So what has been happening is essentially we have been paying rent to the original occupier for the years we have been there, then when their horse passed away, has essentially passed possession onto us and we have now been paying the rent directly to the land owner.

We have failed to establish who the land owner was and now find ourselves in the predicament as above.

Surely we have some other rights? As we have physical possession of the land (gated, locked, fenced off etc.)

We would like to continue possession of the land in the same terms as the previous occupier but we fear we won't be able to.

What would happen if the previous occupier was to begin the payments again and go down that route?