Right to Roam

This autumn saw the Right to Roam campaign for wild camping back in the Supreme Court. Wealthy landowner, Alexander Darwall wants to overturn the ruling from last summer to restore rights to wild camp on the moors. Dartmoor is currently the only place in England where you can wild camp without permission. This final stage will determine whether or not future generations will be allowed to wild camp here and enjoy access to nature.

On October 6th people rallied on Hound Tor, Dartmoor to show their support for the right to wild camp. We were joined by Old Crockhern, a guardian of the moors and the Mayday Morris.

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London Supreme Court

I travelled up to London with Right to Roam for the final hearing in the case Dartmoor National Park vs Alexander Darwall. 

The hearing marks an important moment in the battle for access to nature. Wealthy landowner Alexander Darwall argued that the Dartmoor Commons Act does not include camping, only “access to the commons on foot and on horseback for the purpose of open-air recreation”. So, he was challenged, what if someone were to sit-down on the moors and have a picnic? That would be trespassing, he concluded and you could be sued. If he wins this case then it sets a scary precedent which goes beyond wild camping on Dartmoor.

It was great to be there, to capture the positive vibes of the day and the various speakers, including the writer Robert Macfarlane and Caroline Lucas. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we hear a positive outcome soon. 

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