Is this 14,000 acre estate in West Berkshire an access-to-nature nirvana? Patrick Galbraith thinks so. This week he took @righttoroam.bsky.social to task for its criticism of the Englefield Estate, owned by the former Conservative Minister in charge of.. access to nature. I explore the reality 👇 - ThreadSky

jon-moses.bsky.social • 35 days ago

Is this 14,000 acre estate in West Berkshire an access-to-nature nirvana? Patrick Galbraith thinks so. This week he took @righttoroam.bsky.social to task for its criticism of the Englefield Estate, owned by the former Conservative Minister in charge of.. access to nature.

I explore the reality 👇

Comments

suesustainable.bsky.social•35 days ago

Paywalled

alwaystotheside.bsky.social•35 days ago

No, just click past the screen inviting you to subscribe.

jon-moses.bsky.social•35 days ago

Switched off as many widgets as I can. Not used substack before 😌 let me know if you still have issues

jon-moses.bsky.social•35 days ago

Shouldn't be?

suesustainable.bsky.social•35 days ago

Ideally. There's a limit to how many subscriptions you can have ...

nicolawriting.bsky.social•35 days ago

Hello Sue! You can just request the 'free' option to read occasional newsletters ...

jon-moses.bsky.social•35 days ago

I've switched off as many of the bobbins as I can find, sorry if Substack forces annoying popups in!

altyetispear.bsky.social•35 days ago

I'm very familiar with this part of the world. I didn't realise that inhospitable corner of the estate was 'open' either. It doesn't inspire a visit, but should get more visitors soon because there's a massive estate being built over the road. If they survive crossing the road!

altyetispear.bsky.social•35 days ago

I've accessed the Inclosure on horseback many times, it cost me £50 per annum (10 years ago) to register one horse. I thought it was a great place to ride.

nicolawriting.bsky.social•35 days ago

Very interesting Jon, thank you! I need to read this book. Primary school trips have (mine, several decades ago, & my kids, more recently) also strongly pushed the narrative of managing the countryside for game, and predator control here.

jon-moses.bsky.social•35 days ago

It's the pat response for justifying exclusion. There's obviously nothing wrong with school trips. But it's completely different to unscripted, self-directed experiences in nature, especially when you're a kid. To me that's what establishes the stuff that's foundational.

nicolawriting.bsky.social•35 days ago

I agree with that absolutely. Wanted to point out that those school trips both I & my children experienced at Englefield growing up, also serve the purpose too: imprinting early on that shooting-conservation/ predator control is THE way of the countryside & 'must be respected'.

movingslowly.bsky.social•35 days ago

have you ever seen that bizarre film (with Amanda Anderson in cameo as a ditsy dog owner?) - urban child meets a gun-toting loner on the moor and learns their ‘country ways’… 👀

nicolawriting.bsky.social•35 days ago

Ooh .. er, no, not seen that!

movingslowly.bsky.social•35 days ago

Found it! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HF4ioVbZIy8

nicolawriting.bsky.social•34 days ago

Oh blimey, that! I must watch, thank you!

movingslowly.bsky.social•35 days ago

Nice thread Jon - I saw the Shooting Times ABC figures pre-pandemic. Think they gave up counting then, but were around the Toy train hobbyist mark. Or the more niche caravan enthusiasts. Heady stuff!).

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