United Kingdom: Why commoners matter – a view from Ann Willcocks – European Commons and OECMs This article was adapted by Diana Neacsu from an interview with Ann Willcocks by Harriet Fraser.
Photo: Ann Willcocks ©Foundation for Common Land
Nestled on the southern edge of Dartmoor National Park, Ann Willcocks’ Meads Farm sits at the heart of a landscape shaped by centuries of commoning. For 25 years, Ann, her husband William, and their son have farmed cattle, sheep, and ponies on Harford and Ugborough Commons. These commons, rich with history and biodiversity, are more than just grazing lands—they are a testament to the deep-rooted connection between people and place. As Ann reflects, “Dartmoor farmers never travelled very far—there has to be a link from Stone Age people, and the medieval period, and then to us. That’s pretty deep roots. I think that’s awesome, and I don’t want to see those roots severed.”
A Deep Connection to the Land
Photo: Walking onto the Moor ©Foundation for Common Land
Ann reflects on her lifelong relationship with Dartmoor. Growing up nearby and studying agriculture in Aberystwyth, Ann eventually returned to Devon, where her family has farmed since 1917. Each corner of the land holds memories for her family, from nights spent listening to snipe to pond visits with her children to watch tadpoles. These experiences are part of what ties them so closely to the commons and create a living history that will be passed down to future generations.
But Ann’s connection goes beyond personal sentiment—it’s also a collective one, shared with the many families who have grazed their livestock on these lands for centuries. This is a heritage that she believes is often undervalued in modern England. “If you go to Australia or New Zealand, they talk about their indigenous people,” Ann notes, wondering why such a rich lineage is not given the same recognition here. For her, maintaining these connections is essential: “I’m fighting for the collective of commoners. It’s not for me, but for the next generation.”
Challenges and Decline
Photo: ©Foundation for Common Land
Despite her deep attachment to the commons, Ann is concerned about the future. Twelve years ago, there were ten graziers on Harford Moor—by 2023 there were just seven. The decline in grazier numbers not only threatens the shared knowledge that sustains the land but also the resilience of the stock, which has been shaped by the harsh conditions of the moor over generations.
Ann advocates tirelessly for commoners to be included in discussions about farming practices and land management. As secretary of the Harford & Ugborough Commoners Association and a member of Dartmoor Commoners Council, she has worked closely with government agencies like Defra, as well as conservation groups like Natural England. But she stresses the importance of valuing the people who do the daily work: “We’ve got to value those people who are privileged to be commoners, the ones who provide the livestock.”
The Role of Commoners in Conservation
Photo: Dung inspection ©Foundation for Common Land
Walking across the moor with Ann, she talks about the delicate balance of habitats on Dartmoor’s commons. She pauses to inspect a pile of dung, excitedly picking through it to reveal several species of dung beetles. “There’s an ecosystem that relies on this dung,” she explains. The grazing of livestock creates a patchwork of habitats, each supporting different species—from the close-cropped grassland that golden plovers prefer to the gorse that shelters stonechats. “You can’t have all trees, or all bracken, or all gorse,” Ann says. “You’ve got to have diversity.”
While Ann is passionate about the benefits of traditional grazing practices, she is also frustrated by the lack of recognition and data supporting these efforts. Despite thirteen years of environmental agreements on the common, no one has celebrated the improvements that have been made. “Why aren’t we more positive?” she asks. “Things are better.” She points out that once-barren areas now host gorse for stonechats, but without data, these successes remain invisible to decision-makers.
Photo: ©Foundation for Common Land
Ann believes that farmers are willing to help monitor wildlife and habitats if given the chance. For example, the Farming Futures Project on Dartmoor’s commons has worked closely with commoners to track environmental outcomes. This kind of collaboration, Ann argues, gives farmers a sense of ownership and a stronger voice in land management decisions.
Governance and the Future of Commoning
Ann is not only an experienced farmer but also a scholar of commoning. Her master’s thesis explored group approaches to commons governance, a subject close to her heart. She explains that commons are not lawless spaces, as some might assume. “There’s been governance on commons probably since time began,” she says. Commoners work together to navigate changing policies and regulations, adapting as needed while striving to maintain the health of the land.
With ongoing changes in agricultural policy and a growing emphasis on public goods, such as biodiversity and carbon sequestration, Ann is keen to see systems that support farmers while protecting valuable habitats. She stresses the importance of the home farm and its “inbye” land—areas adjacent to the common that provide essential grazing during the winter months. “If we couldn’t graze on the common, the business would become unviable,” she explains. The common rights are integral to her farm’s survival, allowing her to maintain hill cattle and sheep, which in turn support the biodiversity of the commons.
Ann reflects on the complexity of running a sustainable farming system that balances livestock, habitat, and the needs of the wider community. “We have to find systems that work,” she says. “It’s about ensuring we have a sustainable number of animals to breed from, so that we can breed our own replacements.” Commoning, for Ann, depends on finding practical solutions that work for both farmers and the environment.
The Human Element of Commoning
At the heart of Ann’s passion for commoning is a call to respect and value the people themselves. “If you haven’t got a viable farm on the edge of a common, you’ve got nothing,” she says. The knowledge that commoners possess—the intimate understanding of the land, the livestock, and the seasonal rhythms of the moor—cannot be easily replaced. This knowledge, passed down through generations, is part of the cultural capital of the uplands. “That knowledge isn’t really appreciated. I don’t think it’s valued,” Ann says.
Walking alongside Ann, it becomes clear that caring for Dartmoor’s commons is not just about environmental outcomes—it’s about paying attention to a way of life that has endured for centuries and brings with it a knowledge that is difficult to quantify, but its value is evident to anyone who spends time on these windswept moors.
This article was adapted from an article created from an interview with Ann Willcocks by Harriet Fraser. Read more about Ann here.