Bodmin Moor is an area of granite moorland in the North East of Cornwall. It is 208 sq. km (80 sq, miles) in size and includes the highest points in Cornwall, Brown Willy and Roughtor. Bodmin Moor has been inhabited since the Neolithic age when farmers first started to clear and farm the land. Evidence of which is still visible today.

In 2015, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs agreed to set up a commons council for Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.

There was a public consultation in March and April of 2015, and the environment secretary had to be satisfied that there was ‘substantial support’ for the plan. In fact, there was an overwhelming ‘yes’ vote, with 195 out of 202 respondents in favour (96 per cent).

This will be the second commons council created under the Commons Act 2006 in England—the first was established for the Brendon Hills in Devon in April 2014.

The council will provide a democratic management structure for the 71 commons registration units on Bodmin Moor. It will authorise those with rights of common to take majority decisions on agricultural matters. This will enable the commons to benefit from environmental stewardship payments. The model for commons councils is based on the pioneering Dartmoor Commoners’ Council, established under the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985.

Members were voted to the council in March 2016. Details of our council members can be found here.