Presentation given by Chris Short at the 20th FAO and CIHEAM Mountain Pasture Network held in the Lofoten Islands. Details Common Land in England, threats to them and methods of management.

1. Our Common Cause: Our
Upland Commons
Chris Short1,2 and
Julia Aglionby1
1 Foundation for Common Land
2 CCRI
Mountain Pasture Network ~ Lofoten Islands 2018

2. Overview
• Introduction to common land in England
• Why are these areas important?
• Threats to commons and commoners
• Sharing successful (local) approaches
• Early findings
• Our Common Cause: Our Upland Commons

3. Common land in England
• Origin from time when resources shared
• Rights to ‘products’ from land others own
• Links to traditional customs and rituals
• Source of pasture, fuel, materials, bedding
• ~370,000 ha (3%); ~4,000 active commoners
• Most in uplands of North and South West
• Most recent legislation Commons Act 2006
• Mix of private property, multiple rights and
significant public interest

5. Why are commons important?
• 3% of area but 88% at least nationally imp
• 39% of Open Access Land is common
• 82% of commons in NPs or AONBs
• 21% of SSSI land by area is common land
• 11% of designated ancient monuments
• Important for carbon storage, drinking water
• Link to local customs, traditions, breeds
• Food production.

6. Threats to commons & commoners
• Poor link between commoners/commons &
provision public benefits
• Finances of upland farming challenging
• Dependant on support £ & Agri-env schemes
• Threat of single issue approach
• Declining numbers of commoners (age, farm)
• Lack of understanding among public

7. Sharing successful (local) approaches
• ‘Better Outcomes’ Pilot project, best practice
for multiple outcomes on 5 commons
• Multi-actor discussions & social learning:
Agreed outcomes
Future framework
Co-management
Local focus
Collins & Ison 2009

8. Attributes of Successful Management
for Multiple Outcomes (Aglionby & Morris 2015)

9. Our Common Cause: Our Upland
Commons
• A partnership project bringing together 23 NGO,
government and farming organisations convened by the
Foundation for Common Land. The accountable body is
the National Trust
• Two year Development Phase Funding from the Heritage
Lottery Fund
• Aiming for a Three Year Delivery Phase
• Working in Four Upland Areas of England
• A Charter for 21st Century Commons

10. Our Common Cause: Our Upland
Commons
• Increasing mutual understanding to secure collaborative
management on commons
– Knowledge exchange of shared learning
• Tackling loss of culture and social role of commons &
communing
– Programme of events, material etc.
• Improving the contribution of communing to public goods
& services
– Innovative approaches for multiple benefits

11. Thanks for listening!
• Any points for clarification or questions?
cshort@glos.ac.uk
@chrisshortccri
@4CommonLand
www.foundationforcommonland.org.uk