Dozens of campaigners participated in a mass trespass on the Winstanley Hall estate in Wigan, a move intended to bring attention to their calls for changes in the law to allow responsible public access to privately owned land and water, similar to Scotland's right to roam. The protest took place in the constituency of Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Right to Roam co-director Nadia Shaikh stated that the demonstration was aimed at getting Burnham's attention and initiating discussions about land access. According to Shaikh, only about 1% of Burnham's constituency offers right to roam access, highlighting the group's motivation for the protest. "We are here to try and get his attention, and to talk about access in this way," she said.
The protesters walked on public footpaths before entering the private Winstanley Hall estate through a gap in its metal fencing. Shaikh emphasized that the estate should not be fenced off, asserting that the thousands of nearby residents should have the opportunity to access it for recreation and to experience nature.
A spokesperson for Kingswood Homes, the developer with plans to build approximately 400 homes on the estate, noted that their proposal includes making over 18 acres of the land publicly accessible. The Winstanley Hall estate itself is described as an overgrown, derelict building with collapsed walls and no roof, as seen in photographic records. This contrasts with the green spaces the campaigners wish to access.