Common Land

Common land is usually land that is owned by one person whereby certain other people have agreed rights.

These rights often include grazing or, for example, the cutting of peat or turf. The people who are able to exercise these rights are known as ‘commoners’; these rights do not extend to everybody.

About 4% of England and Wales is common land; much of it on open, unrefined uplands. In Blackburn with Darwen we have commons across parts of Darwen Moor and also in the parishes of Tockholes, as well as Yate and Pickup Bank.

You can view our register of common land (free of charge) by making an appointment.

Most common land is of historical, environmental or recreational importance and has statutory protection embodied in several Acts of Parliament; the earliest dating as far back as the 13th century.

Please enjoy and respect our common land. Remember that most of it remains in private ownership, although the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 permits public access to open countryside including common land, subject to occasional restrictions.