GalnllL0551 on investment assets
li
154.853
154,853
24,665
Net lexpend5turellinc(m￿e
119.6081
130.8301
593
149,8451 1182,0771
Transfers between funds
13.071
112.4781
15931
16.537
143,3081
149.8451 1182.0771
Recondll*lon dluNI>'
Total funds brought forward
L702.391
161.513
68,116
1.932.020
2.114.097
Total funds carried torward
1.695.854
118.205
68.116
1.882,175
1,932,020
Page 9

Number: 07846
Ststement ol Anandal P
as at JI Oecember 2025
31.11
31.12.24
FIMed Asset%
Tanglble lixed assets
Investments
6.645
932,203
8.179
777.350
14
TottJlllxedossets
938W8
785.529
Current Assets..
Oebtors
Short term der*)sits
ash at bank ènd In hand
27,986
754,726
195B92
39.568
892.595
250.025
16
Totolcurrent Ossets
978.604
L182,188
Llabllltle5:
Credrtors.. 3mourtsfallingdue
wf(hin one year
17
135,2771
135.6971
Nei curnentassets
943327
1.146,491
Totsl a￿¢
I￿82.17$
1,932,020
Thef￿￿1$ of the charftr.
UftreStr￿ted funds..
Stroteglcreser¥efund
Applicotions rueTh¢ J4ttRd
Legol octsonfvnd
Generollund
Restrkted funds:
Condyfvnd
Cfeechjonesfvnd
Endowmeni fvnds:
8uxtonfund
864.0
250.OCiI
29.445
577.146
918.385
216.OCKI
14.973
553,033
118.205
43.3
161.513
43,379
24,737
Total charfty
1.882.175
1.932.020
The charitable company 15 enthled tOeXempt￿ from audlt uThler5e£Mn 477 ofthe Companès Act 20C6 forthe year
ended 31 December 202S.
The members have not requlred the chariiable compary lo obtsin an audit of it5 financial statemerts forthe yearended
31 Oecefflber 2025 in accordance with SeaioTh 476 of Companies kt 2CX)6.
The trustees acknowledge their reSp(￿SIb￿lI*S1or.
lal ensurlng that the charitable CoM￿nY keep5 accountin8 re£￿d5 wthich comth wlth Sections 386 arbd 387 of the
Compan*s Act 21K)6 and
Ibl p￿parIng￿n)ntlal statemeftts whrh gNe a true and faw v￿W of the state ot aftairs of the charitabk company as
at ihe end of each financol year and of its surplu50rdefKit foreach finarKYal year In accordance with the
reqUI￿n￿nts of Serticms 394 and 395 and which otherwise compFtrY With the requirements ol the Companles Att
2[￿ relatinK to financial statements. 50far as appli(at4e to the charitable company.
These linancial statements have been wepared in acCOrda￿e wtth the specol wovish)ns of Part 15 of the Companies
Att 2ChJ6 relating to srnall charita￿e companies and wi(h the Financial Reportirq standard applirable In the united
Kin8dom and RepublK of Ireland IFRS 102
These finan¢ial $tsternents wyre approved bythe 803rd ￿T￿SteeS on 21 May. 2026 and were ￿gned
Dr P D Wadey- Chairman
J iean-Treawrer
P•8e 10

red Com
Number: 07846516
finandal ￿at￿M*￿ts
Forthe Year Ended 31
em
ACCOUNTING POUOES
The principal accounting policies adopted. jud8ements and key sources of e5tirnation for uncertainty in the
preparation of the h"nancial statements are as follov*S'.
lal 8asls of preparatlon
The fjnancial statements ha￿ been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement
of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their attounts in accordance with the Financial
Reporting Standard applitable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021- Icharities SORP IFRS 10211. the
Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and RepublK Of Ireland IFRS 1021 and ihe Companie5 Act 2006.
The Open Spaces Society meets the definition of a publbc benefit entbty under FRS 102. Assets and liabllltles
are initialty recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant
accovnting policy noie(sl.
Ibl Income reciwiltlon pollcles
Items of income are recognise(l and included in the financial 5taternent5 when all of the following criteria are met:
the charrty has entr(lementto the funds..
any performance conditions attached to the itemlsl of income have been met or are ful
within the control of the charity,.
there is sufficient certainty that receipt of the inconw 15 considered probable, and
- the amount can be measured reliabfy.
ielaaes
For legacies. entitlement 15 taken a5 the earliest of=
the date on which the charty is aware that probate has been grantèd..
the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executorlsl to the
¢h3rity that a distribution will be made- or
- when a distribution is received from the estaie.
Re￿Ipt of a legacy, in whole Of in part. bs onty considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably
and the tharrty has been notthed of the executor'5 intention to make a distribution.
other Voluntary 6ntomè
Voluntsry incoffle received by way ofsubscription. donations and appeals is Included in the financial staternents
when receivable and the amount can be measured reliab￿ by the charity-
Oonated serytces
The value of service5 provided by volunteers has not been induded in these financial statements.
Interest recelvable
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when reteivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the
charity.. this is normal￿ upon notrfication of the interest paid or payable by the bank.
Icl Exp•ndltur• and IrYeco¥eralAe VAT
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constrnrtive obligation to make a payment ro a third party. it is
probable that settlement wll be fequired and the amount of the obllation can be measured reliably. Expenditure
is classrfied under the following aciivtty headings:
Expenditure on Charitable actiwties comprise those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities
and services for its benefichiries. tt includes both c05t5 that can be allocated directly to svch activitie5 and those
costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. G¢)vemance costs include those costs associated with the
constitutional and statutory requirements of the tharity and incjude the independent examinerfs fees and cosis
linked to the strate8ic management of the charity.
Irrecovefable VAT 15 tharge(J as a cost against ihe att￿lty for which the expeNJtture was incurred.
P4e 11

Re
ered Com
an
Number: 07846516
Notes to the financSal statements
For the Year
31
continued
ACCOUNTING POUCIES Icontinued)
Idl Flxed Assets
Fixed assets lexcluding investments) are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is prgvided so
as to write off the asset over fouryear5.
Investments held 35 r￿ed a$5ets are revalued at mid-markw value at the balance sheet date and the gain OT Ioss
taken to the Statement of Financial Activities.
l•) Fund AccountlnB
Genernl fvnd Thi5 15 an Un￿strIcted fund wthich is to be invested for the benefit of the society but remains
availaNe to the trustees to be used for the objects ol the 5ouety or for makin8 allocations to the Strategic Reserve
fund.
Strategic Reser¥e fund- This is an unrestrTrcted fund dwib*d from allocatN)ns from the General fvnd. It Trs the poliry
of the trustees to keep 48 nTh)nths' reseNe in this fund. so that it should hold sufficient to cover the society's
following 48 month5, net outgoing5. and to allow for an orderly closure of the society thereafter. should this
become necessary. In line wtth thi5 policy. the fund sto¢)d at £864.￿￿} at 31 December 2025 This fund is to be
invested for the benefrt of the society but remains available to the truslee5 to transfer back to the General fund In
case of need.
Appllo7tlons Reserye Fund-Thls Os an unrestricted fund derived from albcations from the General Fund. The funds
within this reserve are to be used to set through to completion applications to register rights of way or common
land where the application has been rnade in the name of the Society. Some applKatTrons are determined quickly
and without Sbgnificant cost, but for some there may be many yeats between an application bein8 made and its
conclusion. The Trustees con&def thai it is appropriate to hold a reserve for this purpose $0 that protratted
applications can be supported.
Creech Jonesfvnd - The income from this re51rirted fund may be used for the objects of the society that would not
normal￿ be met from the General fund.
Candy fvnd Th￿ is a restricted fund to be used onty for the Keneral charitsble purposes of the Open Spate5
Society. 11 is not to be used for administrative expenses.
Buxtonfvnd- The income from this fund is tfansferred to the Socitty's General fund.
t>ONATIOP4S IIIIC GIFT AID) AND LEGAaES
31.12.25 31.12.24
Legacies
Donations
Gift Aid excluding Gfft Aid on appeals
119.494 104,260
14.207
5,653
21.739
12.651
155.440 122.564
APPEAIS A140 GIFT AID
Funds raised by appea15 over the year also generated related Income via Gift Aid.
Appeal
Donatlons
Glft Ald on
donatlons
T¢)tal
AUtUD￿ 2023 appeal
Autumn 2024 appeal
Appeals transartions
12
33.349
29.197
12
2.708
5.266
36,057
34,463
62,558
7,974
70.532
INCOME FROM OTHER TRAOING ACllVITIES
31.12.25 31.12.24
Sale5 of publicatTron5
Special projects and trainin8
Trusts. roya￿leS. comrni55ion etc.
920
1,319
4,830
625
5,500
1.358
7,778
6.774
Pa8e 12

Theo
istered Com
n Number: 07
516
Notes to the finantia staternent5
Fw the Year Ended 31
ontinyed
r 2025
INVESTMENT INCOME
31.12.25
31.12.24
Listed inve5twnents
Cash investments
18,632
36.073
50.033
51,438
54.705
101,471
STAFF SALARIES
31.12.25 3LI2.24
Gross Salaries
Employees National Insurance Contribution5
Employer Pension Contributions
Recruitment Costs
289.032
24,129
14,445
1,179
288.691
22.958
13.052
524
328.785
325.225
Employees with emoluments èxceeding the Charity Commission reporting threshold of £60.￿]0.. Nil12024.. Nil)
The average number of full-time equTrvalent employees in the year was six12024.' 5TrxI
PREMISES COSTS
31.12.25
31.12.24
Rent
8,300
1,897
798
1.940
499
1.218
8,300
2.951
7.367
1,412
3.669
879
118
Light and Heat
Repairs and Maintenance
Cleaning
Insurance
Rates and Water
Consumables
14,652
24,696
ADMINISTRATIOII COSTS
31.12.25
31.12.24
IT Costs
Posta8e, Telephone and Stationery
Travel and Subsistence
Depreciation of Computerloffice eguiwent
Printin8 and Phoiotopying
Appeal Costs
Villa8e 8reens di8ltisation
Other Expenses
Professional Indemnity Insurance
10.345
8.918
5,967
3,270
2.928
3,013
10,000
4.424
1,165
12.019
8,339
4,270
3.408
2,800
2,972
10,643
50.030
44.451
Page 13

Theo
ces Sode
NUM1￿￿. 07846516
Notes to the financial statements
Trtln
For the Year Ended JI Oefember 2025
OTHER COSTS
31,12.25
31.IZ.24
Legal Costs
Marketin8
Commons Registration Projert
Sub5criplion5
Donations and Grants
Legacy mailin8 to the Law kniety
Conferences èntl Training
Books and Maps
47,2(K)
52,937
5.393
11.140
66,941
45,764
2.195
11.646
1,301
430
761
516
ss
45
118,249
129.083
io
GOVERNANCE COSTS
31.12.25
31.12.24
Independeni examiner's fees-.
Independent examinatton Itnc. underaccrual for prior year)
Tax advis¢yy se￿￿5
Other financial services
AGM and trustees
other prOf￿510nd1 fees
6.449
439
9.097
4.682
4,413
6.213
438
3,163
1,426
25.080
11.240
li
fjAINSIILOSSESI ON INVESTMENT ASSETS
Unreali5ed 8ainl1105s1 on revaluatson of investments
154,853
24,665
12
ANALYSIS OF FUIIDS
Openi
balan¢e
Net kncomel
lexpendfturel Transle
aoslne
balance
Unrestrkted fvnd5
Strategic reserve fund
Applications reserve fund
Le8al action fund
General fund
918.385
216.(K))
14.973
553,033
154,3851
34.000
864.0
250,0
29.445
577.146
14,472
134.080}
58.193
Restrlcted fvnds
Candy fund
161.513
I31￿70)
111,4381
118,205
Endowmentfunds
8vxton fund
Creech Jones fund
24.737
43.379
593
1.040
125.3301
11.0401
43.379
1.932.020
149.8451
1,882,17S
During the yèar the truslee5 agreed that, in the best inte￿ts of the charity, and in accordance wlth the
Charities Att 2022 ihe Buxlon fund be transferred from Endowment Funds into the General Fund.
Page 14

5tered
Number. 07846516
Not to the financial statements
ntinued
Forthe Year Ended 31 December 2025
13
TANGIBLE FIXEDASSE15
Office
Computer
èquipment equipment
Total
Cost
At l January 2025
Addrtion5
Disposals
14,158
52,871
1,736
67,029
1,736
At 31 Decernber 2025
14,158
54,607
68,765
At l January 2025
Char8e for the year
Oi4)osals
11,490
822
47,360
2.448
58,850
3.270
At 31 December 2025
12,312
49,808
62,120
Pletbook value at31 Decemkn2025
1.846
4.799
6.645
Net book volue ot31 December2024
2,668
5,511
8.179
14
INVESTMENTS
2025
2024
AT MARK￿ VALUE I JANUARY
Net investrnent gainslllossesl
777.350
154.853
752.685
24,665
AT MAAKETVALUE 31 DECEMBER
932,203
777,350
There were no investment assets outside the UK. The investments are h*kl primarity to provmle an investment
return for the Charity.
On 30 January 2025. follo￿￿ ag￿ement among theTrustees the entire w)vestment portfolio was transferred
from M&G Securitie5 to JM Finn. The historic C05t of the above invest￿nts following the transfer is E842.501
12024.. £620,3491.
15
DE8TORS
2025
2024
Accrued income znd Gift aid
27.456
530
39.568
Prepayments
27.986
39,568
16
SHORT TERM OEPOSITS
31.12.25
31.12.24
Flagstone
CAF Gold Atcount
590.957
163.769
885,571
7.024
7S4,726
892,595
Page 15

The
Numb
784651
Notes to the financ" l slatements
contlnued
For the Year Ended 31 December 20Z5
17
CREDITORS: AMOUPUS FALLING DUE WtrHIN
ONE YEAR
31.12.25
31.11.24
Trade eredilofs
Accrvals
Other tsxes and sooal security costs
8.894
19,206
7,177
19.558
8.314
7￿25
35,277
35.697
18
PARUAMENT PIECE
The society owns this land in Kenilworth which is leased. under 3 99-year lease. to Warwick District Council and
managed localty. No vzlue has been pla￿d on this land in these financial statements.
19
REMUNERATION OFTRUSTEES
None of the trustees receNed any remuneration12024.. £nill.
An aggregate of £47812024: £751 was reimbursed io th￿e(2D24- hvol trustees for expenses incuired in
relation to the society's actiwties. including attending meetin85 andlor acting as I￿31 correspondents.
Page 16