Getting Greens Registered—fourth edition
The fourth edition of our manual Getting Greens Registered, published March 2022, is a step-by-step guide which assists you in deciding whether land is eligible for registration as a green and then, if you believe it is, how to go about applying for registration.
It includes the latest changes to the law brought about by the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 in England, and the Planning (Wales) Act 2015, including the effect of ‘trigger’ events and landowner statements. It explains the differences in the process between England and Wales; and the nine English registration authorities known as ‘pioneer’ areas and the others.
It also describes how landowners can voluntarily register their land as a green—something which the society strongly encourages.
The benefits of registration are that the land is protected from encroachment and development, and local people have rights of recreation there.
The book is indispensable to all who wish to register land as a town or village green.
It can be downloaded here for £12
Further resources about Village Greens
A charter for England's open spaces
Read our August 2020 charter for the promotion and protection of open spaces so that everyone in England can benefit.
Protecting village greens
Law guiding the protection of Village Greens
Landowner statements: the threat to village greens (England)
Now you must apply to register land as a green within one year of a landowner’s challenge to your use of the land for informal recreation.
Landowner statements: the threat to village greens (Wales)
Now you must apply to register land as a green in Wales within two years of a landowner’s challenge to your use of the land for informal recreation
Guidance on making a successful green application
These guidance notes have kindly been prepared by The Friends of Coombe Wood, who successfully registered a green in 2013.
Recent registrations
A list of successful green registrations
Public inquiry guidance
Our former Vice-president, Edgar Powell wrote this guidance on preparing for and attending a public inquiry.
Court cases on town & village greens
We publish a commentary about most decisions in the courts about town or village green registration cases. You can find a list of these cases here together with a hyperlink to our commentary or (where there is none) to a report of the case on the website of the British and Irish Legal Information Institute.
Frequently Asked Questions: Village & Town Greens
Common questions about village and town greens
How to register a town or village green
A walk-through of the process to register land as a town or village green in England or Wales.
Voluntary registration/dedication of land as a town or village green
Dedicate land voluntarily as a town or village green by applying to have it included in the register of town or village greens.
Management and protection of town and village greens
DEFRA have compiled some answers to FAQ that cover the management and protection of greens once they are registered.
Beating the bounds of your green or common
Parish and community councils and other local groups may like to beat the bounds of their local common or village green on Rogation Sunday.
Protecting commons, greens and open spaces training course
Learn the fundamentals on this comprehensive course to include definitions, registration/designation, protection and management.
Vehicular access across Common Land and Town or Village Greens
This provides guidance about vehicular access across common land and town or village greens following the repeal of section 68 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
Prosecuting an offence on a village green
If you wish to prosecute someone for a criminal offence on a town or village green...
Village Greens: Latest Posts
Our nine-point plan for the new Senedd
Hawkhurst Moor, Kent, protected for ever
Call for Gloucestershire councils to promote new greens
