This report describes the results of a survey carried out by Yorkshire Peat Partnership between February and March 2022.

The survey was carried out in 3 parts: an initial desk-based survey of aerial photographs, which helped make an initial assessment of the type of work that might be needed; the field survey, where information about the grips, gullies, hags and bare peat as well as the vegetation communities and peat depth is recorded onto a hand-held mapper; and a desk-based post survey of the area using a combination of the aerial photography and walkover survey data to classify erosion features.

This report describes the results of archaeological geophysical investigations with the aim of enhancing our understanding of the archaeological resource within the common lands of Shropshire and, in particular, relating to prehistoric activity on the Longmynd. The surveys were undertaken at two scheduled sites, Bodbury Ring (LEN: 1009309), a large univallate hillfort situated above Cardingmill Valley. The second was Novers Hill (LEN: 1008385), a small enclosure and building platform located near the summit of Novers Hill.

This report describes the results of archaeological investigation at Clee Burf, the south east side of Clee Liberty Common, which took place in June 2022 with volunteers from the local community. It was part of the second year of historical environment projects with focus on the medieval period and includes excavations of bell pits and boundary banks.

This report describes the results of archaeological trenching at Pole Cottage, a demolished building and enclosure at the top of the Longmynd. This fieldwork, carried out by volunteers from the local community and surrounding area, was part of the investigations into the history and archaeology of the Longmynd, an area of heath and moorland in the west of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

This report describes the results of a community-based survey and excavation project investigating the presence of the High Street Roman Road on Bampton Common. The form and route of the road has been the cause of much speculation, we aim to address this by finding evidence of the road and its construction. 

This report details the findings of the breeding bird survey undertaken in three areas of scrub on Brant Fell which provide a habitat for some of our red-listed species. We had hoped to find yellowhammers, but only one was observed. Linnet and song thrush were the most numerous species. The findings will help inform future management of the common.

This report describes the results of archaeological investigation of the ramparts of the Nordy Bank hillfort and the repairs carried out to sheep scrapes and bare patches by volunteers during 2021. The hillfort is a Scheduled Monument, and consent was obtained from Historic England. 

This report comprises an assessment of the historic environment and archaeological features of Clee Liberty including a discussion of their value and significance in the historic landscape. The report forms the basis for the Historic Environment activities offered and carried out as part of the Our Upland Commons project during 2021 -2023.

Our Common Cause: Our Upland Commons was a landmark project that worked to conserve, enhance and broaden understanding of the cultural and natural heritage of commons and commoning in upland England, working in the Lake District, Dartmoor, the Yorkshire Dales and Shropshire Hills. Read the project’s executive summary.

This guide presents a set of principles of hill sheep husbandry but recognises that practice must be flexible, combining art and science, providing for particular sheep in particular places at particular times. The evolution of hill sheep husbandry is described and analysed as a set of key principles. The relationship between soils, vegetation, and grazing is examined, and an overview of the nutritional value of commonly grazed plants is provided. All aspects are illustrated by reference to science and development studies supported with illustrations.

This leaflet is available to download and has jointly been produced by AONBs, National Parks England, National Sheep Association, Foundation for Common Land, Dartmoor Commoners Council, New Forest Commoners Defence Association, Federation of Cumbria Commoners.

This report shares some of the reflections and opinions that we have heard and, using our interviews as a basis for our conclusions, sets out areas where further work could help towards achieving Our Common Cause’s vision for a collaborative process of decision making and an effective system of support, monitoring and documentation that is in the interests of a positive future for the uplands environment and for farming systems, individual farmers, and wider communities that are closely linked to the commons.

This toolkit provides 20 Fact Sheets and Guidance Notes. These documents provide practical guidance for those involved with common land, which remains under practical agricultural management by farmers and commoners. They can be used by practitioners seeking the sustainable management of commons to provide the widest possible range of public benefits.

A group of commoners from Cumbria and Dartmoor took part in a study tour to look at common land farming systems in Northern Spain. A short report written by Dave Smith, Chairman of the Federation of Cumbria Commoners (FCC) , along with a longer report written by Viv Lewis, FCC administrator, are available to download.

This report investigates the state of commoning in Wales in 2015.

This report was commissioned by Natural England to provide an understanding of the extent, role and significance of pastoral commoning in England and to identify trends from which likely future scenarios can be predicted. 

This report examines the reasons for a very low uptake of agri-environment schemes on common grazings in Scotland, even though these are natural candidates for this type of scheme.

This 2013 report, commissioned by the Foundation for Common Land and supported by the European Forum for Nature Conservation and Pastoralism, examines the distribution and management of agri-environment scheme (AES) funds on common land across England.