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Post by Red Rackham on Jul 31, 2023 16:41:39 GMT
Wild camping is once again allowed on Dartmoor after the national park won a successful appeal against a ruling in a case brought by a wealthy landowner. The land owner Alexander Darwall, a hedge fund manager who offers pheasant shoots and deerstalking the 1,619-hectare (4,000-acre) Blachford estate on Dartmoor used the legal system to try to bar wild campers from using the estate. In January a judge ruled in favour of Darwall, however today that decision was overturned by the court of appeal.  www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/31/wild-camping-dartmoor-court-appealI should bloody hope so, I was unaware that members of the public could by chunks of Dartmoor, it's common land isn't it? For the benefit of everyone not just wealthy hedge fund managers. |
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Post by dappy on Jul 31, 2023 16:46:37 GMT
Dartmoor is almost all privately owned - much of it by the Duchy of Cornwall - is that William now?
There are access rights for the public over much of it?
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Post by Red Rackham on Jul 31, 2023 17:40:07 GMT
Dartmoor is almost all privately owned - much of it by the Duchy of Cornwall - is that William now? There are access rights for the public over much of it? Regardless of who owns it, or parts thereof, the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 ensures the public have the right to camp on Dartmoor. This Alexander Darwall character bought 4000 acres of Dartmoor in 2013 and claimed the the hoi polloi did not or should not have access to 'his' land, but as the OP explains, the court of appeal dismissed his claim quoting the 1985 Act. |
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Post by dappy on Jul 31, 2023 17:46:25 GMT
Yes I agree. And was pleased by the outcome of the court case.
The case revolved around whether camping came under the Act. The court of appeal says it does. Good.
The land on Dartmoor is though nearly all (possibly all) privately owned.
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Post by Handyman on Jul 31, 2023 17:46:51 GMT
Dartmoor is almost all privately owned - much of it by the Duchy of Cornwall - is that William now? There are access rights for the public over much of it? Regardless of who owns it, or parts thereof, the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 ensures the public have the right to camp on Dartmoor. This Alexander Darwall character bought 4000 acres of Dartmoor in 2013 and claimed the the hoi polloi did not or should not have access to 'his' land, but as the OP explains, the court of appeal dismissed his claim quoting the 1985 Act. Indeed it is an ancient right to wild camp on Dartmoor, there are 14 owners of Dartmoor, about a third of it is owned now Prince William , some is owned by the Army, South West Water, Forestry Commission, National Trust, HM Prison |
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Post by Red Rackham on Jul 31, 2023 17:55:11 GMT
Just for interest: Alexander Darwell, describd as the UK's most loathed landowner. Alexander Frederick Clifford Darwall is a British landowner, hedge fund manager, and millionaire. He is notable for having roles in several large investment companies, his donations to UKIP, the Leave Party, and for his 2022-23 court case where he attempted, but failed, to limit public access to Dartmoor.  |
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Post by dappy on Jul 31, 2023 17:57:19 GMT
There are a lot more than 14 owners Handyman.
The prison is owned by Duchy of Cornwall and only leased to the State.
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Post by steppenwolf on Aug 1, 2023 10:25:59 GMT
The problem is that some people do a lot of damage to Dartmoor. The local TV programs show pictures of the damage done by the people who camp and leave behind portable barbecues and general detritus. And the barbecues are blamed by the rangers for starting fires. Also there are "raves" where a lot of people drive their cars onto the moor and take drugs etc etc. Gyppos take over the car parks occasionally and do hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage that the council tax payer has to pay for. It's nice to think that all the people who are visiting the moor respect the terrain and leave it as they found it but it's simply not true anymore. This country has changed I'm afraid. You even hear people talking foreign languages now - it's a disgrace. (I put that in for dappy  ). And I don't think that any other national parks allow camping except in limited designated areas. This decision allows free camping on about 40% of Dartmoor. It'll be destroyed. |
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Post by dappy on Aug 1, 2023 11:00:28 GMT
Wild camping has been allowed on Dartmoor for many many years. It is still a starkly beautiful place and seems to have avoided the wholesale destruction Steppenwolf suggests is now inevitable.
there would be a strong argument however for not allowing large tracts of a National Park to be off limits due to boys playing with guns and bombs. Go do that somewhere else.
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Post by Montegriffo on Aug 1, 2023 19:31:39 GMT
there would be a strong argument however for not allowing large tracts of a National Park to be off limits due to boys playing with guns and bombs. Go do that somewhere else. To be fair army ranges tend to be wildlife havens. Large areas of fairly unmolested land. I've seen quite a few around the country. My home camp near Thetford was huge. 30,000 acres in total. Sheep roaming around grazing to keep the grass under control but other than that left alone. Loads of birds and mammals from shrews to red deer. Lots of trees. It's good to keep a bit of land away from farmers. |
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). And I don't think that any other national parks allow camping except in limited designated areas. This decision allows free camping on about 40% of Dartmoor. It'll be destroyed.
