In The Book of Trespass, Nick Hayes investigates the huge expanses of land in England that remain off-limits to the public, exposing a hidden landscape shaped by power, privilege and centuries of enclosure. This passionately argued work is both an invitation to rethink land ownership and a bold call to reclaim our right to roam.

Despite living in a beautiful and varied country, most of us will never set foot on 92 per cent of England’s land or 97 per cent of its waterways. These forbidden places, hills, forests, rivers, meadows, are sealed off by ancient trespass laws and private estates. Hayes uncovers the long history behind these barriers, revealing how dispossession, exploitation and the enclosure movement continue to shape social inequality today.

Taking readers over the walls and into the private landscapes of media barons, aristocrats, politicians and corporations, The Book of Trespass is a gripping exploration of land justice and environmental access in Britain. Through the stories of poachers, vagabonds, ramblers, witches, gypsies, ravers, migrants and protestors, Hayes shows how acts of trespass have always challenged entrenched power and defended the freedoms of ordinary people.

Beautifully written and meticulously researched, this is an essential read for anyone interested in land rights in the UK, environmental justice, social history, and nature writing with a political edge. The Book of Trespass will change the way you see the countryside, and who it really belongs to.