Ladies and gentlemen let me introduce you to
Fontenelle Forest, more than 2000 acres of riparian
forest, prairies, swamp and other lands in preservation.
The Fontonelle Forest Association was founded in 1913 with a mission to preserve the woodlands of south Omaha, Nebraska along the Missouri river. This truly is an area of outstanding natural beauty, it's only open between 8am and 5pm and it costs 7 dollars per visit, now this got me thinking...
In the UK we have the National Trust which looks after Places of Historic Interest and Places of Natural Beauty. Entrance to our National Parks is free and hours of access are not limited to office hours. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act gives the general public the conditional right to walk in certain areas of English and Welsh countryside.
The right to roam in England and Wales can be traced back to the Ramblers Association and then on to the Communist inspired British Workers Sports Federation. This was the Federation that held a mass trespass of Kinder Scout, the highest point in the Peak District.
The Federations communist inspiration drove them to fight for a classless and stateless social order structured upon common ownership, this was in direct conflict with the gentry system that owned most of the open spaces at the time.
In todays capitalist world where the gap between the haves, and have nots can seem like a gulf, maybe we could use a little communism again?
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