One per cent of the population own 50 per cent of England's land mass, while a third of our soil is owned by a member of the aristocracy. This gentle documentary politely considers who owns England and why it matters. It is a careful polemic calling not solely for reform of land ownership, but more practically, a change in the law to allow people to access 'private' land. It is a call to reconnect the population with the countryside, and a consideration of how this could happen and the benefits it would bring.
A Balanced Approach
Director Orban Wallace follows Right To Roam campaigners, and land owners who feel that their patch of the planet should be theirs and theirs only. It creates a semblance of balance. We are reminded why we should be fighting for our right to access our country, and that's done in a way to make you want to get your boots muddy. It takes us for a pleasant walk through the stealing of common land, accompanied by birdsong, ancient trees, morris dancers, and views from the top of a hill.
The Landed Gentry
This isn't just a straightforward hit job. You have to admire landowner Francis Fulford for being brave enough to be the landed gentry target: he revels in his aristocratic shtick. 'This is my garden and its ****ing big,' he announces, waving a hand towards his many thousands of Devonshire acres. He explains he can trace the ownership to the invasion of William the Conqueror, and that he doesn't give a hoot who thinks he could offer some access because it would be the decent thing to do. Watching him march across his estate is like a comedy sketch, made funnier by the maverick behaviour of his dog, Sheba, who pointedly ignores his commands.
A Darker Side
Less humorous is when a Right to Roamer trespasses the estate of the former Tory MP, Richard Drax, bought with the profits of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Drax is a poster boy for the evils of land ownership and historic wealth, and, with his support for anti-EU and far-right projects, has real-time impacts on everyone's lives today. At the heart of this excellent film is the idea that England should adopt the same laws as Scotland, where land ownership doesn't mean you can ban people from responsibly accessing it.
