Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Farming Today

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside

BBC Radio 4 FM

Farming Today: Farming Today This Week: Under the Land

Farming Today This Week

16/08/2014

Farming Today This Week: Under the Land

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, Farming Today This Week: Under the Land

From gas to gold, who owns the riches beneath our feet?

Farming and countryside news with Sybil Ruscoe. From gas to gold, coal to buried treasure, who owns - or has a right to own - the valuable assets beneath our farmland?

In the UK, the starting principle of land ownership is that "freehold land entitles the owner to rights at the surface and down to the centre of the earth".

If only it were that simple.

In this subterranean edition of Farming Today This Week, Sybil Ruscoe heads to a Cotswold stone quarry near Cheltenham to explore who owns what underground. From gas to gold, coal to buried treasure - what can a landowner actually lay claim to?

Gold, silver, gas, oil and coal belongs to the Crown and unless you own the mineral rights, other assets beneath the soil may well end up in someone else's pocket. Sybil meets Gary Pountain from Cotswold Stone Quarries who explains how their relationship works with the landowner, and what they manufacture on site.

Featuring interviews with the British Geological Survey, National Trust, UK Coal and the farmer whose land surrendered the Staffordshire Hoard. 

Presented by Sybil Ruscoe and produced by Anna Jones.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Farming Today

Farming Today This Week: Under the Land

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4