Wild camping is legal again on much of Dartmoor - 31Jul23 BBC Spotlight report [reporter unknown]

Wild camping is legal again on much of Dartmoor, after the Court of Appeal overturns a ban. Landowners who applied for the ban aren't happy, and say they keeping campers away protects the environment. This video report is from BBC Spotlight.

https://tlio.org.uk/dartmoor-wild-camping-ban-lifted-as-campaigners-win-court-battle-against-wealthy-landowners/

The hearing, which took place two weeks ago included some bizarre exchanges between the lawyers and judges.

Timothy Morshead KC acting for the Darwalls, had argued that sleep cannot be considered to be "recreation" as you are not conscious.

But Sir Geoffrey Vos, one of the judges presiding said there was no difference between a walker or painter who rested on the ground after their activity and fell asleep and a walker that came into the park and erected a tent.

Morshead said that the Darwalls took objection to the erection of tent 'structures'.

The judges proceeded to ask him where the line should be drawn on erecting structures - would inflatable goalposts from Argos for children to play football be allowed, they asked?

Tim Straker KC acting for the Park and OSS said the practice of wild camping does not involve significant structures like camper vans "which on Dartmoor are directed to designated or registered sites".

The victory was met with delight by environmental charities and campaigners on Monday after the verdict broke.

Green Party MP, Caroline Lucas, said it was a huge win for "re-establishing our connection with nature and the land we call home".

Guy Shrubsole, co-founder of campaign group Right to Roam, said this was not the end of the fight for land rights.

He called for a new Right to Roam Act for England so that wild camping can be extended beyond Dartmoor.

A judge’s ruling that people do not have the right to wild camp on Dartmoor without landowners’ permission “went too far” and could affect bird-watching, fishing and other activities, campaigners have argued at the Court of Appeal. The Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) is challenging a High Court judgment that a nearly 40-year-old piece of legislation did not provide such a right, despite arguments that wild camping was a long-held local custom. A crowd of protesters, including Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice during proceedings, waving placards calling for the need to “defend Dartmoor” and arguing that “the stars are for everyone”

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/video/news/court-of-appeal-hears-challenge-over-right-to-wild-camp-on-dartmoor/vi-AA1e29GC