No man's land: the battle for wild camping on Dartmoor
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 มิ.ย. 2024
- Dartmoor National Park was the only place in England where there was a right to wild camp without seeking permission.
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The right to camp freely was lost when Dartmoor’s sixth-largest landowner - the hedge fund manager and Conservative party donor Alexdander Darwall - won a high court case overturning it.
The Guardian followed people on one of the UK’s largest ever protests over public use of the countryside and joined wild campers on Dartmoor as they seek to appeal against the court’s decision and extend the right to roam with new laws.
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Chapters:
Intro - 00:00
Cornwood protest - 00:43
Right to Roam and the Darwall court case - 01:09
Wild camping on Dartmoor - 03:12
Wild camping protest on Alexander Darwall’s land - 07:01
#Dartmoor #WildCamping #RightToRoam #Camping #UK #News #Wilderness
Absolutley amazing video, so heartbreaking to see recreational activities on this land, slowly be taken away x
This ↑ is Rebecca from the video's channel. If you're interested in finding out more about Dartmoor and wild camping you should go and have a look at her videos.
more power to your elbow Rebecca , i follow you on instagram and i was absolutely gutted to miss the protest walk (it was my sons uni graduation day) . if anything else is organised i`m there!! 100% . This ridiculous situation where wild camping is not considered "for the purposes of recreation" stinks of corruption from the top and if that was tested in front of a jury and not just one judge we WOULD win by a mile
Shocking that 8% is our total right to roam. Another stat that often comes to mind, is the proportion of land use for golf courses is roughly equal to that for residential housing
Is that actually true?? Seems improbable?
@ryanjackson1701 it was true up until about 10 years ago but it's still close
We're sleepwalking into a dystopian nightmare in Britain. People need to wake up and get active politically.
Its always been a dystopian nightmare mate. When railways were first introduced the scum in Parliament were busy putting laws in place to stop the lower classes from taking a train to the coast. They want all the beautiful land for themselves and they want the rest of us who keep things running in crampt dirty dwellings until we drop. No holidays and no retirement would be preferable in their eyes.
@@jmshrrsn Bob on. Political activism is taking part in the system that represses you. Positive action means you might have to do something! It's better to ask forgiveness than ask permission. Don't ask for permission!
@@jmshrrsn Maybe it's time for some radical changes. People should still get organised either way. Form groups, get talking, get doing. It could be the time for a violent revolution soon.
If people wish to camp outdoors, they shouldn't be prohibited from doing so.
So does that include camping in your back garden if you have one?
@David 135
Hey, :)
I hope that this message finds you well.
The video segment is regarding the tragedy of the commons - land that should and has been accessible to all.
Enclosure is an inherently exclusionary practice if people (young and old(er) have much less money and are unable to seek an escape and gain experience orienteering, that most certainly is an unfortunate outcome / alienating situation of the already most disadvantaged.
You wouldn't visit a strangers home whom you dont know to borrow from a limited selection of books you'd go to an inclusive specialist whom offers books to all a library in this example also its much less weird.
Similarly, you wouldn't turn up to a small few square meters space not practical at all for orienteering purposes or exploring when there are hectares of space already *currently accessible for that particular experience.
Yes, context matters and intent of your question / retort was 'kinda' odd.
@@David-135 My back garden isn’t public land
@@dominospizza4386 Neither is Dartmoor according to the law 😂
@@David-135 make life interesting to have people camping now an then in ya yard
Full support from Norway.
Fight on! The whole of Scandinavia is rooting for you guys!
I'm a Dane and I'm not.
@@zenocrate4040 😂
Being born on the foothills of Exmoor in north Devon, and growing up In Ivybridge in south Devon, my playground was Dartmoor, a feral 9 yr old, wandering along the puff n Billy track, wandering along the Erme river and climbing tors and being free., Later in my childhood I moved to a coastal village but still had a deep connection to this wild land of the Celts... camping with the scouts at Dewerstone cottage and wandering the moors doing night hikes..wild camping was what we did to escape, to be with our friends, and to be in nature. I have always, and will always wild camp on this ancient land! We in Devon and Cornwall are a rebellious lot... we're from Celtic blood...we do not own the land, we look after it for the next generation! Wild camping is not a privilege for the few! But a right for the many!
no river in Devon called the Elm
@@waynus2021 should of said Erme ...allas, the glory of autocorrect
Been wild camping in scotland for 50 years ,my 2 sons have also had the joy of wild camping all over the uk, once in dartmoor❤ .
Absolutley unaceptable that the right to camp in dartmoor is being taken away by the selfish nasty few.
Scotland's view on this, is the right one
The few that want to make believe that they are only there for ´tradition´
This is a beautiful film which absolutely captures the anger and optimism in the right to roam movement.
I live in Australia and started camping soon after I was born. My wife and I (and our dog) love bush camping (state forests, little or no ammenities).
People need a place like this, to connect with nature and enjoy the benefits that come with camping.
I live in the US, state of Missouri. We have a lot of public lands to enjoy for now. Times are changing. Ive been telling my children for years that the day is coming when only the wealthy will own land. 40 years ago a poor working class young man could buy a rural farm and build himself a comfortable homestead. That day is gone.
@@scottowensbyable We need to remind our local, state and federal government representatives now the importance of national parks and recreational areas. As well as cheap housing, although I can see already here in Australia that cheap housing takes a lot of lobbying to build and then doesn’t come with much (or any) land, let alone natural or pleasant outlook.
The main problem isn't wild camping but the fact Dartmoor, a large national park is owned by just a handful of individuals who don't want to share
It sounds that you guys are ruled by a monarchy
your arrogance is disturbing.........
Just another step to sap away any enjoyment from life, by the wealthiest people of course. They want it all, leaving us with nothing. Everyone should have the right to roam free, wild camp on common land and do no harm to others. Keep up the fight, we have to win this. Think about it, rich people don't wild camp, they stay in 5 star hotels, us poor/working class wild camp and need it more than ever. 8% is all and they want to take that from us.
Well said Paul.
Let us not forget common land was stolen from us ALL.
The battle not to go back to the 1700s
My group camps in all sorts of places. Fact of the matter is the lands is so vast and various places so remote that they can't police it all. Furthermore camping on someone else's land is only a civil offense, so it's down to the land owner to bring charges against you in civil court and that will only fly if you've caused damage.
I believe it only becomes a criminal offense if you decline a police officers request to leave, but I'd garner some amusement at a copper having to trek several miles just to tell you to move on
They can definitely police it with AI and cameras. You underestimate how much technology has evolved in the last 20 years. One security guard could watch the entire place in real time with the assistance of AI and then private security guards could just pay a visit to whoever gets caught trespassing. If he's rich enough to own Dartmoor, he's rich enough to police it
The less the public have access to nature, the less they have an incentive in conserving it.
For the commenters saying they empathise with the 'Land Owners' and their issues with fly-camping, I would urge you to search for the recent interview with Alexdander Darwall where he explicitly says 'We are in the business of making money as hedge fund managers'. It still baffles me that you can even purchase National Parks, totally superfluous to it's own Title.
I’m a bit late to this video, but wanted to say I’m moved and inspired by seeing you defending our rights to the commons. All the people interviewed made great points about this being connected to far bigger issues
"Leave it better than you found it." Rick from NC, USA.
Nevermind Dartmoor, England / the UK should follow Scotland's and Europe's example where the public have the right to wild camp.
There are already laws on the statute books to prosecute yobbos who leave litter, glass, shit and a half-burnt tent behind after their 'camping' trip. Why are these laws not enforced? This Darwall ruling will only affect those who respect nature and are not the problem because yobbos don't care either way and will carry on regardless. This ruling highlights how feudal Britain still is and how land reform is long overdue.
Its hard to grasp even, as a Swede where the right to roam is considered a basic right by esentially everyone. the company i work for own land in Sweden the size of Ireland and anyone can freely camp on all of it. Do not disturb, do not destroy.
The problem of Dartmoor being damaged by all the visitors should really not be seen as a reason to shut down Dartmoor, but more as a reason to open up other areas. The more choice people have, the less pressure on any one area. And what needs to go hand in hand with that is to heavily punish those who abuse the privilege by littering, starting fires in the wrong places, and so on.
A few of us stealth camped in a forest near Bournemouth IT WAS beautiful and peaceful , mind you the storm of 87 was a bit unsafe !! We left zero rubbish and didn't harm anyone couldn't say the same for the powers to be !!! 🌎🍇🎨🍋🧿🧿🐴🌳🍎
Keep it up. I hope you win. This is ridiculous that they are doing that to ppl who love and and care for the outdoors.
Good luck and good wishes on your fight to roam freely and to camp on Dartmoor. You have my support,100%.. Don't let up, keep up the good fight and you will win. ATB Cheers from the mountains of NZ 😀😀
Good to see a genuine grass roots campaign fighting for something that has meaning 👍
indeed - non-ideological and unifying
@@mozdickson well, it's a community working together - no ideology required 🙂
I was involved in the land reform in Scotland (helping a landowner sympathetically adjust to the legislation and yes we had issues with 'fly camping' which rightly or wrongly, we blamed on young people) since then, my kids grew up in Scotland enjoying the freedoms of the outdoors and all it has to offer. I am now a lifelong, leave no trace, appreciate nature, wild camper. It is high time England's politicians stopped their self obsession with the Westminster bubble and saw the bigger picture. Educate people and let's all enjoy 'our planet'. Btw, I am an Englishman, living in Ireland and it is no better here. Such a shame.
Full support from Belgium.
Dartmoor in England, independent trekking in Nepal, privatization of trails in Australia............The walls keep closing in.
Excellent video, well done
Watching from Massachusetts, this is interesting. In New England, families from old money are giving their land to the States for conservation/recreational use. Keep up the fight!!
Here in Norway there's been a right to roam, a right to camp etc. as far back as the 1800's I think. Even landowners have to allow people walking or skiing, the right to cross their land into "all-man's-land". As a teenager I used to go with friends out in a boat, and we could get a whole island of our own, as long as we liked, bringing barbecue, radio and beers.
What a battle, they are true warriors
Fantastic video! Thank you x
Just did my gold dofe here last weekend, such a shame to see this happening 😢
Access to our parks, moors and heathland is vital, not just for us but for future generations we must fight this and all attempts to squash the little guys by big land owners 🙏🏻👏🏻
yeah, the royal fam
If they should remove the right to wild camp, I have every intention of ignoring it. ✊🏻
I’m not the Guardians biggest fan but well done for highlighting this issue it was a disgraceful decision to take away the right to wild camp on a part of Dartmoor the only place in England that it is officially allowed
Awesome well done it’s our birthright to live and roam free. Freedom is ours it’s non negotiable 🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
It should be public parkland.
Maybe tax the land heavily until the owner share it for tax relief OR sell it to the government for park use.
Please fight. Don't roll over. I'm watching this as an expat living in New Zealand. The right to roam is, and always has been a part of Britain
Great news. Every child should experience several days and nights amongst nature as part of their education.
In Italy wild camping has been prohibited for a long time now. In some way I understand that. Most of the mountain ranges here are UNESO protected. I live under the Dolomites and I don't see wild camping compatible with the fragility of the region and the amount of tourism we have. Local people and the CAI (Alpine Club) do so much work to maintain thousand of trails accessible and some of them are really dangerous (means for expert hikers AKA Via Ferrata). The only time you are allowed to "wild camp" is when you are at a "bivacco" or you reach a mountain hut and is late at night and you can ask the person managing the hut if you can camp for the night; that's it.
Different place, I don’t see these people on high cliff ledges or tearing up the place. Just putting up tents
Similar situation here in the Austrian Alps.
However, without those huts (sometimes rather hotels) run by the Alpine Clubs there would be considerably fewer visitors impacting on nature, too. Not to mention all the cable cars etc. etc. . And concerning litter thrown away - you see it along all trails, that isn't do much a problem caused by wild campers.
Furthermore, anywhere you go outdoors here in Tyrol, you'll be in a sensitive environment. So to ban wild camping really means prohibiting getting in touch with nature (also at nighttime, sunset or sunrise). And you don't get in touch with nature in a crowded Alpine hut (unless it's your private one). But wild camping isn't anything the tourism industry really profits from.
@@pirogenpaddler660 why do you think wild camping would damage "sensitive areas"?? Dartmoor is a pretty sensitive area and apart from a 4ft square patch of grass being a bit flat for an hour or two until the wind fluffs it up again i have literally 0% impact on that area
@@waynus2021 My comment did not suggest that wild camping is necessarily harmful (or more harmful than other activities) for a sensitive environment. At least I did not intend to say so.
Giovanni I wish we had mountains the size of Dolomites in the UK lol! But the UK has a lot more flatter camping potential land. Dartmoor doesn't go higher than about 650meters and the hills are long with lots of flat land. Very different! But Italy is similar to the UK on regards to camping lots of people not a lot of space. Buono cera Italia 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹!
Fight on! Greetings from Sweden ❤
Well done guys! ⛺
What is most shocking for me is someone told him he owns the land .
we need this in northern ireland!
Shout out to the fab Muddy Bootlaces.
Ух ты! В СССР кемпинги можно было организовывать почти везде
Power to the people
so, in england there isnt anywhere to camp without paying a fee? that just seems wrong to me... im really grateful that i live in a country with an insane amount of area where you can just go camp whenever you want to, for no other reason than to kick it in a more natural area than we usually find ourselves within during the bulk of our time...
Well, we had Dartmoor until recently >< in reality, wild camping has always been tolerated in most remote areas, particularly national parks - I go all the time. The problem is that without the landowner's permission, it is technically trespass, so you can be moved on. Most of the time people aren't caught (I never have been), and even when they are many landowners are fine with people camping. Most wild campers never really think about the legality of what they're doing, they just try to camp responsibly and discreetly, as anyone should anywhere.
As I say, the exception to this until now has been Dartmoor - local bylaws have made wild camping right, but it is those bylaws which have been challenged in court. This is troubling first for the obvious reason that a right has been revoked, and also because it might embolden landowners to crack down on camping where it has previously been tolerated.
Landowners own 50% of the park???? aint it a park ???? that part struck me as strange- maybe its a carbon squestering thing And/or more in name.....? And like some unesco biospheres, doesnt mean the land is always protocted, (one doesn't always mean the other,) like in rainforests they are clearing parts) but it does make policy makers realize they should protect it. its the fine balance of protecting nature and birds/nests and grazing land and also for humans, to roam and play in the water or on moors away from delicate spots, but having some moderate lencincy if a family (respectful one and kind-hearted) cause not all fines are deserved equally, or can be afforded equally.
@@nihaars9484 Guardian made sure that you will not hear the argument of the other side, which makes me highly suspicious. Idk what the argument is, but surely as a journalist you should present both sides?
This is so reminiscent of the English Enclosure Movement of the 16th century in which common lands were enclosed by the wealthy to keep peasants and commoners out. With the land enclosed people were forced to work for the owners. This was instrumental to the growth of British capitalism. Once again we have the right of rich property owners of Dartmoor running up against the democratic rights to the commons of the average Scottish person.
good for them
Mass demonstration in the outdoors has worked before. Witness mass tresspass on Kinder circa 1932. But I think a result will be harder to obtain this time.
Great video- protect our right to wild camp!
Still flipping peasants in the UK ....he's owned the land for 10 years ...and already behaving like a feudal lord.
I have travelled and camped in remote areas of the uk for many years. I can see both sides of the argument as I see so many beautiful places despoiled by people who purport to be lovers of nature. My last trip up through glen etive was soul destroying. The road end was full of rubbish with drink cans and barbecue trays all over the place. This trash was also left on all the trails leading away from the road head. I have seen many places also used as an open toilet with no attempt to bury the excrement. There is no excuse for any of this but it’s the reason we will lose access. Pack it in, pack it out and that includes your excrement.
Finally, someone who understands. Literally live on the Moor, and you see so much rubbish and filth, burn marks, regular wildfires caused by inconsiderate people, and have had people use the carpark outside local homes like a toilet, leaving toilet paper on the floor and all
Aye. But these are generally car campers not backpackers, as its off a main road, is it not? I'd put up cameras to register number plates here. The National Trust for Scotland own this area and are aware of the party gangs. (edit: They do regular cleanups but obvs have better things to do.)
@@Tonywozere99 Not so. Recently I walked a very rough 5 miles to Fur Tor and what did I find on one of the Tors? A steaming great poo with dirty loo roll strewn about. I was blown away finding such a thing in a remote area especially when it would have been SO easy to bury/hide the poop out of the way. I don't know what has happened to people.
@@ashmaybe9634 that's sad to hear! I know a lot of wildcampers will pick up other people's litter. There will always be twats among us in all walks of life though. I'm in favour of on the spot fines on Dartmoor for crappy behaviour (excuse the pun). There are enough parking fines issued there, just need a few litter/scorching fines and plenty of nature education.
Nature should be a human right, not something that only the elite have access to. Just like in Dartmouth, BC, in Caknada is using any excuse it can to restrict people from any form of free access to nature. In the case of Dartmouth, they used the excuse that irresponsible campers could cause damage to the environment.
I'll say it again, if you feel an entire activity should be stopped because of some irresponsible people, then all vehicles should be immediately banned from the roads. But what is that you say, we have laws that punish only those that are caught doing those irresponsible activities, like speeding.
Just like south African national parks. No public right. Did God write your name on the land?
No Gods
No Masters
We belong to the earth not the other way around
@@sarahsue42 Truth!
I’ll camp where I bloody want to, but you’ll never know I’ve been there…😉
I suspect there are two types of person in this debate. Those to post on a Guardian btl about how outrageous the ban is, and those who will take absolutely notice of the ban and carry on camping (to coin a phrases).
It’s a shame but I can see the landowners point of view. I’ve wild camped a few times and have really enjoyed it. And like most campers I leave no trace. Unfortunately there are people out there that will ruin it for everyone else. One spot I’ve used a few times in the Brecon Beacons was ruined by some campers who left fire remains in several locations toilet paper left everywhere and rubbish. If I owned the land I’d be stopping people. I wish we could just camp anywhere like in Scotland but ignorance and selfishness from a few is ruining the uk
it happens in Scotland too , we need to educate the stupid
Agree - it's a a bit naive to not grasp that 10 people can destroy things for a thousand others. I camped in a forest on the North Downs Way not long ago where obviously groups of young people (yes!) had routinely come for overnight party camps. The Rubbish they are leaving there could make you cry tbh.
My thoughts are probably too radical so I will keep them to myself,, but it is a great video and the fact that our rights are being eroded by a minority of wealthy people is an absolute disgrace ,,one law for them, another one for us!!
i suspect those thoughts are similar to my own
A few campers haven't done as much destruction to the earth as cities, towns, mines, farming, landfills, etc...but no one's in an uproar about that. People are just as much of the environment as any other living creature and we all can be more respectful of everyone and everything else.
Try and stop anyone...
good campaign... well worth fighting for.
Rather than ban it outright, I don't see why landowners cannot come to some kind of arrangement to charge a small fee for overnight stays? I suppose it would be difficult to administer considering the size of Dartmoor, but, perhaps, by allowing people to pay for a ticket online it might offset any costs of bad wild camping behaviour?
Buy a ticket from the National park. This would finance the park wardens, give them power where they have none to monitor the services properly.
"buy this , pay for that , it`s only a small fee , it`ll help to restore/preserve"....................... these are all statements where it starts and it NEVER ends there! , how about no!
@@waynus2021 I live on Dartmoor. The National park are toothless, the park is hugely over visited, massively understaffed. Whats wrong with a pound per adult, children free. People might take their litter with them...
We need to extend the right for access like Scotland...❤
Camp outside their mansion.
I camped on Dartmoor with the Scouts once. Awful experience. Pave it and build shops or something.
😂
A BIG SHOUTOUT TO ALEXANDER DARWILL NAMED AND SHAMED
Perhaps everyone should pitch on his front lawn in protest.
In the Netherlands wild camping is illegal but it doesn’t stop me to hang my hammock or pitch a small tent in the bushes
So what happens to homeless people?
Wat
they build unsightly houses that are not in keeping with dartmoor,they cannot own dartmoor land!
were can we sign the right to roam act? 👍
Freedom in Scotland 🏴
Has Mr DARWILL responded at all?
Keep up with the fight, Power to the People..
Were prisoners in the land we were born on and always have been. Also. If the agument against this is littering then why don't the police ever prosecute those who do it. You only have to look at any town in the UK to see that it never happens.
agreed!! try banning thousands of people from Durdle door in Dorset on an August sunny bank holiday because of the litter!! or Bournemouth beach or the lake district . We need to educate these stupid dingbats to stop dropping their shitt and be responsible for their surroundings
You don't get the Daily Mail making videos and supporting campaigns like this eh?
Wild camping should be allowed in all wild area's of the UK, not just Dartmoor.
does anyone know what kind of dog that sweet puppy is at around five minute mark, cheers and keep fighting for your rights!
Looked like a working cocker spaniel
Springer Spaniel
She's called Pipit and she's a Working Cocker Spaniel.
Rebecca 🔥 🔥 🔥
"This land is our land". More power to the campaigners!
What happened to England?
just ignore it, keep on wild camping as long as you adhere to Leave No Trace of course
'I wild camp, and therefore I am!'
Camp anywhere you want in the country as a protest
Yeah, avid wilderness campers are well-known for their disrespect for the environment. I hear them all the time saying, “You see this lovely orange flora? Well f*** it. I stomp them everywhere I find them.”
Right? It's ALL about control. Nothing more.
Well... they already done it to the rental market and it is made perfectly legal. I hope this goes to other way. Free access ftw.
Could a rethink of how 'old money' and generational wealth is passed on prevent this kind of issue? Less likely for a handful of individuals to be able to own vast swathes of land in this way in the future.
If indeed those ownership came from inheritance
TRF
Let's hope the government can come to a fair agreement?
Unfortunately the sign of the times and freedom slowly being taken away by large corporations or governments.
Shocking. How its allowed landowners can own so much land. Should be publicly owned
Just camp wherever u want and move on when someone catches you. Leave no mess.
Completely agree with the landowners. Until people learn to respect the countryside they shouldn't be allowed anywhere near it.
but they must realise that most people do respect the countryside