Consortium secures commons contract

Natural England has awarded their research contract on 'Trends in Pastoral Commoning in England' to a partnership of commoners' bodies across England and Wales.

The partnership has been initiated by Andrew Humphries with the objective of providing an innovative role for a Foundation for British Common Land.

Research contracts are usually awarded to research organisations in Universities and consultancies and it is unusual for those involved in the day to day management of land to be successful in such a competitive tendering process. Natural England said that the bid was successful due to the wide contacts of the partnership across the country which should result in findings that are "ground truthed".

Julia Aglionby

As the Foundation is not yet a legal entity the contract is held by H&H Bowe, land agents in Carlisle. Julia Aglionby said:
"H&H Bowe are delighted to be supporting the Foundation for British Common Land. It is essential that those who are managing common land have an effective voice to lobby government and to be a source of information for policy development. This contract gives the Foundation an opportunity to show that those in the field can undertake research to a high standard."

The project is directed by Andrew Humphries and managed by local consultant Paul Harper. It has used expertise from the Federation of Cumbrian Commoners, the Dartmoor Commoners Council and John Thorley OBE (former chief executive of the National Sheep Association) to help Natural England understand how commons are used by farmers and identify the drivers for change over the coming twenty years.

The results are currently being drawn together and will be published in the early summer; we will report back then.

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