Campaign launched to protect common land

[Mark]

Campaign over common land threat
Monday, 10 November 2008
BBC News Online
Ref: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7719759.stm

A campaign has been launched by the Open Spaces Society to highlight the
threats to common land in England.

The group says that, despite having legal protection, common land is in
danger of disappearing through neglect.

Such spaces are highly important for wildlife and public recreation, say
researchers.

The OSS's general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, says much common land will
disappear under vegetation unless managed with grazing livestock.

Common land, despite its name, is not publicly owned, but is land owned by
one person, over which another has rights.

These include rights to graze animals, to cut bracken for livestock
bedding or to allow pigs to eat fallen acorns.

BBC environment correspondent Sarah Mukherjee said that 400 years ago half
the land in England was common land, but that figure has shrunk to just
3%.

And much of the remaining space, according to the Open Spaces Society, is
under threat.

"People still have common rights which tend to come with their houses -
but changing lifestyles tend to mean that people don't use them," said Ms
Ashbrook.

"Because common lands have been unploughed since mediaeval times, they're
great for wildlife. But they do need regular grazing to keep them in
order."

Hampshire County Council, Hart District Council, Natural England, the
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have now all combined with the
OSS to produce a DVD called Common Vision, which focuses on lowland
commons and why they are important.

Solutions and compromises

Ms Ashbrook also said that local authorities and residents need to work
together to ensure common land remains open in the future.

She added: "The magic of the commons is that they are all open to public
access on foot by law, and on some there are rights to ride.

"At the same time they are habitats for a fabulous variety of species.
Everyone has a common near to where they live.

'The problem is how to defend them. On many it is essential to have
animals grazing to prevent overgrowth by scrub, but the danger is that
sheep or cattle will wander onto roads and be killed.

"Yet fences destroy the open freedom of the commons. We must look for
other solutions and new compromises."
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PIONEER PLAN FOR LOWLAND COMMONS
10 November 2008
Open Spaces Society

Ref:
www.oss.org.uk/news/national%20news.htm#Pioneer%20plan%20for%20Lowland%20commons

Hampshire County Council, Hart District Council, Natural England, the
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and the Open Spaces Society
have launched plans to update the role of the remaining common land for
wildlife, public access and recreation. The groups have produced a DVD
called Common Vision which focuses on lowland commons and why they are
important.

Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary: "Four hundred years ago, half
of England was common land, available for the benefit and pleasure of all.
Today greed, intensive agriculture and development have reduced the
commons to a mere 3%. But concentrated into these remaining 1,544 square
miles are vital reserves of land for wildlife and public access."

The video launched today is based in the South East where there are lots
of small commons (one quarter of the English commons is in the region),
many of them at risk. It is pioneered by Hampshire County Council, where
heathland commons are home to rare species such as Dartford warblers,
nightjars and woodlarks.

Kate continues: "The magic of the commons is that they are all open to
public access on foot by law, and on some there are rights to ride. At the
same time they are habitats for a fabulous variety of species. Everyone
has a common near to where they live."

"The problem is how to defend them. On many it is essential to have
animals grazing to prevent overgrowth by scrub, but the danger is that
sheep or cattle will wander onto roads and be killed. Yet fences destroy
the open freedom of the commons. We must look for other solutions and new
compromises."

"The video encourages communities to understand their commons and to care
about them. Only by involving local people in their management can we hope
to save them", Kate concludes.