The Open Spaces Society, Britain’s leading pressure-group for common land has published the seventh edition of its ‘Commons Bible’, Our Common Land, the law and history of common land and village greens.
There are 600,000 hectares (2,300 square miles) of common land in England and Wales. It is special for its history, archaeology, wildlife, biodiversity, landscape, and culture, its vitality to upland farming in particular, and for informal recreation. Commons have their own laws, some of which are complex.
Tragically, solicitor Paul Clayden died shortly after completing the draft of the book, and it has been finalised by the Open Spaces Society’s staff. It brings the law up to date since the sixth edition was published in 2007. It explains the intricacies of the Commons Act 2006, how to register land as common, how to protect it from abuse and encroachments, and who has rights to do what and where.
Says Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society:
‘Anyone who is involved in commons, whether as a landowner, common right-holder, community group, or member of the public, needs to know about the laws which protect and govern common land. Our book explains these in straightforward language.
‘We want people to appreciate how important commons are, for their contribution to our environment and to our health and well-being. The society champions commons to ensure that they remain open, unenclosed and inspirational places for all to enjoy.’
The book costs £25 including post and packing. Further information is on the society’s website here.
The Open Spaces Society is Britain’s oldest national conservation body, founded in 1865.
- We campaign for stronger protection and opportunities for everyone to enjoy commons, greens and paths.
- We defend open spaces against loss and pressures from development.
- We assist local communities so that they can safeguard their green spaces for future generations to enjoy.
Visit: www.oss.org.uk
