Conservators facts for kids
In certain areas of England, conservators are special groups that look after countryside areas for everyone to enjoy. Think of them as guardians of nature and public spaces!
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What Do Conservators Do?
Conservators are official groups, usually set up by special laws like the Commons Act 1876 or other local laws. These laws give them their powers and tell them what they need to do.
Their Main Jobs
The exact jobs of each group of conservators can be a bit different, but generally, they work to:
- Manage their area for fun public activities like walking, cycling, or picnicking.
- Protect the rights of people called "commoners." These are people who have special old rights to use the land, for example, to graze animals.
- Keep the natural beauty of their area safe and sound.
Their Powers
Conservators often have the power to:
- Manage the land, including trees, plants, and animals.
- Create and look after places for recreation, like paths or picnic spots.
- Control activities in their area to make sure everyone is safe and respectful.
- Manage boats or other activities on waterways, if there are any.
- Make byelaws, which are like local rules that everyone in that area must follow.
Who Are the Members?
The people who are part of a conservator board can vary. It depends on the specific law that created their group. Some common ways members are chosen include:
- People elected by commoners or local residents.
- People chosen by local councils (the groups that run towns and cities).
- People chosen by universities.
- People chosen by a lord of the manor, who is someone who historically owned a large estate.
How Things Changed: Commons Councils
The Commons Act 2006 brought in a new idea: commons councils. These councils were designed to manage common land, just like conservators do. The parts of the act that created these councils came into force in the spring of 2009.
The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) explained that commons councils would only be set up if local people wanted them. They wouldn't be forced on anyone. If a commons council was created, the act allowed DEFRA to change or remove older management groups, like conservators, if their jobs might clash with the new commons council.
Examples of Conservators
Here are some examples of conservator groups in England:
- Conservators of Ashdown Forest
- Malvern Hills Conservators
- Conservators of the River Cam
- Banstead Commons Conservators
- Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators
- Tumbridge Wells Commons Conservators
- Mitcham Common Conservators
- Shenfield Common Conservators
- Epsom and Walton Downs Conservators
- Mousehold Heath Conservators
- Conservators of Therfield Heath and Greens
- Oxshott Heath Conservators
- Chislehurst and St Paul's Cray Commons Conservators
- The Common Council of the City of London is the Conservator of Epping Forest
- Cleeve Common Board of Conservators
Similar Groups
Other groups that do similar work include:
- Dartmoor Commoners' Council
- Greenham and Crookham Commons Commissioners
