conservators

Conservators are bodies corporate generally established, and granted their powers, by a scheme made under the Commons Act 1876[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20081023190419/www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/protected-areas/common-land/acts.htm Information about the Commons Acts 1876 and 1899], and [http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20081024095100/www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/pdf/protected-areas/common-land/1876commonsact.pdf Table of Commons Regulated under the Commons Act 1876], Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (39 & 40 Vict. c. 56) or by a local act of Parliament.See individual Conservators' websites below, but for example the River Cam Conservancy Act 1922, the [http://www.ashdownforest.org/docs/Ashdown_Forest_Act%201974.pdf Ashdown Forest Act 1974] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100928212159/http://www.ashdownforest.org/docs/Ashdown_Forest_Act%201974.pdf |date=2010-09-28 }} or the [http://www.twcommons.org/websiteimages/documents/county%20of%20kent%20act%201981.doc County of Kent Act 1981].

The exact role and powers of each group of conservators are defined by their establishing act and vary, but in general terms their role is to:

• regulate and manage their area for public recreation,
• protect the rights of commoners (if applicable) and
• conserve the natural beauty of their area.

Conservators often have the power to manage the land, and the trees, plants and animals on it, to provide recreation facilities, to control activity within their area, regulate navigation on waterways and to make byelaws.

Membership of boards of conservators varies according to the terms of the individual legislation that established them. Examples of types of member include those:

• elected by commoners or local residents
• appointed by local councils
• appointed by universities
• appointed by a lord of the manor

The Commons Act 2006 provided for the establishment of commons councils to manage common land. Those provisions of the act are not yet in force,{{when|date=October 2024}} but the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) plans to bring them into force in the spring of 2009. The commons councils established under the act will have a similar role to that of existing conservators. According to DEFRA's website, commons councils will only be established where there is a local wish and will not be imposed. Where a commons council is established, the act provides powers for DEFRA to alter or remove existing management arrangements (which could include Conservators) where they might conflict with the functions granted to a new commons council.[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20081023190406/www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/protected-areas/common-land/manage.htm How is Common Land managed?], Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

• Conservators of Ashdown Forest[http://www.ashdownforest.org/about/the_conservators.php Conservators of Ashdown Forest] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124152334/http://www.ashdownforest.org/about/the_conservators.php |date=November 24, 2010 }}
• Malvern Hills Conservators{{Cite web |url=http://www.malvernhills.org.uk/conservators/index.aspx |title=Conservators of the Malvern Hills |access-date=2009-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717051949/http://www.malvernhills.org.uk/conservators/index.aspx |archive-date=2009-07-17 |url-status=dead }}
• Conservators of the River Cam[http://www.camconservators.co.uk/conservators.html Conservators of the River Cam]
• Banstead Commons Conservators[http://www.bansteadcommonsconservators.org/Banstead%20Commons%20Conservators%20Conservators%20today.html Banstead Commons Conservators] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516213827/http://www.bansteadcommonsconservators.org/Banstead%20Commons%20Conservators%20Conservators%20today.html |date=2008-05-16 }}
• Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators[http://www.wpcc.org.uk/conservators.html Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090920065519/http://www.wpcc.org.uk/conservators.html |date=2009-09-20 }}
• Tumbridge Wells Commons Conservators[http://www.twcommons.org/page.asp?id=12 Tunbridge Wells Commons Conservators]
• Mitcham Common Conservators[http://www.mitchamcommon.org/conservators.html Mitcham Common Conservators] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523131359/http://www.mitchamcommon.org/conservators.html |date=2009-05-23 }}
• Shenfield Common Conservators[http://www.brentwood.gov.uk/index.php?cid=1524 Shenfield Common Conservators]
• Epsom and Walton Downs Conservators{{Cite web |url=http://www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/EEBC/Leisure+and+Culture/Parks+and+countryside/Epsom+and+Walton+Downs+Conservators.htm |title=Epsom and Walton Downs Conservators |access-date=2009-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202150424/http://www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/EEBC/Leisure+and+Culture/Parks+and+countryside/Epsom+and+Walton+Downs+Conservators.htm |archive-date=2008-12-02 |url-status=dead }}
• Mousehold Heath Conservators[https://web.archive.org/web/20060428055647/http://www.norwich.gov.uk/webapps/atoz/service_page.asp?id=1226&pid=1014 Mousehold Heath Conservators]
• Conservators of Therfield Heath and Greens{{Cite web |url=http://www.hertsdirect.org/comdirectory/comvol/comorg2y/charit2y/cyenv3y/516579 |title=Conservators of Therfield Heath and Greens |access-date=2009-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012160651/http://www.hertsdirect.org/comdirectory/comvol/comorg2y/charit2y/cyenv3y/516579 |archive-date=2008-10-12 |url-status=dead }}
• Oxshott Heath Conservators[http://www.fedora.org.uk/oxshott_heath/conservators.html Oxshott Heath Conservators]
• Chislehurst and St Paul's Cray Commons Conservators{{Cite web |url=http://www.chislehurstcommons.org/ |title=Chislehurst and St Paul's Cray Commons |access-date=2009-05-13 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729204757/http://www.chislehurstcommons.org/ |archive-date=2012-07-29 |url-status=dead }}
• The Common Council of the City of London is the Conservator of Epping Forest[http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Environment_and_planning/Parks_and_open_spaces/Epping_Forest/ City of London open spaces] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111083038/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Environment_and_planning/Parks_and_open_spaces/Epping_Forest/ |date=January 11, 2012 }}
• Cleeve Common Board of Conservators[http://www.cleevecommon.org.uk/200702/about-mgt.html Cleeve Common Board of Conservators] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915043548/http://www.cleevecommon.org.uk/200702/about-mgt.html |date=2007-09-15 }}

• Dartmoor Commoners' Council[http://www.dartmoorcommonerscouncil.org.uk/ Dartmoor Commoners' Council]
• Greenham and Crookham Commons Commissioners

{{Reflist}}

Category:Conservation in the United Kingdom

Category:Conservation in England

Category:English coast and countryside

Category:Environmental organisations based in the United Kingdom