diff --git a/apps/opencs/view/render/terrainstorage.cpp b/apps/opencs/view/render/terrainstorage.cpp
index 2be4efd73..9894ce17c 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/view/render/terrainstorage.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/view/render/terrainstorage.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ namespace CSVRender
     {
     }
 
-    const ESM::Land* TerrainStorage::getLand(int cellX, int cellY)
+    osg::ref_ptr<const ESMTerrain::LandObject> TerrainStorage::getLand(int cellX, int cellY)
     {
         std::ostringstream stream;
         stream << "#" << cellX << " " << cellY;
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ namespace CSVRender
         const ESM::Land& land = mData.getLand().getRecord(index).get();
         int mask = ESM::Land::DATA_VHGT | ESM::Land::DATA_VNML | ESM::Land::DATA_VCLR | ESM::Land::DATA_VTEX;
         land.loadData (mask);
-        return &land;
+        return new ESMTerrain::LandObject(&land, 0);
     }
 
     const ESM::LandTexture* TerrainStorage::getLandTexture(int index, short plugin)
diff --git a/apps/opencs/view/render/terrainstorage.hpp b/apps/opencs/view/render/terrainstorage.hpp
index 16b0f3ec7..949311248 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/view/render/terrainstorage.hpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/view/render/terrainstorage.hpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ namespace CSVRender
     private:
         const CSMWorld::Data& mData;
 
-        virtual const ESM::Land* getLand (int cellX, int cellY);
+        virtual osg::ref_ptr<const ESMTerrain::LandObject> getLand (int cellX, int cellY);
         virtual const ESM::LandTexture* getLandTexture(int index, short plugin);
 
         virtual void getBounds(float& minX, float& maxX, float& minY, float& maxY);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/CMakeLists.txt b/apps/openmw/CMakeLists.txt
index baa523654..a06678488 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/apps/openmw/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ add_openmw_dir (mwrender
     actors objects renderingmanager animation rotatecontroller sky npcanimation vismask
     creatureanimation effectmanager util renderinginterface pathgrid rendermode weaponanimation
     bulletdebugdraw globalmap characterpreview camera localmap water terrainstorage ripplesimulation
-    renderbin actoranimation
+    renderbin actoranimation landmanager
     )
 
 add_openmw_dir (mwinput
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.cpp
index 9844667ae..3193e71a4 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.cpp
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ namespace MWPhysics
     class HeightField
     {
     public:
-        HeightField(const float* heights, int x, int y, float triSize, float sqrtVerts)
+        HeightField(const float* heights, int x, int y, float triSize, float sqrtVerts, const osg::Object* holdObject)
         {
             // find the minimum and maximum heights (needed for bullet)
             float minh = heights[0];
@@ -544,6 +544,8 @@ namespace MWPhysics
             mCollisionObject = new btCollisionObject;
             mCollisionObject->setCollisionShape(mShape);
             mCollisionObject->setWorldTransform(transform);
+
+            mHoldObject = holdObject;
         }
         ~HeightField()
         {
@@ -558,6 +560,7 @@ namespace MWPhysics
     private:
         btHeightfieldTerrainShape* mShape;
         btCollisionObject* mCollisionObject;
+        osg::ref_ptr<const osg::Object> mHoldObject;
 
         void operator=(const HeightField&);
         HeightField(const HeightField&);
@@ -1140,9 +1143,9 @@ namespace MWPhysics
             return MovementSolver::traceDown(ptr, position, found->second, mCollisionWorld, maxHeight);
     }
 
-    void PhysicsSystem::addHeightField (const float* heights, int x, int y, float triSize, float sqrtVerts)
+    void PhysicsSystem::addHeightField (const float* heights, int x, int y, float triSize, float sqrtVerts, const osg::Object* holdObject)
     {
-        HeightField *heightfield = new HeightField(heights, x, y, triSize, sqrtVerts);
+        HeightField *heightfield = new HeightField(heights, x, y, triSize, sqrtVerts, holdObject);
         mHeightFields[std::make_pair(x,y)] = heightfield;
 
         mCollisionWorld->addCollisionObject(heightfield->getCollisionObject(), CollisionType_HeightMap,
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.hpp
index 9730cda74..ae585281b 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.hpp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 namespace osg
 {
     class Group;
+    class Object;
 }
 
 namespace MWRender
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ namespace MWPhysics
             void updatePosition (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr);
 
 
-            void addHeightField (const float* heights, int x, int y, float triSize, float sqrtVerts);
+            void addHeightField (const float* heights, int x, int y, float triSize, float sqrtVerts, const osg::Object* holdObject);
 
             void removeHeightField (int x, int y);
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/landmanager.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/landmanager.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..082a136d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/landmanager.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+#include "landmanager.hpp"
+
+#include <osg/Stats>
+
+#include <sstream>
+
+#include <components/resource/objectcache.hpp>
+
+#include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
+#include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
+#include "../mwworld/esmstore.hpp"
+
+namespace MWRender
+{
+
+LandManager::LandManager(int loadFlags)
+    : ResourceManager(NULL)
+    , mLoadFlags(loadFlags)
+{
+}
+
+osg::ref_ptr<ESMTerrain::LandObject> LandManager::getLand(int x, int y)
+{
+    std::ostringstream id;
+    id << x << " " << y;
+    std::string idstr = id.str();
+
+    osg::ref_ptr<osg::Object> obj = mCache->getRefFromObjectCache(idstr);
+    if (obj)
+        return static_cast<ESMTerrain::LandObject*>(obj.get());
+    else
+    {
+        const ESM::Land* land = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore().get<ESM::Land>().search(x,y);
+        if (!land)
+            return NULL;
+        osg::ref_ptr<ESMTerrain::LandObject> landObj (new ESMTerrain::LandObject(land, mLoadFlags));
+        mCache->addEntryToObjectCache(idstr, landObj.get());
+        return landObj;
+    }
+}
+
+void LandManager::reportStats(unsigned int frameNumber, osg::Stats *stats)
+{
+    stats->setAttribute(frameNumber, "Land", mCache->getCacheSize());
+}
+
+
+}
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/landmanager.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/landmanager.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4fd05f064
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/landmanager.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#ifndef OPENMW_COMPONENTS_ESMTERRAIN_LANDMANAGER_H
+#define OPENMW_COMPONENTS_ESMTERRAIN_LANDMANAGER_H
+
+#include <osg/Object>
+
+#include <components/resource/resourcemanager.hpp>
+#include <components/esmterrain/storage.hpp>
+
+namespace ESM
+{
+    struct Land;
+}
+
+namespace MWRender
+{
+
+    class LandManager : public Resource::ResourceManager
+    {
+    public:
+        LandManager(int loadFlags);
+
+        /// @note Will return NULL if not found.
+        osg::ref_ptr<ESMTerrain::LandObject> getLand(int x, int y);
+
+        virtual void reportStats(unsigned int frameNumber, osg::Stats* stats);
+
+    private:
+        int mLoadFlags;
+    };
+
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
index 69aa30702..886673caf 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
@@ -212,11 +212,13 @@ namespace MWRender
 
         mWater.reset(new Water(mRootNode, sceneRoot, mResourceSystem, mViewer->getIncrementalCompileOperation(), fallback, resourcePath));
 
+
+
+        mTerrainStorage = new TerrainStorage(mResourceSystem, Settings::Manager::getString("normal map pattern", "Shaders"), Settings::Manager::getString("normal height map pattern", "Shaders"),
+                                            Settings::Manager::getBool("auto use terrain normal maps", "Shaders"),
+                                            Settings::Manager::getString("terrain specular map pattern", "Shaders"), Settings::Manager::getBool("auto use terrain specular maps", "Shaders"));
         mTerrain.reset(new Terrain::TerrainGrid(sceneRoot, mResourceSystem, mViewer->getIncrementalCompileOperation(),
-                                                new TerrainStorage(mResourceSystem->getVFS(), Settings::Manager::getString("normal map pattern", "Shaders"), Settings::Manager::getString("normal height map pattern", "Shaders"),
-                                                                   Settings::Manager::getBool("auto use terrain normal maps", "Shaders"),
-                                                     Settings::Manager::getString("terrain specular map pattern", "Shaders"), Settings::Manager::getBool("auto use terrain specular maps", "Shaders")),
-                                                 Mask_Terrain, &mResourceSystem->getSceneManager()->getShaderManager(), mUnrefQueue.get()));
+                                                mTerrainStorage, Mask_Terrain, &mResourceSystem->getSceneManager()->getShaderManager(), mUnrefQueue.get()));
 
         mCamera.reset(new Camera(mViewer->getCamera()));
 
@@ -1055,4 +1057,10 @@ namespace MWRender
         SceneUtil::writeScene(node, filename, format);
     }
 
+    LandManager *RenderingManager::getLandManager() const
+    {
+        return mTerrainStorage->getLandManager();
+    }
+
+
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp
index b1bb9fe0d..a1c962ff0 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ namespace MWRender
     class Pathgrid;
     class Camera;
     class Water;
+    class TerrainStorage;
+    class LandManager;
 
     class RenderingManager : public MWRender::RenderingInterface
     {
@@ -190,6 +192,8 @@ namespace MWRender
 
         void exportSceneGraph(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const std::string& filename, const std::string& format);
 
+        LandManager* getLandManager() const;
+
     private:
         void updateProjectionMatrix();
         void updateTextureFiltering();
@@ -212,6 +216,7 @@ namespace MWRender
         std::auto_ptr<Objects> mObjects;
         std::auto_ptr<Water> mWater;
         std::auto_ptr<Terrain::World> mTerrain;
+        TerrainStorage* mTerrainStorage;
         std::auto_ptr<SkyManager> mSky;
         std::auto_ptr<EffectManager> mEffectManager;
         osg::ref_ptr<NpcAnimation> mPlayerAnimation;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/terrainstorage.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/terrainstorage.cpp
index 311eb1621..9d229c96c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/terrainstorage.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/terrainstorage.cpp
@@ -6,12 +6,22 @@
 #include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/esmstore.hpp"
 
+#include "landmanager.hpp"
+
 namespace MWRender
 {
 
-    TerrainStorage::TerrainStorage(const VFS::Manager* vfs, const std::string& normalMapPattern, const std::string& normalHeightMapPattern, bool autoUseNormalMaps, const std::string& specularMapPattern, bool autoUseSpecularMaps)
-        : ESMTerrain::Storage(vfs, normalMapPattern, normalHeightMapPattern, autoUseNormalMaps, specularMapPattern, autoUseSpecularMaps)
+    TerrainStorage::TerrainStorage(Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, const std::string& normalMapPattern, const std::string& normalHeightMapPattern, bool autoUseNormalMaps, const std::string& specularMapPattern, bool autoUseSpecularMaps)
+        : ESMTerrain::Storage(resourceSystem->getVFS(), normalMapPattern, normalHeightMapPattern, autoUseNormalMaps, specularMapPattern, autoUseSpecularMaps)
+        , mLandManager(new LandManager(ESM::Land::DATA_VCLR|ESM::Land::DATA_VHGT|ESM::Land::DATA_VNML|ESM::Land::DATA_VTEX))
+        , mResourceSystem(resourceSystem)
+    {
+        mResourceSystem->addResourceManager(mLandManager.get());
+    }
+
+    TerrainStorage::~TerrainStorage()
     {
+        mResourceSystem->removeResourceManager(mLandManager.get());
     }
 
     void TerrainStorage::getBounds(float& minX, float& maxX, float& minY, float& maxY)
@@ -39,22 +49,14 @@ namespace MWRender
         maxY += 1;
     }
 
-    const ESM::Land* TerrainStorage::getLand(int cellX, int cellY)
+    LandManager *TerrainStorage::getLandManager() const
     {
-        const MWWorld::ESMStore &esmStore =
-            MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore();
-
-        const ESM::Land* land = esmStore.get<ESM::Land>().search(cellX, cellY);
-        if (!land)
-            return NULL;
-
-        const int flags = ESM::Land::DATA_VCLR|ESM::Land::DATA_VHGT|ESM::Land::DATA_VNML|ESM::Land::DATA_VTEX;
-        if (!land->isDataLoaded(flags))
-            land->loadData(flags);
-
-        // TODO: unload land data when it's no longer needed
+        return mLandManager.get();
+    }
 
-        return land;
+    osg::ref_ptr<const ESMTerrain::LandObject> TerrainStorage::getLand(int cellX, int cellY)
+    {
+        return mLandManager->getLand(cellX, cellY);
     }
 
     const ESM::LandTexture* TerrainStorage::getLandTexture(int index, short plugin)
@@ -64,4 +66,5 @@ namespace MWRender
         return esmStore.get<ESM::LandTexture>().search(index, plugin);
     }
 
+
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/terrainstorage.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/terrainstorage.hpp
index 6fa8b98ce..cf4011d45 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/terrainstorage.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/terrainstorage.hpp
@@ -1,23 +1,37 @@
 #ifndef MWRENDER_TERRAINSTORAGE_H
 #define MWRENDER_TERRAINSTORAGE_H
 
+#include <memory>
+
 #include <components/esmterrain/storage.hpp>
 
+#include <components/resource/resourcesystem.hpp>
+
 namespace MWRender
 {
 
+    class LandManager;
+
     /// @brief Connects the ESM Store used in OpenMW with the ESMTerrain storage.
     class TerrainStorage : public ESMTerrain::Storage
     {
-    private:
-        virtual const ESM::Land* getLand (int cellX, int cellY);
-        virtual const ESM::LandTexture* getLandTexture(int index, short plugin);
     public:
 
-        TerrainStorage(const VFS::Manager* vfs, const std::string& normalMapPattern = "", const std::string& normalHeightMapPatteern = "", bool autoUseNormalMaps = false, const std::string& specularMapPattern = "", bool autoUseSpecularMaps = false);
+        TerrainStorage(Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, const std::string& normalMapPattern = "", const std::string& normalHeightMapPatteern = "", bool autoUseNormalMaps = false, const std::string& specularMapPattern = "", bool autoUseSpecularMaps = false);
+        ~TerrainStorage();
+
+        virtual osg::ref_ptr<const ESMTerrain::LandObject> getLand (int cellX, int cellY);
+        virtual const ESM::LandTexture* getLandTexture(int index, short plugin);
 
         /// Get bounds of the whole terrain in cell units
         virtual void getBounds(float& minX, float& maxX, float& minY, float& maxY);
+
+        LandManager* getLandManager() const;
+
+    private:
+       std::auto_ptr<LandManager> mLandManager;
+
+       Resource::ResourceSystem* mResourceSystem;
     };
 
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.cpp
index 60c1f9ca0..db3ec5018 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <components/misc/resourcehelpers.hpp>
 #include <components/nifosg/nifloader.hpp>
 #include <components/terrain/world.hpp>
+#include <components/esmterrain/storage.hpp>
 #include <components/sceneutil/unrefqueue.hpp>
 
 #include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@
 
 #include "../mwworld/inventorystore.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/esmstore.hpp"
+#include "../mwrender/landmanager.hpp"
 
 #include "cellstore.hpp"
 #include "manualref.hpp"
@@ -46,7 +48,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
     {
     public:
         /// Constructor to be called from the main thread.
-        PreloadItem(MWWorld::CellStore* cell, Resource::SceneManager* sceneManager, Resource::BulletShapeManager* bulletShapeManager, Resource::KeyframeManager* keyframeManager, Terrain::World* terrain, bool preloadInstances)
+        PreloadItem(MWWorld::CellStore* cell, Resource::SceneManager* sceneManager, Resource::BulletShapeManager* bulletShapeManager, Resource::KeyframeManager* keyframeManager, Terrain::World* terrain, MWRender::LandManager* landManager, bool preloadInstances)
             : mIsExterior(cell->getCell()->isExterior())
             , mX(cell->getCell()->getGridX())
             , mY(cell->getCell()->getGridY())
@@ -54,6 +56,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             , mBulletShapeManager(bulletShapeManager)
             , mKeyframeManager(keyframeManager)
             , mTerrain(terrain)
+            , mLandManager(landManager)
             , mPreloadInstances(preloadInstances)
             , mAbort(false)
         {
@@ -90,6 +93,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
                 try
                 {
                     mPreloadedObjects.push_back(mTerrain->cacheCell(mX, mY));
+                    mPreloadedObjects.push_back(mLandManager->getLand(mX, mY));
                 }
                 catch(std::exception& e)
                 {
@@ -151,6 +155,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         Resource::BulletShapeManager* mBulletShapeManager;
         Resource::KeyframeManager* mKeyframeManager;
         Terrain::World* mTerrain;
+        MWRender::LandManager* mLandManager;
         bool mPreloadInstances;
 
         volatile bool mAbort;
@@ -183,10 +188,11 @@ namespace MWWorld
         Terrain::World* mTerrain;
     };
 
-    CellPreloader::CellPreloader(Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, Resource::BulletShapeManager* bulletShapeManager, Terrain::World* terrain)
+    CellPreloader::CellPreloader(Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, Resource::BulletShapeManager* bulletShapeManager, Terrain::World* terrain, MWRender::LandManager* landManager)
         : mResourceSystem(resourceSystem)
         , mBulletShapeManager(bulletShapeManager)
         , mTerrain(terrain)
+        , mLandManager(landManager)
         , mExpiryDelay(0.0)
         , mMinCacheSize(0)
         , mMaxCacheSize(0)
@@ -251,7 +257,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
                 return;
         }
 
-        osg::ref_ptr<PreloadItem> item (new PreloadItem(cell, mResourceSystem->getSceneManager(), mBulletShapeManager, mResourceSystem->getKeyframeManager(), mTerrain, mPreloadInstances));
+        osg::ref_ptr<PreloadItem> item (new PreloadItem(cell, mResourceSystem->getSceneManager(), mBulletShapeManager, mResourceSystem->getKeyframeManager(), mTerrain, mLandManager, mPreloadInstances));
         mWorkQueue->addWorkItem(item);
 
         mPreloadCells[cell] = PreloadEntry(timestamp, item);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.hpp
index e8e59a3a2..ee73a4ea1 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.hpp
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ namespace SceneUtil
     class UnrefQueue;
 }
 
+namespace MWRender
+{
+    class LandManager;
+}
+
 namespace MWWorld
 {
     class CellStore;
@@ -28,7 +33,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
     class CellPreloader
     {
     public:
-        CellPreloader(Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, Resource::BulletShapeManager* bulletShapeManager, Terrain::World* terrain);
+        CellPreloader(Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, Resource::BulletShapeManager* bulletShapeManager, Terrain::World* terrain, MWRender::LandManager* landManager);
         ~CellPreloader();
 
         /// Ask a background thread to preload rendering meshes and collision shapes for objects in this cell.
@@ -64,6 +69,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         Resource::ResourceSystem* mResourceSystem;
         Resource::BulletShapeManager* mBulletShapeManager;
         Terrain::World* mTerrain;
+        MWRender::LandManager* mLandManager;
         osg::ref_ptr<SceneUtil::WorkQueue> mWorkQueue;
         osg::ref_ptr<SceneUtil::UnrefQueue> mUnrefQueue;
         double mExpiryDelay;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
index dadada7b2..13546eb3f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include "../mwbase/windowmanager.hpp"
 
 #include "../mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp"
+#include "../mwrender/landmanager.hpp"
 
 #include "../mwphysics/physicssystem.hpp"
 
@@ -271,26 +272,19 @@ namespace MWWorld
             // Load terrain physics first...
             if (cell->getCell()->isExterior())
             {
-                const ESM::Land* land =
-                    MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore().get<ESM::Land>().search(
-                        cell->getCell()->getGridX(),
-                        cell->getCell()->getGridY()
-                    );
-                if (land && land->mDataTypes&ESM::Land::DATA_VHGT) {
-                    // Actually only VHGT is needed here, but we'll need the rest for rendering anyway.
-                    // Load everything now to reduce IO overhead.
-                    const int flags = ESM::Land::DATA_VCLR|ESM::Land::DATA_VHGT|ESM::Land::DATA_VNML|ESM::Land::DATA_VTEX;
-
-                    const ESM::Land::LandData *data = land->getLandData (flags);
-                    mPhysics->addHeightField (data->mHeights, cell->getCell()->getGridX(), cell->getCell()->getGridY(),
-                        worldsize / (verts-1), verts);
+                int cellX = cell->getCell()->getGridX();
+                int cellY = cell->getCell()->getGridY();
+                osg::ref_ptr<const ESMTerrain::LandObject> land = mRendering.getLandManager()->getLand(cellX, cellY);
+                const ESM::Land::LandData* data = land ? land->getData(ESM::Land::DATA_VHGT) : 0;
+                if (data)
+                {
+                    mPhysics->addHeightField (data->mHeights, cellX, cell->getCell()->getGridY(), worldsize / (verts-1), verts, land.get());
                 }
                 else
                 {
                     static std::vector<float> defaultHeight;
                     defaultHeight.resize(verts*verts, ESM::Land::DEFAULT_HEIGHT);
-                    mPhysics->addHeightField (&defaultHeight[0], cell->getCell()->getGridX(), cell->getCell()->getGridY(),
-                            worldsize / (verts-1), verts);
+                    mPhysics->addHeightField (&defaultHeight[0], cell->getCell()->getGridX(), cell->getCell()->getGridY(), worldsize / (verts-1), verts, land.get());
                 }
             }
 
@@ -487,7 +481,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
     , mPreloadDoors(Settings::Manager::getBool("preload doors", "Cells"))
     , mPreloadFastTravel(Settings::Manager::getBool("preload fast travel", "Cells"))
     {
-        mPreloader.reset(new CellPreloader(rendering.getResourceSystem(), physics->getShapeManager(), rendering.getTerrain()));
+        mPreloader.reset(new CellPreloader(rendering.getResourceSystem(), physics->getShapeManager(), rendering.getTerrain(), rendering.getLandManager()));
         mPreloader->setWorkQueue(mRendering.getWorkQueue());
 
         mPreloader->setUnrefQueue(rendering.getUnrefQueue());
diff --git a/components/esmterrain/storage.cpp b/components/esmterrain/storage.cpp
index d1ccbeab5..e48c8aeb2 100644
--- a/components/esmterrain/storage.cpp
+++ b/components/esmterrain/storage.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,39 @@
 namespace ESMTerrain
 {
 
+
+    LandObject::LandObject()
+    {
+    }
+
+    LandObject::LandObject(const ESM::Land *land, int loadFlags)
+        : mLand(land)
+        , mLoadFlags(loadFlags)
+    {
+        mLand->loadData(mLoadFlags);
+    }
+
+    LandObject::LandObject(const LandObject &copy, const osg::CopyOp &copyop)
+    {
+    }
+
+    LandObject::~LandObject()
+    {
+        if (mLand && mLoadFlags) // only unload if we were responsible for loading to begin with.
+            mLand->unloadData();
+    }
+
+    const ESM::Land::LandData *LandObject::getData(int flags) const
+    {
+        return mLand->getLandData(flags);
+    }
+
+    int LandObject::getPlugin() const
+    {
+        return mLand->mPlugin;
+    }
+
+
     const float defaultHeight = ESM::Land::DEFAULT_HEIGHT;
 
     Storage::Storage(const VFS::Manager *vfs, const std::string& normalMapPattern, const std::string& normalHeightMapPattern, bool autoUseNormalMaps, const std::string& specularMapPattern, bool autoUseSpecularMaps)
@@ -28,14 +61,6 @@ namespace ESMTerrain
     {
     }
 
-    const ESM::Land::LandData *Storage::getLandData (int cellX, int cellY, int flags)
-    {
-        if (const ESM::Land *land = getLand (cellX, cellY))
-            return land->getLandData (flags);
-
-        return 0;
-    }
-
     bool Storage::getMinMaxHeights(float size, const osg::Vec2f &center, float &min, float &max)
     {
         assert (size <= 1 && "Storage::getMinMaxHeights, chunk size should be <= 1 cell");
@@ -53,7 +78,9 @@ namespace ESMTerrain
         int endRow = startRow + size * (ESM::Land::LAND_SIZE-1) + 1;
         int endColumn = startColumn + size * (ESM::Land::LAND_SIZE-1) + 1;
 
-        if (const ESM::Land::LandData *data = getLandData (cellX, cellY, ESM::Land::DATA_VHGT))
+        osg::ref_ptr<const LandObject> land = getLand (cellX, cellY);
+        const ESM::Land::LandData* data = land ? land->getData(ESM::Land::DATA_VHGT) : 0;
+        if (data)
         {
             min = std::numeric_limits<float>::max();
             max = -std::numeric_limits<float>::max();
@@ -99,7 +126,9 @@ namespace ESMTerrain
             row += ESM::Land::LAND_SIZE-1;
         }
 
-        if (const ESM::Land::LandData *data = getLandData (cellX, cellY, ESM::Land::DATA_VNML))
+        osg::ref_ptr<const LandObject> land = getLand(cellX, cellY);
+        const ESM::Land::LandData* data = land ? land->getData(ESM::Land::DATA_VNML) : 0;
+        if (data)
         {
             normal.x() = data->mNormals[col*ESM::Land::LAND_SIZE*3+row*3];
             normal.y() = data->mNormals[col*ESM::Land::LAND_SIZE*3+row*3+1];
@@ -134,7 +163,9 @@ namespace ESMTerrain
             row = 0;
         }
 
-        if (const ESM::Land::LandData *data = getLandData (cellX, cellY, ESM::Land::DATA_VCLR))
+        osg::ref_ptr<const LandObject> land = getLand(cellX, cellY);
+        const ESM::Land::LandData* data = land ? land->getData(ESM::Land::DATA_VCLR) : 0;
+        if (data)
         {
             color.r() = data->mColours[col*ESM::Land::LAND_SIZE*3+row*3] / 255.f;
             color.g() = data->mColours[col*ESM::Land::LAND_SIZE*3+row*3+1] / 255.f;
@@ -146,7 +177,6 @@ namespace ESMTerrain
             color.g() = 1;
             color.b() = 1;
         }
-
     }
 
     void Storage::fillVertexBuffers (int lodLevel, float size, const osg::Vec2f& center,
@@ -180,9 +210,16 @@ namespace ESMTerrain
             float vertX_ = 0; // of current cell corner
             for (int cellX = startCellX; cellX < startCellX + std::ceil(size); ++cellX)
             {
-                const ESM::Land::LandData *heightData = getLandData (cellX, cellY, ESM::Land::DATA_VHGT);
-                const ESM::Land::LandData *normalData = getLandData (cellX, cellY, ESM::Land::DATA_VNML);
-                const ESM::Land::LandData *colourData = getLandData (cellX, cellY, ESM::Land::DATA_VCLR);
+                osg::ref_ptr<const LandObject> land = getLand(cellX, cellY);
+                const ESM::Land::LandData *heightData = 0;
+                const ESM::Land::LandData *normalData = 0;
+                const ESM::Land::LandData *colourData = 0;
+                if (land)
+                {
+                    heightData = land->getData(ESM::Land::DATA_VHGT);
+                    normalData = land->getData(ESM::Land::DATA_VNML);
+                    colourData = land->getData(ESM::Land::DATA_VCLR);
+                }
 
                 int rowStart = 0;
                 int colStart = 0;
@@ -298,15 +335,16 @@ namespace ESMTerrain
         assert(x<ESM::Land::LAND_TEXTURE_SIZE);
         assert(y<ESM::Land::LAND_TEXTURE_SIZE);
 
-        if (const ESM::Land::LandData *data = getLandData (cellX, cellY, ESM::Land::DATA_VTEX))
+        osg::ref_ptr<const LandObject> land = getLand(cellX, cellY);
+        const ESM::Land::LandData *data = land ? land->getData(ESM::Land::DATA_VTEX) : 0;
+        if (data)
         {
             int tex = data->mTextures[y * ESM::Land::LAND_TEXTURE_SIZE + x];
             if (tex == 0)
                 return std::make_pair(0,0); // vtex 0 is always the base texture, regardless of plugin
-            return std::make_pair(tex, getLand (cellX, cellY)->mPlugin);
+            return std::make_pair(tex, land->getPlugin());
         }
-        else
-            return std::make_pair(0,0);
+        return std::make_pair(0,0);
     }
 
     std::string Storage::getTextureName(UniqueTextureId id)
@@ -421,8 +459,12 @@ namespace ESMTerrain
         int cellX = static_cast<int>(std::floor(worldPos.x() / 8192.f));
         int cellY = static_cast<int>(std::floor(worldPos.y() / 8192.f));
 
-        const ESM::Land* land = getLand(cellX, cellY);
-        if (!land || !(land->mDataTypes&ESM::Land::DATA_VHGT))
+        osg::ref_ptr<const LandObject> land = getLand(cellX, cellY);
+        if (!land)
+            return defaultHeight;
+
+        const ESM::Land::LandData* data = land->getData(ESM::Land::DATA_VHGT);
+        if (!data)
             return defaultHeight;
 
         // Mostly lifted from Ogre::Terrain::getHeightAtTerrainPosition
@@ -461,10 +503,10 @@ namespace ESMTerrain
         */
 
         // Build all 4 positions in normalized cell space, using point-sampled height
-        osg::Vec3f v0 (startXTS, startYTS, getVertexHeight(land, startX, startY) / 8192.f);
-        osg::Vec3f v1 (endXTS, startYTS, getVertexHeight(land, endX, startY) / 8192.f);
-        osg::Vec3f v2 (endXTS, endYTS, getVertexHeight(land, endX, endY) / 8192.f);
-        osg::Vec3f v3 (startXTS, endYTS, getVertexHeight(land, startX, endY) / 8192.f);
+        osg::Vec3f v0 (startXTS, startYTS, getVertexHeight(data, startX, startY) / 8192.f);
+        osg::Vec3f v1 (endXTS, startYTS, getVertexHeight(data, endX, startY) / 8192.f);
+        osg::Vec3f v2 (endXTS, endYTS, getVertexHeight(data, endX, endY) / 8192.f);
+        osg::Vec3f v3 (startXTS, endYTS, getVertexHeight(data, startX, endY) / 8192.f);
         // define this plane in terrain space
         osg::Plane plane;
         // FIXME: deal with differing triangle alignment
@@ -496,11 +538,11 @@ namespace ESMTerrain
 
     }
 
-    float Storage::getVertexHeight(const ESM::Land *land, int x, int y)
+    float Storage::getVertexHeight(const ESM::Land::LandData* data, int x, int y)
     {
         assert(x < ESM::Land::LAND_SIZE);
         assert(y < ESM::Land::LAND_SIZE);
-        return land->getLandData()->mHeights[y * ESM::Land::LAND_SIZE + x];
+        return data->mHeights[y * ESM::Land::LAND_SIZE + x];
     }
 
     Terrain::LayerInfo Storage::getLayerInfo(const std::string& texture)
diff --git a/components/esmterrain/storage.hpp b/components/esmterrain/storage.hpp
index 092998b2e..9204d4059 100644
--- a/components/esmterrain/storage.hpp
+++ b/components/esmterrain/storage.hpp
@@ -16,25 +16,36 @@ namespace VFS
 namespace ESMTerrain
 {
 
-    /// @brief Feeds data from ESM terrain records (ESM::Land, ESM::LandTexture)
-    ///        into the terrain component, converting it on the fly as needed.
-    class Storage : public Terrain::Storage
+    /// @brief Wrapper around ESM::Land with reference counting. The wrapper needs to be held as long as the data is still in use
+    /// Data will be unloaded when wrapper object is deleted
+    class LandObject : public osg::Object
     {
     private:
+        const ESM::Land* mLand;
+        int mLoadFlags;
 
-        // Not implemented in this class, because we need different Store implementations for game and editor
-        virtual const ESM::Land* getLand (int cellX, int cellY)= 0;
-        virtual const ESM::LandTexture* getLandTexture(int index, short plugin) = 0;
+    public:
+        META_Object(ESMTerrain, LandObject)
 
+        const ESM::Land::LandData* getData(int flags) const;
+        int getPlugin() const;
+
+        LandObject();
+        LandObject(const ESM::Land* land, int loadFlags);
+        LandObject(const LandObject& copy, const osg::CopyOp& copyop);
+        virtual ~LandObject();
+    };
+
+    /// @brief Feeds data from ESM terrain records (ESM::Land, ESM::LandTexture)
+    ///        into the terrain component, converting it on the fly as needed.
+    class Storage : public Terrain::Storage
+    {
     public:
         Storage(const VFS::Manager* vfs, const std::string& normalMapPattern = "", const std::string& normalHeightMapPattern = "", bool autoUseNormalMaps = false, const std::string& specularMapPattern = "", bool autoUseSpecularMaps = false);
 
-        /// Data is loaded first, if necessary. Will return a 0-pointer if there is no data for
-        /// any of the data types specified via \a flags. Will also return a 0-pointer if there
-        /// is no land record for the coordinates \a cellX / \a cellY.
-        const ESM::Land::LandData *getLandData (int cellX, int cellY, int flags);
-
         // Not implemented in this class, because we need different Store implementations for game and editor
+        virtual osg::ref_ptr<const LandObject> getLand (int cellX, int cellY)= 0;
+        virtual const ESM::LandTexture* getLandTexture(int index, short plugin) = 0;
         /// Get bounds of the whole terrain in cell units
         virtual void getBounds(float& minX, float& maxX, float& minY, float& maxY) = 0;
 
@@ -95,7 +106,7 @@ namespace ESMTerrain
         void fixColour (osg::Vec4f& colour, int cellX, int cellY, int col, int row);
         void averageNormal (osg::Vec3f& normal, int cellX, int cellY, int col, int row);
 
-        float getVertexHeight (const ESM::Land* land, int x, int y);
+        float getVertexHeight (const ESM::Land::LandData* data, int x, int y);
 
         // Since plugins can define new texture palettes, we need to know the plugin index too
         // in order to retrieve the correct texture name.
diff --git a/components/resource/stats.cpp b/components/resource/stats.cpp
index d696c9ecc..3cc2d3b01 100644
--- a/components/resource/stats.cpp
+++ b/components/resource/stats.cpp
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ void StatsHandler::setUpScene(osgViewer::ViewerBase *viewer)
         _resourceStatsChildNum = _switch->getNumChildren();
         _switch->addChild(group, false);
 
-        const char* statNames[] = {"Compiling", "WorkQueue", "WorkThread", "", "Texture", "StateSet", "Node", "Node Instance", "Shape", "Shape Instance", "Image", "Nif", "Keyframe", "Terrain Cell", "Terrain Texture", "", "UnrefQueue"};
+        const char* statNames[] = {"Compiling", "WorkQueue", "WorkThread", "", "Texture", "StateSet", "Node", "Node Instance", "Shape", "Shape Instance", "Image", "Nif", "Keyframe", "Terrain Cell", "Terrain Texture", "Land", "", "UnrefQueue"};
 
         int numLines = sizeof(statNames) / sizeof(statNames[0]);