Since the HL extended the definition of village green in "R v Oxfordshire CC and another ex p Sunningwell Parish Council" (HL, Abs60977), there has been a flood of applications to register land as village greens to prevent development on publicly used spaces. This is seen as a threat to developers as it deprives landowners of their property without compensation. Developer Laing Homes Ltd ("R v Buckingham CC and another ex p Laing Homes Ltd" ([2003] EWHC 1578, Abs67014) was recently successful in having a decision to register 38 acres of land at Widner End, High Wycombe quashed in the HC, although its argument that the registration of village greens is against the Human Rights Act 1998 was rejected. The Open Spaces Society founded in 1865 has helped campaigners with a number of applications to register village greens, although only a few have been successful. Brief overview of village green law.