Reviving the Commons: Our Land

Britain’s common land has been systematically depleted through encroachment, enclosure, privatisation, commodification and financialisation. The result has been chronic mis-management of our land, including over grazing, the depletion of peatlands, soil degradation and widespread habitat and species loss.

How can we revive the Commons and restore our land?

In this participatory event - part of our year-long series on the Commons - we’ll explore a vision for the land commons, and draw up a set of principles and demands for inclusion in a new Charter of the Commons being developed at Kairos over the course of the year.

We'll hear a series of short presentations from land, river and commons experts: Economist Guy Standing, Carol Wilcox of the Labour Land Campaign, Anthony Hurford from the Environment Agency, activist and ecologist Helen Baczkowska, Tom Chance of the Community Land Trust Network and Carey Doyle from Scotland's Rural College. 

We’ll then break into groups to discuss their ideas before coming back together to collectively agree on a set of principles and demands to include in the Charter.

No previous knowledge is required – either of the Commons generally or land issues specifically. All are welcome to contribute or just come to listen.

The evening will include a break for a one-pot vegan supper.

Our Commons Series is being organised in collaboration with Guy Standing.