What is the HCCPS?
The Hawridge & Cholesbury Commons Preservation Society (HCCPS) acts on behalf of the owner of Hawridge and Cholesbury Commons (currently Christine Stott). Its work is mainly physical, controlling the vegetation on the Commons. In recent years conservation aspects of the work have taken greater prominence with the introduction of heather regeneration schemes and measures to promote the acid grassland (rare in Buckinghamshire) that exists in some areas of the Commons.
Historically the Commons were owned by the Lord of the Manors (of Hawridge and Cholesbury) who was the owner of a particular property in Hawridge. However in more recent times the title of Lord of the Manors has become dissociated from the property and the ownership of the Commons has itself become dissociated from the Lord of the Manors title. Consequently, the Commons are now simply land in private ownership, registered at the Land Registry, as is much other land. The fundamental difference between common land and other registered land is that common land is subject to far more restrictive legislation regarding what may be done on or with that land.
A Commons Preservation Society was first set up in 1967, with the co-operation of the then Lord of the Manors, John Randall, to protect the Commons, keep the paths and rides clear and preserve the Commons as a wildlife sanctuary. In an interview with Ron How, an early member of the Society and later Chairman, Ron describes the Commons from the mid-1940s and the setting up of the Society - one of the reasons being to try and control the trees that were becoming established after the cessation of grazing.
In their present natural state (ungrazed) the Commons would be dense woodland, principally oak, hawthorn, and bramble! An elderly tractor is used for mowing and bracken control (subscriptions help to pay for this equipment). Fortnightly Working Parties during the winter labour to keep paths and views open (help always welcome - many hands make light work). Occasional newsletters are distributed to all members and potential members and Society information is also included in the local "Hilltop News" parish magazine. The Aims of the Society include an annual Social Occasion (usually a Summer Party) when members and other local people meet up.
What is Common Land?
It is uncultivated land over which certain people ("Commoners"), who do not own the land, nevertheless have or have had, rights to graze animals, gather firewood, etc. Much of England & Wales used to be common, until the enclosures Acts of the 18th & 19th centuries. On those commons which remain, the rights are normally attached to a property and sold with it. The owner of a common is likely to be a local council, or a body like the National Trust, but may be a private person. In about 1930, common land in England & Wales was registered, its ownership and the rights of the various commoners recorded. The Commons Registration Act 1965 required re-registration including confirmation of claims to rights of common, and set dates for appeals. Historically, there was no general right of access on rural common land (although all urban commons 'were given to the people' and are therefore open to the public). However, the Countryside and Rights of Way Act of 2000 (applicable only in England and Wales) granted public access rights to those on foot.
What about our local Commons?
Hawridge & Cholesbury (H&C) villages lie within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) - this link will open a new window. The Area was designated in 1965 with the primary aim of conserving the natural beauty of the regional landscape - not a simple task as pressures for development are forever increasing. The H&C Commons have also been designated as a Site of Special Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) by the Buckinghamshire County Council. It is evident that we are custodians of something special - worth making the modest, but persistent, efforts required to keep it for future generations.
The eastern boundary of H&C Commons is Pound Lane (the road from the top of Hawridge Hill down to Vale Farm, leading on to Heath End). The north and north-eastern boundary runs along the valley from that road to Cholesbury Bottom and a little distance on the north of Shire Lane. On the west it runs to the beginning of Parrotts Lane and to the south across Rays Hill to Braziers End. Land running along the south side of the road from Hawridge Lane to Parrotts Lane, including that running down Rays Hill and up to Braziers End, is also part of the Commons.
About two dozen households possess Commoners' Rights of various sorts. Cholesbury Common was last grazed in 1963, by George Brown, with special permission from the then Lord of the Manors since, although he lived in Cholesbury, he was not a commoner.
In 1938, an Order of Limitations under the Law of Property Act 1925 gave the public rights of access on foot "for air and exercise" (an early "right to roam" on H&C Commons). No Bridleways exist on the Commons, but horse riders were permitted to ride along defined tracks along the top and bottom edges. Various restrictions were imposed on other activities, for instance, no bicycles may be ridden on the Commons. The definitive Rights of Way map first prepared circa 1954 shows a set of footpaths (confusingly, all numbered as 48) criss-crossing the Commons. They correspond closely to the paths on a 1930s map owned by Christine Stott. Though one may in general walk anywhere the vegetation allows, those footpaths must be kept clear. They often provide useful links between other rights of way to north or south of the Commons. More recently, the paths have been renumbered in a more helpful manner - 48 is now Church Path, whilst the others are 48 followed by a suffix letter.
In 1997 the permissive horse tracks were modified and extended, to help keep horses off the cricket outfield and off the road. The notice board maps of the Commons, displayed at three points along the top, show the current horse routes, and detail the Commons regulations. The horse routes can be seen by clicking this route map link. This is a pdf (Portable Document Format) file and you will need Adobe Reader® to download it. If you do not have this installed on your computer, please click the Adobe Reader® icon for a free download (a new window will open).
