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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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John Harris

Youth hostels are a muddy, joyful miracle. Losing them to Brexit and the cost of living would be a tragedy

YHA Borrowdale near Keswick, the Lake District, which is not one of the hostels being put up for sale.
YHA Borrowdale near Keswick, the Lake District, which is not one of the hostels being put up for sale. Photograph: Mark Waugh/The Guardian

Just over a month ago, a news story broke that spoke volumes about our crisis-ridden times, and the great wealth sitting undisturbed while some of our most vital organisations and institutions find themselves in dire financial straits.

It also took its place among a range of developments – from our polluted rivers, to the ongoing controversy about the legality of camping on Dartmoor – which highlight how the opportunity to enjoy green and open spaces is being spoiled, restricted and neglected. In this instance, though, beyond coverage in the Guardian and Telegraph, and a brief flurry of noise on social media, what was afoot seemed to attract very little attention at all.

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