An investigation of the effects of community land ownership on the health of people in rural communities

This PhD aims to discover how the health of community members is affected when they take on collective ownership of the land they live on. I will use comparative, mixed methods with both desk-based and field research to gather and analyse the potential health implications of community land-ownership.

Developing a detailed understanding of how land ownership will affect rural communities, especially in regard to their health, is particularly pertinent in light of the Scottish Government’s aim of doubling the quantity of land in community hands. It is hoped that the results of this research will help inform future policy and practice regarding land reform and the future of rural health strategy.