Extent and Importance of Common Land

Archeology and Biodiversity

Most common land is manorial waste land which is predominantly unimproved pasture not suitable for division or enclosure, such as steep hills or marsh land. Areas of upland common include Bodmin Moor, much of the Lake District and Dartmoor. The nature of the vegetation and topography, together with communal usage and the need for the consent of the landowner, has meant that very little common land has been agriculturally improved by reseeding or fertilising. As a consequence the English commons are a very significant reservoir of biodiversity and archaeological remains. In addition much common land has a history of public access, predominantly on foot, but also for horse riders and other recreational users. The unenclosed and unimproved nature of the upland commons is also reflected in a high correlation between common land and statutory landscape designations.

Lowland Common Land

Although most surviving common land comprises upland grazing or hill pasture, there are large areas of lowland common in Surrey, Hampshire and Buckinghamshire. There are also numerous coastal common marshes and fens, examples being Burnham and Brancaster in Norfolk and Skinburness, Calvo and Burgh Marshes on the Solway. Woodland with common rights is also significant, two of the most well known areas being the New Forest and Epping Forest. Finally there are a considerable number of urban recreational commons, particularly in and around London such as Clapham, Wimbledon, Hampstead Heath and Blackheath. The Town Moor in the centre of Newcastle is also registered common.

Cultural Significance

Commons and the customary practices associated with them have considerable cultural significance. At a local level they have been an important resource for almost a millennium, providing grazing, fuel, building materials and fish and game. They remain a reservoir of pastoral skills, knowledge and custom. The longevity of communal agricultural practices in areas such as the Lake District is a key component of the cultural landscape which is reflected in the Lake District World Heritage Site nomination bid. The unique and endangered nature of commons and commoning were the inspiration for many artists and writers, perhaps the most notable being William Wordsworth and John Clare. The latter, writing in Northamptonshire, addressed the concerns and preoccupations of the early 19th century commoner as the Inclosure movement gathered momentum.