Common Land

[rov1200]

With the sudden rise of wood burning stoves is it legal to collect wood from common land? Is there anywhere else you can legally help yourself?

[Ice.Maiden]

I'm not exactly sure how the law stands on this rov, but as I know it, you're allowed to collect wood which's fallen from trees - sticks, branches - but not to chop any down yourself. I don't think you're allowed to take a vehicle onto the land either. It has to be carried away by hand, in bags or perhaps by wheelbarrow. Another problem, is that the land might actually belong to someone.

[heathfield]

There's the right of ''estovers'', which is ''the gathering and bringing away of dead snapping wood boughs and sticks'' on commons ground as defined under the Commons Registration Act of 1965.
The Act also names certain privately owned land where this activity is still legally permitted.
No vehicles are allowed past the entrance way to the ground, though the use of a handcart is allowed. And dogs aren't permitted access to the ground under the Act.

[mandimoo]

well i understand why you cant take a vehicle on the land to gather firewood, but not letting dogs on the same land? dogs can only carry 1 or 2 relatively small sticks at a time!