Background

Oxfordshire has approximately 1.5 square kilometres of registered village green and 9.4 square kilometres of registered common land.

As Commons Registration Authority, we do not own or manage registered land but keep the common land and village green registers and maps. We also process any new application to register land.

The information and services offered here apply only to land in Oxfordshire.

Town and village greens

Town and village greens have a similar history to common land. However, they are defined separately for the purposes of the Commons Registration Act, 1965.

Village greens are usually areas of land within defined settlements over which local inhabitants can indulge in lawful sports and pastimes. These might include games, picnics, fetes and other similar activities.

While land forming town or village greens may be privately owned, many greens are owned and maintained by local parish or community councils. Some greens may also have rights of common (i.e. grazing of livestock) over them