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<h1><b>Report on the weekend protest <br>
<font size=4>Hundreds attend Dartmoor wild camping rally (get on the
campaigns below for direct
updates)</b></font></h1><b>
<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgl5qzlqnlo" eudora="autourl">
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgl5qzlqnlo<br>
</a></b>Hundreds of people have gathered on Dartmoor to campaign for the
right to wild camp.<br>
In 2023, High Court judges ruled wild camping was allowed on some
privately-owned commons on the moor but Dartmoor landowner Alexander
Darwall is appealing against the decision.<br>
Mr Darwall is taking the case to the Supreme Court on Tuesday where a
final decision will be made.<br>
Campaigner Lewis Winks said wild camping was "a deeply educational
gateway experience".<br>
'Flimsy alternative'<br>
Mr Winks, who is part of the Stars Are For Everyone campaign, said one of
the phases of the court battle where landowners could give yearly
permission for wild camping was "a very flimsy alternative to a
right".<br>
He said: "If we were to replace rights with a permissive scheme, in
50 years' time when my daughter is taking her children to Dartmoor then
who knows what will be left of the right to wild camp.<br>
"The rights lock in something which is historic and something we've
enjoyed here for generations."<br>
About 450 people endured wet weather to attend the event at Hound Tor,
organisers said.........<br>
<font size=5><b>
<a href="http://www.righttoroam.org.uk/%A0%A0%A0%A0" eudora="autourl">
www.righttoroam.org.uk/ </a>
<a href="https://www.cnp.org.uk/" eudora="autourl">
https://www.cnp.org.uk/</a> (Stars are for Everyone)<br><br>
<br>
</font><h1><b>Millionaire hedge fund manager’s Dartmoor wild camping row
reaches Supreme
Court</b></h1><font size=4><b>
<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dartmoor-wild-camping-court-challenge-b2625665.html" eudora="autourl">
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dartmoor-wild-camping-court-challenge-b2625665.html<br>
<br>
</a></font><h2><b>Alexander Darwall, a hedge fund manager, is challenging
the Court of Appeal ruling
</b></h2><b><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/author/callum-parke">
Callum Parke</a> 2 hours ago<br>
<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/01/28/16/campaigners-bat--949280.jpg" alt="People attend a protest against a court ruling to ban Wild Camp">
<br>
<img src="cid:7.0.1.0.1.20241008133447.05fa4f70@cultureshop.org.uk.0" width=809 height=465 alt="Emacs!">
<br>
People attend a protest against a court ruling to ban Wild Camping on
Dartmoor, Cornwood, January 21 2023 ( SWNS)<br>
<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/images/newsletter/morning-headline/morning-headline.jpg" alt="Morning Headlines">
<br>
Two landowners are continuing their long-running battle against people
camping on Dartmoor today.<br><br>
The <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/supreme-court">Supreme
Court</a> is set to consider the right to wild camp on
<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/dartmoor">the national park
in Devon.</a><br><br>
Alexander and Diana Darwall are challenging a Court of Appeal ruling
which said that members of the public have the right to wild camp in the
national park in Devon.<br><br>
The couple keep cattle on Stall Moor, which forms part of their more than
3,450-acre estate in the southern part of Dartmoor, and claim that some
campers cause problems to livestock and the environment.<br><br>
Their appeal to the UK’s highest court is opposed by the Dartmoor
National Park Authority (DNPA), which previously said that it would seek
“to defend the public’s right to access the national park for open-air
recreation” while continuing work to “protect Dartmoor’s unique
characteristics”.<br><br>
Dartmoor National Park, designated in 1951, covers a 368-square mile area
that features “commons” – areas of unenclosed privately owned moorland
where locals can put livestock.<br>
<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/01/28/15/AlexanderDarwall.jpg" alt="Alexander Darwall landowner on dartmoor">
<br>
Alexander Darwall landowner on dartmoor (Edison)<br><br>
The case has already been through two lower courts, with
<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/high-court">High Court</a>
judge Sir Julian Flaux ruling in January last year that a nearly
40-year-old piece of legislation did not give people the right to pitch
tents overnight on the Dartmoor Commons without landowners’
permission.<br><br>
Campaigners argued that Sir Julian’s earlier ruling “went too far” and
could affect bird-watching, fishing and other activities, and labelled
the judgment a “huge step backward” which could affect a
“long-established precedent” of wild camping in the national
park.<br><br>
The DNPA later asked appeal judges to overturn the High Court’s decision,
arguing Sir Julian had the wrong interpretation of a 1985 law over rights
of access to the Dartmoor Commons.<br><br>
In July 2023, the Court of Appeal ruled in the DNPA’s favour, finding
that the law “confers on members of the public the right to rest or sleep
on the Dartmoor Commons, whether by day or night and whether in a tent or
otherwise” as long as byelaws are followed.<br><br>
Sir Geoffrey Vos, who heard the appeal with
<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/lord">Lord
</a><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/justice">Justice</a>
Underhill and Lord Justice Newey, said the “critical question” was
whether wild camping could be considered a form of “open-air recreation”,
finding it was.<br>
<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/07/31/16/PA-73193556.jpg" alt="A crowd of protesters outside the Royal Courts of Justice, Lond">
<br>
A crowd of protesters outside the Royal Courts of Justice, London
(PA)<br><br>
But in January this year, Mr and Mrs Darwall were given the green light
to take the case to the Supreme Court.<br><br>
Ahead of the hearing, Mr Darwall, a hedge fund manager, said: “As someone
born in Devon, I am very fortunate and proud to have become the custodian
of part of this beautiful but fragile landscape.<br><br>
“No-one is suggesting restricting public access to walk or ride in the
national park. But the extent of recreational activity is an important
issue if we want to preserve the open moor for the long term.<br><br>
“Sadly, many campers do not observe the ‘leave no trace’ principle.
Campfires on dry ground are dangerous. They also involve habitat
destruction, as people break or saw branches from trees and burn
them.<br><br>
“In addition, campers often leave litter and human excrement, which land
managers are forced to clear up after them.<br><br>
“Dartmoor is not in good condition, as the 2023 Fursdon Review
acknowledged.<br><br>
“The Dartmoor National Park Authority does not have sufficient resources
to police public activity across the national park.<br><br>
“A campfire on a windy summer night does devastating damage if it spreads
across dry peat moorland.<br><br>
“Dartmoor’s fragile landscape takes years to regenerate after wildfires.
It is vital that land managers have the power to ask irresponsible and
anti-social campers to move.”<br><br>
Lord Reed, Lord Sales, Lord Stephens, Lady Rose and Lady Simler will hear
the case on Tuesday, with the hearing – due to last one day – scheduled
to begin at 10:30am.<br><br>
A judgment is expected at a later date.<br><br>
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