Who Owns England? by Guy Shrubsole Summary

Who Owns England? investigates the hidden patterns of land ownership in England, revealing that half of the country is controlled by less than 1% of the population. Blending historical analysis, investigative journalism, and environmental activism, Shrubsole exposes how aristocracy, corporations, and oligarchs dominate landholdings, while advocating for transparency and reforms to address inequality and ecological degradation.

This book is ideal for history enthusiasts, environmentalists, and social justice advocates interested in Britain’s landscape, inequality, and land stewardship. Policymakers, academics, and urban planners will also value its data-driven insights into rural governance and property rights.

Yes. Praised as a "timely and important" work by The Guardian and New York Times, it combines rigorous research with engaging storytelling to challenge assumptions about land use. Its blend of historical context, modern data analysis, and calls for reform makes it a compelling read for anyone concerned about equity and environmentalism.

Shrubsole argues that land ownership in England remains shockingly concentrated, perpetuating wealth inequality and ecological harm. He critiques outdated laws like the 2000 Countryside and Rights of Way Act for failing to ensure public access or stewardship, while highlighting grassroots efforts to reclaim and protect land.

The book traces land ownership from the Domesday Book to modern tax havens, showing how feudal systems evolved into corporate and oligarchic control. Shrubsole uses archival records, FOIA requests, and GIS mapping to uncover hidden ownership patterns.

Shrubsole advocates for land reform, including public ownership of ecologically critical areas, community land trusts, and stricter transparency laws. He also supports campaigns like Right to Roam to democratize access to nature.

The book ties land ownership to ecological crises, arguing that concentrated control enables destructive practices like overgrazing and deforestation. Shrubsole emphasizes rewilding and sustainable stewardship as alternatives, themes expanded in his later work The Lost Rainforests of Britain.

Some scholars note that quantifying land ownership remains imperfect due to opaque records, while others argue Shrubsole’s solutions undervalue practical challenges in redistributing land. Despite this, the book is widely praised for elevating a neglected issue.

While The Lost Rainforests of Britain focuses on ecological restoration, and The Lie of the Land (2024) critiques rural stewardship, Who Owns England? remains his most impactful work on systemic inequality, blending his signature mix of data and activism.

As debates over housing crises, rewilding, and wealth gaps intensify, Shrubsole’s analysis offers a framework for understanding land’s role in these issues. The book’s call for transparency resonates amid growing scrutiny of oligarchic investments and tax avoidance.

• “Little has changed since the days of the Domesday Book” – underscoring persistent inequality.
• “A handful of landowners dictate the fate of our countryside” – critiquing centralized control.

Shrubsole leverages Freedom of Information requests, land registries, and crowdsourced mapping to challenge secrecy around ownership. These methods reveal how offshore companies and aristocrats obscure their holdings.