Ownership

All land in the United Kingdom is owned by someone. Heather moorlands are no exception. The wide, fenceless landscapes stretching as far as the eye can see are not vacant, empty land. Although people may not always be seen working in an area, many moors are being carefully looked after. The boundaries between one ownership and another are often just lines on a map, a stone marker or a natural feature, such as a stream or track. Ownership is just the same as for any other land in town and country.

Occupation

There is a variety of types of occupation. Moorland may be occupied by the owner or by a tenant. These are the more usual forms of occupation, but some moorlands are also commons. This means that other people called commoners also have a particular type of right over the land. The rights of commoners and the number of people who hold those rights can vary widely from one common to another.