Full Breakdown
“Our Land”: A Documentary Examining England and Wales’ Access Divide
5/9/2026, 9:18:02 PM
A Walk Through England’s Access Divide
Orban Wallace’s *Our Land* follows naturalist Nadia Shaikh, campaigners and five landowners on a countryside walk. Filmed during the 2023 Darwall v Dartmoor case, it asks why public access is limited to a small share of privately owned land.
Historical Roots and Legal Landscape
The film links today’s access limits to the Norman conquest, 12th-19th-century enclosure of commons, and successive statutes: the Access to Mountains Act 1939, National Parks Act 1949, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, and Scotland’s 2003 Land Reform Act, which presumes public access.
Key Participants
The cast includes director Orban Wallace; naturalist Nadia Shaikh; campaigners Guy Shrubsole and author Nick Hayes; landowners Francis Fulford, Alexander Darwall, Hugh Inge-Innes-Lillingston (Thorpe estate) and former MP Richard Drax.
Land Ownership and Access Statistics
One percent of owners hold 50 % of England and Wales’ land; a third of the soil is aristocratic. The statutory “right to roam” covers only 8 % of land, limited to mountain, moor, heath, down and common areas.
Why Access Matters
Supporters claim wider access improves mental health, aids climate-crisis storytelling and enables rewilding. Opponents warn unrestricted entry could hinder land management and dilute private stewardship, exposing a tension between equity and conservation.
Official Statements & Responses
Fulford stresses his family’s “time-immemorial” ownership and a guardian role. Shrubsole highlights the border contrast, standing with one foot in England and the other “lawfully” in Scotland. Hayes ties access disputes to the colonial legacy of estates such as Drax. Inge-Innes-Lillingston argues genuine rewilding cannot coexist with public footfall.
Criticism & Opposition
Reviews cite a “thumb on the scales” that favours campaigners, note the absence of dialogue between owners and activists, and point to staged mass trespasses and minimal representation of women of colour. Critics say the film reinforces the status quo.
On-the-Ground Reports
Hayes crossed the Drax fence to deliver his *Book of Trespass*. The documentary records mass trespasses, including a night-time gathering where participants sang around a fire, emphasizing experiential protest.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No direct debate between the two sides is shown, leaving mutual understanding unclear. Although the Darwall v Dartmoor ruling was later overturned, the film offers no follow-up on its practical impact. Interviewee diversity remains limited.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is my garden and its ****ing big,” — Francis Fulford, landowner
- “On the topic of rewilding, he contends that land cannot be truly rewilded if public access is allowed.” — Hugh Inge-Innes-Lillingston, landowner
- “the peasants” — Guy Shrubsole, access campaigner
- “The documentary Our Land falls into a trap entirely of its own making.” — Moviemarker review
What’s Next
Activists continue to press for legislation mirroring Scotland’s 2003 Act. Ongoing legal challenges such as the Dartmoor case and renewed demonstrations suggest the access debate will stay central to English land-policy discussions.
