A patch of woodland at Lower Banns, Mount Hawke has been registered as common land, meaning the public will have access to it in future.

The 0.26 hectares consist of two parcels of land: one on the north side of Banns Road, the other immediately opposite on the south side of the road.

The Ramblers’ Association made an application in 1970 to register the land at Lower Banns as a common. Following an agreement made at a hearing held by the commons commissioner, that application was withdrawn.

Part 1 of the Commons Act 2006(3) reopened the opportunity to rescue lost commons which were excluded from registration in these circumstances. Under paragraph 4 of schedule 2 to the 2006 act, the land became eligible for re-registration. 

The application made by Tomas Hill, on behalf of the Open Spaces Society (OSS), showed that all the land is of manorial origin.

Following the conservation body’s liaison with the landowners, it was agreed that while part of the land was enclosed and therefore not eligible for registration, the remainder met the criteria. The application was granted by Cornwall Council.

OSS commons re-registration officer Frances Kerner said: “We recognise that the landowners care deeply about the woodland, and extend our thanks to them for working with us to reach agreement.

“We’re delighted that much of the land has been registered as common and that in due course the public shall have the right to walk here.”