Right to Roam Norwich
We are a local collective campaigning for connection, community and land justice in Norfolk.
What We Do
We are the Norwich branch of the Right to Roam campaign. This nationwide campaign is working to extend the Countryside & Rights of Way (CRoW) Act in England so that millions more people can have easy access to open space, and the physical, mental and emotional health benefits that it brings.You can read more about the context of Right to Roam here.Our aims in Norfolk are simple. We want to be allowed to exist outdoors. We want to reconnect with nature, even if it's hidden behind high walls and closed gates. We want to challenge the laws of private ownership that disconnect so many of us from the land.We know that 92% of England's land and 97% of England's rivers are off limits to normal people. We want to change this, starting with our home patch.
How can we do this in Norfolk?
We will use our right to roam in Norfolk by:- Building a community of local people who want to explore the local landscape
- Organising monthly trespasses so that everyone can experience the beauty of Norfolk
- Organise semi-regular workshops and talks to learn more about the Right to Roam, our campaign and how to trespass safely
- Supporting the national Right to Roam campaign
- Learning about Norfolk's radical history of fighting enclosure and private ownership
- Teaching each other how to exist outdoors without harming nature or wildlife.
Our Ethos
We are a firmly anti-racist, anti-ableist, LGBTQ+-friendly collective. We believe that everybody should have access to nature and outdoor spaces, without experiencing discrimination or persecution of any kind.We believe that wildlife and nature should be valued as an integral part of all life. We recognise that we are connected to nature and each other, whether we know it or not. We know our actions have consequences, and we want these consequences to be positive for people and planet.We believe in an ecology-led, location-specific, community-focused approach to trespass and roaming. We will ensure that we are not harming Norfolk's wildlife or communities in our actions.
We will use our position as a Right to Roam group to explore the hidden histories of Norfolk. We will acknowledge (and challenge) the historical privilege, gendered ownership, white supremacism, colonial wealth and systemic racism that separates so many of us from the land. We know that land justice is also economic justice, feminist justice, queer justice, racial justice and more.We create spaces for learning and discussion. Everyone is welcome to roam with us, and everyone is welcome to contribute their ideas, experiences and opinions. We are open to collaboration and criticism.We will always ensure that our actions are inclusive and sustainable for us, as organisers and participants. We will not prioritise urgency over our ethos, or our collective's mental or physical wellbeing.
Norfolk's Radical History
Norfolk's people have a long history of fighting for common land and the right to roam. It starts with the Romans, and continues to this day:
Other resources of interest:
Who owns Norfolk?
This map was created by the Who owns Norfolk? project in support of the Who owns England? project. It shows all of the private land held by large landowners in Norfolk. Remember, there is far more privately owned land that is not registered.
WYRD TRIPS
Join writer, Right to Roam activist and creator of @WyrdNorwich Meg Watts on a 1.5 hour trip through the city of Norwich. These accessible, creative trips are completely free and combine:
Foraging for wyrd sights in the city
Re-exploring Norwich through psychogeography - seeing, mapping and feeling our way through the city however we want to on the day
Creating our own lore about Norwich - what are the coincidences you see every day? How do they tie into the tapestry of life here?
Please include details of accessibility requirements that will help you on the trip when registering for free on eventbrite.Then all you have to do is arrive at the meeting point specified in your emails for the trip! Please bring your favourite, most portable way to create (whether that's a notebook, a phone, a very tiny ukelele, a sketchbook or something else).Other than that, we'll make it up on the day :)
Want to get involved?
Please join our Whatsapp group here.If you'd like to suggest a trip, please send us your ideas here.You can also sign up to our mailing list below: