Conducting Common Land Searches
Common land, town, and village green searches are imperative as the public may be able to access what you believe is your land. To discuss our common land and town searches in more detail, please contact our professionals who will be more than happy to assist.
Common Land, Town, and Village Green
It is important to conduct a Common Land, Town, and VillageGreen Search as the public may have the right to use your land for activities including walking, running, watching wildlife, and climbing.
Town and Village Greens
You can use town and village greens for sports and recreation for:
Town and Village Greens
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Playing Football
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Walking Your Dog
Some also have ‘rights of common’ over them (see below).
Commoners’ Rights
The right of a commoner to take resources from the common land is called a ‘right of common’. Some common land has different rights, so may be used for other activities.
Commoners’ Rights
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Pasturage - the Right to Put Livestock out to Feed on the Land E.G. Grass or Other Vegetation
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Pannage - the Right to Put Pigs out to Feed in Wooded Areas of the Land
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The Right to Take Specific Timber Products from the Land, Like Whole Trees, or Firewood
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Turbary - the Right to Take Turf or Peat from the Land to Burn as Fuel
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Piscary - the Right to Take Fish from Ponds, Lakes, Rivers and Streams
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Rights in the Soil - the Right to Take Soil or Minerals from the Common
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Animals - the Right to Take Wild Animals
Commoners can only take enough turf, peat, fish, soil, or minerals for the property to which their right of common is attached.
You have to follow different rules for selling or letting rights of common depending on whether the rights are attached to the land, or not attached to the land.