Wastes and Strays: The Past, Present and Future of English Urban Commons
Lead Research Organisation:
Newcastle University
Department Name: Newcastle Law School
Abstract
Wastes and Strays is an interdisciplinary 3-year project that will study distinctively 'urban' commons in England, and identify and promote their value as publicly accountable, green, open spaces vital for culture, health, wellbeing and biodiversity in metropolitan contexts. In doing so, it will develop a multifaceted yet rigorous definition of the urban common, fit for the twenty-first century. The project is contextualised against the unique history of urban commons as economically and politically negotiated spaces within the complex context of English land ownership. Navigating contemporary issues of public and private, austerity and health, and competing ideologies (from commercial development, to controlled leisure and health activities, to 'rewilding') for the future of common land, the research will combine new historical, literary, legal and creative scholarship to activate and harness greater public identification and engagement with urban commons as valuable community green space.
The project specifically identifies and researches four surviving urban commons across England: Town Moor, Newcastle upon Tyne; Valley Gardens, Brighton; Mousehold Heath, Norwich; and Clifton Down, Bristol. These case studies vary from awkward underused strips to sizeable pieces of pasture land and have been selected to represent a full range of contemporary urban contexts, cultures, legal origins, geographies, sizes, and historical and current uses and values. Each is legally defined as common land or, in the case of Brighton, has been so in the past, and each continues to be at the centre of contemporary heritage and development debates. The urban common has a long and complex history of contestation and negotiation between social right, legal ownership, and political and cultural value that warrants deep analysis. Building on this, we aim to not only provide a meticulous history, but suggest that contemporary analysis and plans for the future should be made through, and mediated by, this body of historical knowledge.
The project is interdisciplinary: a spectrum of scholars (from law, geography, planning, creative practice, history, architecture and literature), and from a variety of academic and civic institutions across England (including Newcastle University, University of Brighton, University of Exeter, National Trust, Natural England, and local government bodies) will come together to research the legal, archaeological, geographical and political history, as well as draw out previously under-researched aspects of urban commons, including literary, creative, architectural, health, and poetic representations. In this context, new methods of engaging civic and public partners will be trialled, for example 'spatial' oral histories research, sports events and games, reconstructive performances, food fetes, poetry/performance residencies, and health and biodiversity walks. The aim is to design and facilitate a rich exchange on the urban common that negotiates positions between past, present and future, preservation, restoration and development, nature, health and culture, urban and 'wild', in order to stimulate both wider and deeper scholarship and to engage and promote shifts in public perception and involvement. Through this method of 'co-production' between different stakeholders the project itself will be based on the principles of 'commoning' (i.e. the pooling of resources to ensure benefits across the whole community) and will act as a cooperative 'commons', accessible to all.
The project will deliver a wide range of academic and publicly facing outcomes including: online resources; lively and accessible engagement and public activities; and high quality academic and creative outputs.
This is an exciting project which aims to restore political and cultural confidence in, and provide public agency for, the future of these beautiful and valuable pieces of land.
The project specifically identifies and researches four surviving urban commons across England: Town Moor, Newcastle upon Tyne; Valley Gardens, Brighton; Mousehold Heath, Norwich; and Clifton Down, Bristol. These case studies vary from awkward underused strips to sizeable pieces of pasture land and have been selected to represent a full range of contemporary urban contexts, cultures, legal origins, geographies, sizes, and historical and current uses and values. Each is legally defined as common land or, in the case of Brighton, has been so in the past, and each continues to be at the centre of contemporary heritage and development debates. The urban common has a long and complex history of contestation and negotiation between social right, legal ownership, and political and cultural value that warrants deep analysis. Building on this, we aim to not only provide a meticulous history, but suggest that contemporary analysis and plans for the future should be made through, and mediated by, this body of historical knowledge.
The project is interdisciplinary: a spectrum of scholars (from law, geography, planning, creative practice, history, architecture and literature), and from a variety of academic and civic institutions across England (including Newcastle University, University of Brighton, University of Exeter, National Trust, Natural England, and local government bodies) will come together to research the legal, archaeological, geographical and political history, as well as draw out previously under-researched aspects of urban commons, including literary, creative, architectural, health, and poetic representations. In this context, new methods of engaging civic and public partners will be trialled, for example 'spatial' oral histories research, sports events and games, reconstructive performances, food fetes, poetry/performance residencies, and health and biodiversity walks. The aim is to design and facilitate a rich exchange on the urban common that negotiates positions between past, present and future, preservation, restoration and development, nature, health and culture, urban and 'wild', in order to stimulate both wider and deeper scholarship and to engage and promote shifts in public perception and involvement. Through this method of 'co-production' between different stakeholders the project itself will be based on the principles of 'commoning' (i.e. the pooling of resources to ensure benefits across the whole community) and will act as a cooperative 'commons', accessible to all.
The project will deliver a wide range of academic and publicly facing outcomes including: online resources; lively and accessible engagement and public activities; and high quality academic and creative outputs.
This is an exciting project which aims to restore political and cultural confidence in, and provide public agency for, the future of these beautiful and valuable pieces of land.
Planned Impact
The users and beneficiaries of the research include:
1.Local communities of all ages and backgrounds, as well as casual visitors, to each of the urban common case studies selected.
2.Local government policy-makers and councillors, at regional and city level, in each commons area.
3.Charitable local health organisations, and NHS bodies.
4.Local schools and education bodies.
5.Public conservation bodies, charities and NGOs that promote the use of commons as open access resources for recreational public access to land. These include Natural England, the National Trust, Foundation for Common Land, Historic England, and the Open Spaces Society.
6.Present 'guardians' of the urban commons case studies, for example, for the Town Moor this includes the Freemen of the City who have the absolute right to herbage and in practical terms act as custodians and safe keepers of the common; and The Mousehold Heath Conservators in Norwich.
7.The commercial/private sector: engaging with commercial and private interests is integral to the project. By involving local businesses, institutions and companies we will engage their support for the maintenance and use of commons as important health giving green spaces. These include, for example, around Brighton's Valley Gardens: Royal Pavilion and Museums; Phoenix Brighton Artists' Studios; Brighton Fringe Festival; numerous pubs, cafes and restaurants; North Laine Community Association, Queens Park Community Association; Brighton and Hove Allotment Federation; Brighton Housing Trust; Safehaven Night Shelter (since rough sleeping occurs in Valley Gardens); St Peters Church and the YMCA Brighton.
8.Local landscape designers, local developers and architects to whom the health, cultural and ensuing commercial benefits of adjacency to (rather than reduction of) a thriving and well-used public space can be demonstrated.
1.Local communities of all ages and backgrounds, as well as casual visitors, to each of the urban common case studies selected.
2.Local government policy-makers and councillors, at regional and city level, in each commons area.
3.Charitable local health organisations, and NHS bodies.
4.Local schools and education bodies.
5.Public conservation bodies, charities and NGOs that promote the use of commons as open access resources for recreational public access to land. These include Natural England, the National Trust, Foundation for Common Land, Historic England, and the Open Spaces Society.
6.Present 'guardians' of the urban commons case studies, for example, for the Town Moor this includes the Freemen of the City who have the absolute right to herbage and in practical terms act as custodians and safe keepers of the common; and The Mousehold Heath Conservators in Norwich.
7.The commercial/private sector: engaging with commercial and private interests is integral to the project. By involving local businesses, institutions and companies we will engage their support for the maintenance and use of commons as important health giving green spaces. These include, for example, around Brighton's Valley Gardens: Royal Pavilion and Museums; Phoenix Brighton Artists' Studios; Brighton Fringe Festival; numerous pubs, cafes and restaurants; North Laine Community Association, Queens Park Community Association; Brighton and Hove Allotment Federation; Brighton Housing Trust; Safehaven Night Shelter (since rough sleeping occurs in Valley Gardens); St Peters Church and the YMCA Brighton.
8.Local landscape designers, local developers and architects to whom the health, cultural and ensuing commercial benefits of adjacency to (rather than reduction of) a thriving and well-used public space can be demonstrated.
Publications
Chris Rodgers
(2019)
How can cities protect common green space for the future?
Chris Rodgers
(2019)
"Urban commons are under siege in the age of austerity - here's how to protect them"
Christopher Rodgers
(2020)
Restricting Legal Protection for Community "Green" Space: Village Greens in the Supreme Court
Christopher Rodgers
(2021)
A Common from Time Immemorial? Mousehold Heath in the Victorian Courts
Collins S
(2022)
A Dangerously Empty Space: Crime and Punishment on English Wastelands
in Landscapes
Rodgers C
(2020)
Nourishing and protecting our urban 'green' space in a post-pandemic world
in Environmental Law Review
Rodgers C
(2023)
English Urban Commons - The Past, Present and Future of Green Spaces
Description | Four Urban Commons: Methodologies for Engagement, Workshop at University of Brighton, 9th July 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Workshop to consider and develop new strategies for public engagement and use of community green space. Attended by representatives of user groups in our four case studies, and also of bodies/groups responsible for managing each of the case studies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://research.ncl.ac.uk/wastesandstrays/outputs/ |
Description | Invited presentation to The Natural History Society of Northumbria |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Presentation by Dr Livi Dee to the Natural history Society of Northumbria, at the Hancock Museum, Newcastle on 4th February 2020. Talk focussed on the 'hidden' or 'invisible' history of Town Moor Newcastle, and the objectives and work of the Wastes and Strays project more widely. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Project Webinar 1. "Experiences of Urban Green Space 1: Historical Perspectives on Urban Commons" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | The first of two project webinars, generating dialogue with researchers in urban commons history. Invited speaker was Dr Katrina Navikas, who gave a lecture on her work on the history of public space in England and Wales.This was followed by presentations by project team members on the historical research undertake by Wastes and Strays. And a plenary session concluded the event exploring new species and research themes developed in the discussion. The webinar outcome are described in a project blog. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://research.ncl.ac.uk/wastesandstrays/wastesandstraysblog/historic-urban-commons/ |
Description | Project Webinar 2. "Experiences of Urban Green Space 2 - Present Uses of Urban Commons" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | The second project webinar explored Present Uses of Urban Commons. A keynote lecture was given by Rodgers (PI) exploring legal categorisations of urban green space and the need for a modern approach focussing on their role in the provision of ecosystem services. The webinar also used the Oral History data generated by the research fieldwork to inform group discussion of the role and community perspectives of loyalty and identity with urban green space. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://research.ncl.ac.uk/wastesandstrays/wastesandstraysblog/present-urban-commons/ |
Description | Wastes and Strays Exhibition - the Past Present and Future of our Urban Commons |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The project put on four exhibitions - one in each of our case study locations - to disseminate the outcomes of the research and engage with local communities and participants in the research. The exhibition was a Muti media event with visual displays, posters, booklets, audio recordings of interviews with commons user groups, video capture of workshops with youth groups engaged in the project and short presentations by members of the research team. Exhibitions were held at: Wylam Brewery Newcastle10th May 2022 Clifton Observatory Bristol, 16th May 2022 Frere Road Community Centre Norwich 7th June 2022 Brighton Open Market 2nd June 2022 School group attended the Newcastle event, sparking discussion of the history and future uses of Town Moor. The Norwich event included a video presentation of work by a youth group who worked with the project on imaginaries of the future of Mousehold Heath, and its significance and importance as recreational green space. Participants in the fieldwork and events organised by the project attended all four events, including local councillors, members of NGOs and other relevant organisations. The project have been asked to produce a digital version of the exhibition for permanent display in Norwich Castle Museum. Work to turn the exhibition into a permanent digital display are ongoing, and it is hoped this can be located at museums in each of the case study areas (Newcastle, Norwich, Bristol and Brighton) as well as on the Newcastle University website. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Wastes and Strays website, including monthly blog on history, protection and future of urban 'green space'. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Wastes and Strays Website posts reports on the progress of the research project. it already has a monthly blog, which posts articles on the legal proteciotn of communal green space, its history, and past/present/possible future use. The website will develop as ht project proceeds and will include in due course common lacebok entries for each of our case studies, and other community resources including good practice guides etc. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
URL | http://research.ncl.ac.uk/wastesandstrays |
Description | Welcome back to the land |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Virtual Conference for Workers Educational Association Green Branch. Held on three dates in November 2020. The Wastes and Strays research team took part at all 3 online conferences, and made keynote presentations at two of the conferences. One presentation focused on the history of Town Moor Newcastle as an urban green space with multiple uses and it relationship to community identity. The second focused on the projects oral history work of the contemporary study of Town Moor as one of the project case studies. Both engaged discussion groups using materials derived from the research project to stimulate debate and ideas for the management and future of the common. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |