It is a popular misconception that common land is "owned" by everyone. This is not the case. The term "common land" derives from the fact that certain people hold rights of common over the land. There are different types of rights of common which give rise to different entitlements to the product of the soil of the common, e.g. to the pasture, to sand and gravel, to peat. Around 80% of common land is privately owned and, subject to the interests of any commoners, owners enjoy essentially the same rights as the owners of other land.

 

There are two large areas of common land in Huntingdonshire, Spring Common and Mill Common.