The Common Lands of England & Wales

Complete your New Naturalist collection with Harper Collins's facsimile versions, which are printed on demand. The Common Lands of England & Wales was first published in 1963.

All common lands and village greens are listed county by county, along with an analysis of their legal and natural state. This edition is produced from an original copy by William Collins.

The report of the Royal Commission on Common Lands (of which both authors were members) revealed not only the chaotic state of the laws relating to the commons but also the lack of information regarding their nature, distribution and extent. Some commons being shamefully misused, while some very large tracts are lying idle and serving no useful purpose either economically or for public enjoyment.

In The Common Lands of England & Wales Dr Hoskins deals with the history of commons, and related legal aspects; Dr Stamp with the nature conservation. The list of commons and village greens are based on hitherto unpublished returns made by local authorities to the Royal Commission – covering the staggering total of one and a half million acres.