The Coalition Government is studying new ways to protect open green space that are important to local residents and is asking for interested people to submit details of land they want protecting from future development.

To encourage people to submit these ideas, Britain’s oldest conservation body, the Open Spaces Society, is launching a fact finding campaign which it will pass on as advice to Defra and the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Important open spaces may be given specific protection similar to that which already applies to SSSI’s – Sites of Special Scientific Importance, says the society.

And it adds: This is a significant opportunity for the Open Spaces Society which has for the past 145 years championed the cause of green spaces. We want to tell government what we believe this new designation should achieve, for the benefit of the public.

‘Our members, with their skills and experience, are the best people to advise us—but we shall welcome views from anyone who is able to assist.”

Small villages in them Yorkshire Dales have a long history of squabbles over encroachment onto to land which, for centuries has been considered publicly owned.

To help the Open Spaces Society compile its dossier, email office1@oss.org.uk or call 01491 573535