STEVE BYRNE is not your everyday man. He has committed the last half decade of his life to writing a book on common land when the man in the street would not be able to tell you what common land is.

Yet, as Steve explains, he has the interests of the everyday man at heart.

He regards how we treat common land as a society as fundamental to our relationship with the land on which we live.

And he sees attempts to undermine access to it as an attack on all our interests.

Steve, who lives in Woodside Road, Accrington, said trying to define common land is a complex issue. He describes himself as a voluntary activist, researcher and writer, and says: "Historically common land was the basis of our economy. It was the land over which people had common rights. They had access for natural resources in return for services to the Lord of the Manor. They had rights to the resources which were essential for their existence."

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It is a misconception that common land is owned by everyone. In fact, more than 80 per cent is privately owned, and owners enjoy essentially the same rights as other owners of private land.

And Steve states in his book that the shared use of commons is becoming increasingly undermined by the 'privatisation' of the commons.

Steve got interested in common land when he worked voluntarily helping disabled and disadvantaged groups of people get into the countryside.

He said: "That reflected my interest in access for everyone. I think there should be opportunities for everyone to access the countryside.

"My specific interest was the Forest of Bowland and then I thought of extending that study to other areas."

With help from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation Steve was able to buy a computer to write his book, but he had to hitch-hike and sleep in youth hostels in order to continue his ambition of getting it published.

His research involved going round all the land registry offices in the North of England.

And Steve thinks his book is unique. "It has never been written before, it's a complete history of common land.

"Preserving common land is a major issue. Common land is in itself important, it's important because of its meaning.

The amount of common land in East Lancashire will surprise many with Pendle Hill owned by Lord Clitheroe, Darwen Moor owned by Blackburn with Darwen Council and Scout Moor' owned by United Utilities all examples.

On Cranberry Moor, in Darwen, there are plans to build a motorbike and horse-riding track by its owner and on Scout Moor, near Edenfield, United Utilities plan to build a £50 million wind farm.

But Steve does not support building on common land - which he sees as havens for wildlife, vegetation and places for everyone to get away from it all.

He said: "Today preserving common land is a major issue. Common land is in itself important, it's important because of its meaning.

"Cranberry Moor is a beautiful area of heath, moors and other grass land. I walk up there and see dragon flies and wildlife all over the place. Just the experience of walking over it is worth so much."

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