As a teenager, then later with my own children, I took the right to wild camp on Dartmoor for granted. Even in the depths of winter, hardy, pack-laden walkers can be seen disappearing into the mist or driving rain. And in 50 years, I have never found so much as a ring-pull at a remote camping spot. Those who love the wilderness take care of it – and are happy to share it. That is more than can be said for the immensely wealthy, multi-estate-owning Alexander Darwall, who is once again attempting to legally revoke the right to wild camp on Dartmoor.
Darwall’s first successful attempt to revoke this right caused widespread outrage. In January, that ruling was challenged in the Court of Appeal by the Dartmoor National Park Authority, and successfully overturned. Thank you to all of you who contributed to their costs. However, Darwall has now won the right to appeal in the Supreme Court next month. Why would someone who has so much, want to prevent others, who may not even have a garden at home, from finding solace in a tent on Dartmoor? In Darwall’s appeal, he will again argue that we should be happy with a permissive scheme, whereby we are granted the privilege to camp at his and other landowners’ largesse – only when and where they see fit.
Dartmoor is the only place in the country where there is a ‘right’ to wild camp. It is a precious right, and it must be defended. Losing it would deprive thousands of responsible, respectable people from experiencing the beauty and emptiness of the largest wilderness in Southern England. For me, this is also about more than just Dartmoor. It is about the world we want to live in. If we abandon the long-held social contract whereby wealth and ownership come with responsibilities, if we cannot find a way to share our planet, and if we allow the presumption that the winner takes it all, then we are socially and environmentally doomed.
Fighting this appeal is liable to cost the Dartmoor National Park Authority a scary £400,000; not the sort of money they have. I have underwritten the appeal by £10,000. If you would like to contribute too, you can do so at justgiving.com/campaign/BackpackCampingAppeal. It is not about the size of your contribution; it is about showing how many of us want to live in a kinder, fairer world, and that we will fight for it together.
Photograph by Jill Dimond @unsplash
I read your write up everytime I get a Riverford box and whilst I find it interesting I always feel you don’t get the current economic and political system. With the utmost of respect, I think you fail to grasp how colionialism has shaped modern politics and economics.
We live in a world formed from colonial wealth extraction and accumulation. Loss of human lives was entwined with Eugenics. Certain races were lower and expendible in relation to other races. Within the highest race there were class divisions and certain classes were expendible in the service of wealth accumulation.
These structures are still here in different forms and guises. The multi millionaire wanting Dartmoor for himself is following the centuries old concept that built European wealth and privilege.
The modern day net transfer of wealth from the global south to the north for the hoarding of wealth preoccupies me more than my privilege of camping and walking.
There’s just too much going down to worry about a greedy colonial offspring swiping yet more loot.
I agree with you about colonialism and wealth. However, I’ve never seen anything in Guy’s writings to suggest he doesn’t get it.
You’re right, there’s a lot going down. Loss of wild ecosystems and the suffering of intensively farmed animals preoccupy me more than the global transfer of wealth, or the right to camp on Dartmoor – though I care about them too. Others’ passion and focus is on ocean health, carbon reduction, education, plastics… etc.
I’m immensely grateful that there are so many people each committed to focusing on different aspects of our many, interconnected societal and ecological challenges. Resilience in diversity.
I respectfully suggest that the hoarding of wealth (and land) is part of the same system that refuses to allow access to the ordinary person so they can camp on our wonderful wild land.
Maybe when we teach manners – conscious consideration along with collaboration and care, perhaps those with more privilege will be happier to share!!
There’s always something worse going on somewhere, this seems like a bit of a “my cause trumps your cause” swipe. Is it wrong to get your shed roof fixed if somewhere there’s a refugee who doesn’t have a home at all? Challenging the power of this landowner is anyway part of unpicking the systems that you (partially) describe the history of, as well as being important in it’s own right.
Well said Guy, nothing more to add
My thoughts exactly, wish I could frame them so eloquently.
Thank you Guy for doing what you can to create a better future. Nature / farming are two of the most important elements. Without nature we can’t survive. Without farmers we cannot eat. Balance is needed to protect our environment. Every single person in life matters but there will always be those with more. I do not envy wealth – instead I am grateful for what I have, not what I don’t have. So many love Dartmoor for lots of reasons but free camping is extra special for those who can’t afford to pay for holidays. You feel so free in the wide expanse of the moor. Anyone with wealth has a responsibility to help the less fortunate. I have seen first hand the damage caused by some visitors to the moor but we cannot allow the few to ruin it for all of us. There must be a way forward and to fight this is the right thing to do – it’s just a shame we have to.
The hard hitting comment by Sprocket man is hard to hear…because it’s the truth. I know every word you say is true sadly.
What to do about it….Fight it everywhere you can including this freedom to camp on Dartmoor fight.
I’m donating …thankyou for bringing it to our attention Guy.
Well said, Guy. Such rights can’t easily be won back once lost. I have wild camped on Dartmoor, in just a bivvie bag. It’s magical waking up in the wilderness and silence, misty morning, snow on top of the bag once (and not as cold as you’d expect either!). Yes, people do leave mess on Dartmoor, but it’s usually round the “honeypot “ places with car parks. Small scale camping visitors are relatively few. When I’ve done it we never saw another soul and have always taken pride in leaving nothing but the dent in the grass, and I believe that’s the norm. Privilege has responsibilities too, for both landowners and visitors.
I’m not a wild camper but I know those who do and they are responsible and respect the environment that’s why they choose this as a recreation whether walking or cycling. They do so responsibly to ensure that they don’t spoil the environment for others enjoyment or indeed the needs of farmers and landowners. The key here is taking responsibility and the very wealthy have a responsibility not to abuse their power to infringe the rights of others. I’ve made my donation and will encourage others to do the same
It may well be true, as Sprocketman suggests, that colonialism, greed, cruelty and racism have shaped the world we live in, but that is no reason not to fight their manifestations now. We can’t change the past but the future is in our hands.