The Malvern Hills are a place of beauty, history, and community — open spaces that have been enjoyed freely by local people and visitors for generations.
But right now, the very future of these hills is under threat.
The Malvern Hills Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, proposes sweeping changes to how the Hills are managed. If passed, this Bill would:
- Reduce local democratic representation on the board that governs the Hills.
- Give the Trust wide-ranging powers to fence off land and restrict public access.
- Allow for the leasing, licensing, and disposal of land that should remain protected for public use.
- Introduce heavy-handed enforcement powers, including fines and seizure of property.
- Risk placing financial burdens on local people through levies and borrowing powers.
- Undermine the rights of commoners and threaten traditional uses of the land.
These changes would overturn key principles that have safeguarded the Malvern Hills for over a century — the right of the public to enjoy them freely, and the duty to keep the Hills unenclosed and unbuilt on.
Natural England copyright 2012. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2012, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19104739
We Believe the Malvern Hills Should Remain Open and Free for All
The Hills belong to all of us. Decisions about their future should reflect the voices of the local community — not be made behind closed doors, with reduced accountability and less public say.
The proposed Bill risks damaging the very things that make the Malvern Hills special: their openness, accessibility, and heritage.
By Saffron Blaze – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15802788
Take Action Now: Make Your Voice Heard
Time is running out to protect our beloved Malvern Hills from these damaging changes. Your voice matters in this fight. Use our simple letter tool to send a personalised objection to your MP, local councils, and the Malvern Hills Trust. It only takes a few minutes to make a real difference. The more of us who speak up, the stronger our message will be: the Hills must remain open, accessible, and democratically governed for generations to come.