Latest news with #RighttoRoam
Western Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Calls for wider access to nature after Supreme Court ruling on Dartmoor camping
Five justices unanimously ruled on Wednesday that the term 'recreation' in the law governing the use of the national park in Devon – the only national park where wild camping is allowed – is used 'without qualification as to the form which it should take'. Two landowners, Alexander and Diana Darwall, had challenged a Court of Appeal ruling, which said the law allows the public to camp on the Dartmoor commons provided bylaws are followed, at the UK's highest court. The couple said they were 'disappointed' by the judgment, while the chief executive of the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA), which opposed the challenge, said he was 'delighted and relieved'. Guy Shrubsole, co-founder of campaign group Right to Roam, said he was 'elated' at the Supreme Court ruling (Lucy North/PA) Following the ruling, Guy Shrubsole, co-founder of campaign group Right to Roam, said he was 'elated' and called for changes to the law around wild camping. He said: 'What I think this case has also really highlighted is how unusual and odd it is that Dartmoor is the only place where there is a legal right to wild camp in England and Wales. 'Over in Scotland, over the border, there is a right to wild camp almost everywhere, and so that's why we are now really keen for the Government to take note of this, of a huge amount of public interest this case has stirred up, to see the public support for the right to wild camp and to extend the law. 'We want them to change the law now, so that actually people in England can enjoy the right to wild camp, the right to roam over much more of our beautiful countryside.' He continued: 'Thousands on thousands of people wild camp every year on Dartmoor, without anybody knowing that they're there, without leaving a trace, and often picking up litter afterwards. 'Often the trace that is left is the trace on people's hearts and minds and souls when they undertake this wonderful experience of sleeping under the stars on Dartmoor and seeing the world.' South Devon Liberal Democrat MP Caroline Voaden said people need access to nature (Lucy North/PA) Calls for changes to the law were echoed by South Devon Liberal Democrat MP Caroline Voaden and Bolton West Labour MP Phil Brickell, who both attended the Supreme Court on Wednesday. Ms Voaden said she was 'absolutely thrilled' with the decision, but added that the public only have access to 8% of land in the UK. 'It just proves that the right to access is fundamental for people to be able to live a healthy, happy life,' she said. 'It's not just a nice-to-have – we need access to nature, and we've now seen that we have the right to wild camp on Dartmoor, and the stars are for everyone.' She continued: 'The right piece of legislation now is the legislation that covers national parks, and looking at that, and looking at how we can define wild camping in law, so it's clearly defined, and then try and expand it to other national parks in the UK.' Dartmoor National Park, designated in 1951, covers a 368-square-mile area which features 'commons' – areas of unenclosed, privately-owned moorland where locals can put livestock. The case concerned the interpretation of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985, which says 'the public shall have the right of access to the commons on foot and on horseback for the purpose of open-air recreation' on the commons. In January 2023, High Court judge Sir Julian Flaux ruled that the 1985 Act did not allow people to pitch tents overnight on the Dartmoor commons without landowners' permission. Campaigners celebrate outside the Supreme Court following the ruling (Lucy North/PA) But the Court of Appeal overturned the decision in July that year after a challenge by the DNPA, with three senior judges ruling 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'. Mr and Mrs Darwall keep cattle on Stall Moor, which forms part of their more than 3,450-acre estate in the southern part of the national park. Their lawyers told the Supreme Court last October that some campers cause problems to livestock and the environment, and that the law only gives the public access on foot and horseback. Timothy Morshead KC, for the couple, also said in written submissions that they were 'not motivated by a desire to stop camping on Dartmoor', but had 'concerns about the damage that wild camping can cause and, in particular, about the significant risk of fire associated with it'. Richard Honey KC, for DNPA, said in his written submissions that the phrase 'on foot' means 'the access to the commons should be pedestrian and not vehicular'. He also labelled the suggestion that erecting a tent could damage land and vegetation 'absurd'. We are disappointed by the Supreme Court's judgment. Our aim from the outset was to protect and preserve Dartmoor, its flora and fauna Alexander and Diana Darwall Lords Sales and Stephens ruled that the law would make 'no sense' if the right of recreation given to the public was 'limited in the manner contended for' by the Darwalls, and that the concept of 'open-air recreation' was 'wide'. In a ruling backed by Lord Reed, Lady Rose and Lady Simler, they continued: 'It is not confined to recreation taken by means of walking or riding.' They also said the law gives protection to landowners through 'public regulation of the use of the commons' such as bylaws, which they said are 'in practice likely to be more effective in protecting the land' than taking private legal action. Following the Supreme Court's judgment, the Darwalls said: 'We are disappointed by the Supreme Court's judgment. 'Our aim from the outset was to protect and preserve Dartmoor, its flora and fauna. 'Landowners and farmers have always played a vital part in the conservation of Dartmoor. 'Hollowing out the role of landowners and farmers will not improve the vitality of the Dartmoor commons.' The judgment reaffirms our long-held belief for the public's right to backpack camp on certain commons and, importantly, our role in regulating and managing that access. Dr Kevin Bishop, Dartmoor National Park Authority Dr Kevin Bishop, chief executive of the DNPA, said the ruling allows the organisation to 'look forward and to work together for the good of Dartmoor'. He said: 'The judgment reaffirms our long-held belief for the public's right to backpack camp on certain commons and, importantly, our role in regulating and managing that access. 'It is important to note that it is not a blanket right to camp wherever, or do whatever, you want. 'With the right comes a responsibility to make sure that you tread lightly and leave no trace.' Wild camping under the stars is one of life's great pleasures, so I welcome today's ruling which upholds that right on Dartmoor's common land Nature minister Mary Creagh Nature minister Mary Creagh said: 'Wild camping under the stars is one of life's great pleasures, so I welcome today's ruling which upholds that right on Dartmoor's common land. 'This Government is passionate about bringing people closer to nature by creating nine national river walks and three new national forests.' The Government has previously said it will create nine new national river walks, plant three new national forests and create a community right to buy to allow residents to create parks and green spaces. It has also said it is completing the 2,700-mile King Charles III England Coast Path, which will be the longest waymarked and maintained coast walking route in the world, and continuing a £16.5 million fund to make landscapes more accessible.
South Wales Argus
21-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Calls for wider access to nature after Supreme Court ruling on Dartmoor camping
Five justices unanimously ruled on Wednesday that the term 'recreation' in the law governing the use of the national park in Devon – the only national park where wild camping is allowed – is used 'without qualification as to the form which it should take'. Two landowners, Alexander and Diana Darwall, had challenged a Court of Appeal ruling, which said the law allows the public to camp on the Dartmoor commons provided bylaws are followed, at the UK's highest court. The couple said they were 'disappointed' by the judgment, while the chief executive of the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA), which opposed the challenge, said he was 'delighted and relieved'. Guy Shrubsole, co-founder of campaign group Right to Roam, said he was 'elated' at the Supreme Court ruling (Lucy North/PA) Following the ruling, Guy Shrubsole, co-founder of campaign group Right to Roam, said he was 'elated' and called for changes to the law around wild camping. He said: 'What I think this case has also really highlighted is how unusual and odd it is that Dartmoor is the only place where there is a legal right to wild camp in England and Wales. 'Over in Scotland, over the border, there is a right to wild camp almost everywhere, and so that's why we are now really keen for the Government to take note of this, of a huge amount of public interest this case has stirred up, to see the public support for the right to wild camp and to extend the law. 'We want them to change the law now, so that actually people in England can enjoy the right to wild camp, the right to roam over much more of our beautiful countryside.' He continued: 'Thousands on thousands of people wild camp every year on Dartmoor, without anybody knowing that they're there, without leaving a trace, and often picking up litter afterwards. 'Often the trace that is left is the trace on people's hearts and minds and souls when they undertake this wonderful experience of sleeping under the stars on Dartmoor and seeing the world.' South Devon Liberal Democrat MP Caroline Voaden said people need access to nature (Lucy North/PA) Calls for changes to the law were echoed by South Devon Liberal Democrat MP Caroline Voaden and Bolton West Labour MP Phil Brickell, who both attended the Supreme Court on Wednesday. Ms Voaden said she was 'absolutely thrilled' with the decision, but added that the public only have access to 8% of land in the UK. 'It just proves that the right to access is fundamental for people to be able to live a healthy, happy life,' she said. 'It's not just a nice-to-have – we need access to nature, and we've now seen that we have the right to wild camp on Dartmoor, and the stars are for everyone.' She continued: 'The right piece of legislation now is the legislation that covers national parks, and looking at that, and looking at how we can define wild camping in law, so it's clearly defined, and then try and expand it to other national parks in the UK.' Dartmoor National Park, designated in 1951, covers a 368-square-mile area which features 'commons' – areas of unenclosed, privately-owned moorland where locals can put livestock. The case concerned the interpretation of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985, which says 'the public shall have the right of access to the commons on foot and on horseback for the purpose of open-air recreation' on the commons. In January 2023, High Court judge Sir Julian Flaux ruled that the 1985 Act did not allow people to pitch tents overnight on the Dartmoor commons without landowners' permission. Campaigners celebrate outside the Supreme Court following the ruling (Lucy North/PA) But the Court of Appeal overturned the decision in July that year after a challenge by the DNPA, with three senior judges ruling 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'. Mr and Mrs Darwall keep cattle on Stall Moor, which forms part of their more than 3,450-acre estate in the southern part of the national park. Their lawyers told the Supreme Court last October that some campers cause problems to livestock and the environment, and that the law only gives the public access on foot and horseback. Timothy Morshead KC, for the couple, also said in written submissions that they were 'not motivated by a desire to stop camping on Dartmoor', but had 'concerns about the damage that wild camping can cause and, in particular, about the significant risk of fire associated with it'. Richard Honey KC, for DNPA, said in his written submissions that the phrase 'on foot' means 'the access to the commons should be pedestrian and not vehicular'. He also labelled the suggestion that erecting a tent could damage land and vegetation 'absurd'. Lords Sales and Stephens ruled that the law would make 'no sense' if the right of recreation given to the public was 'limited in the manner contended for' by the Darwalls, and that the concept of 'open-air recreation' was 'wide'. In a ruling backed by Lord Reed, Lady Rose and Lady Simler, they continued: 'It is not confined to recreation taken by means of walking or riding.' They also said the law gives protection to landowners through 'public regulation of the use of the commons' such as bylaws, which they said are 'in practice likely to be more effective in protecting the land' than taking private legal action. Following the Supreme Court's judgment, the Darwalls said: 'We are disappointed by the Supreme Court's judgment. 'Our aim from the outset was to protect and preserve Dartmoor, its flora and fauna. 'Landowners and farmers have always played a vital part in the conservation of Dartmoor. 'Hollowing out the role of landowners and farmers will not improve the vitality of the Dartmoor commons.' Dr Kevin Bishop, chief executive of the DNPA, said the ruling allows the organisation to 'look forward and to work together for the good of Dartmoor'. He said: 'The judgment reaffirms our long-held belief for the public's right to backpack camp on certain commons and, importantly, our role in regulating and managing that access. 'It is important to note that it is not a blanket right to camp wherever, or do whatever, you want. 'With the right comes a responsibility to make sure that you tread lightly and leave no trace.' Nature minister Mary Creagh said: 'Wild camping under the stars is one of life's great pleasures, so I welcome today's ruling which upholds that right on Dartmoor's common land. 'This Government is passionate about bringing people closer to nature by creating nine national river walks and three new national forests.' The Government has previously said it will create nine new national river walks, plant three new national forests and create a community right to buy to allow residents to create parks and green spaces. It has also said it is completing the 2,700-mile King Charles III England Coast Path, which will be the longest waymarked and maintained coast walking route in the world, and continuing a £16.5 million fund to make landscapes more accessible.
Press and Journal
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
'Off-grid music experience' at Highland castle axed after local concern
An 'off-grid music experience' at a Sutherland castle was axed last minute after the organisers failed to get permission from the landowner. Hannah Vanhoof and Alastair Curtis-Walcott advertised an open-air dance night at Ardvreck Castle on Saturday April 26 via Instagram. However, after locals raised their concerns over the gathering, it was discovered the couple hadn't sought permission from Historic Assynt. Around 40 – 45 people attended the relocated event in Durness, travelling from across Scotland. Hannah and Alastair, both 24 and based in Edinburgh, planned the event using Right to Roam legislation and have previously organised open-air gigs in the north-west of Scotland and Edinburgh. Speaking afterwards, Hannah, originally from Belgium, said the aim was to build community through dance, while ensuring events were safe, respectful and left no impact on the landscape. She told The Press and Journal: 'These kinds of events are normal in Brussels. They are about bringing people together and building community. 'We want to dance, and we want to invite other people to come along and dance with us. 'But we don't want to do that if it is bringing distress to people. 'We want the community to come and join us. Everyone is welcome. We want to show that we are responsible and that we leave no trace behind.' Alastair said: 'We had a really kind conversation with the local estate manager. He explained there was a bad feeling about the planned event and suggested working with the estate in future. 'One of the ghillies also suggested other places where we might hold a dance. We would love to do this properly with the community.' The couple said they use their gatherings to promote Scotland's Right to Roam legislation, raise awareness of 'leave no trace' principles, and encourage responsible outdoor access. They also stressed their events are family-friendly and not raves, relying entirely on green energy stored in batteries. Alastair said: 'We don't like to use the word 'rave' because it comes with connotations of something illegal or disruptive. 'Our events are about acoustic music, connection and respect for the land.' The Durness event, whose location was revealed only shortly before it began, featured a slow blues set followed by psychedelic rock, organic house, jungle, drum and bass, garage, dubstep and dub. Live instruments were played as the dancing began, and the organisers said the site was left without a trace of the event. The organisers said they now hope to work with local communities and landowners to arrange future events in the Highlands. Hannah said: 'We love the Highlands and would love to bring people together here — but only if it is done in a way that respects the land and the people.' Historic Assynt, which cares for Ardvreck Castle, said it was informed of the planned event and warned organisers that any disturbance could risk breaching the Ancient Monuments Act. A spokesperson said: 'We were informed yesterday and told the person concerned to speak to the police. 'As far as I am aware, police, local estate workers, Highland access rangers or some mix of the aforementioned moved people on and no party took place at Ardvreck. 'People are regularly moved on from Ardvreck as it is not a campsite, has no campsite facilities and is a protected scheduled monument.' A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed: 'Police were not involved after a conversation between the landowner and organisers took place.'
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Deer Shed Festival announces huge lineup for 15th anniversary
The annual Deer Shed Festival in North Yorkshire has unveiled more acts for their 15th anniversary. The festival, which takes place at Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, has announced more music, theatre, literature, and comedy acts to take the stage between July 25 to 28, 2025. Hull comedian Lucy Beaumont has been revealed as headlining the festival. The stand-up comedian, screenwriter, broadcaster, and Taskmaster alumnus is best known for her 'hilariously deadpan' solo shows inspired by her life in Hull, her Channel 4 show Hullraisers. Her appearances on panel shows including 8 Out of 10 Cats, Would I Lie to You?, and Have I Got News for You? Deer Shed Festival will also feature more emerging comics and musicians such as Ignacio Lopez, Frankie Monroe, Kathryn Joseph, and Sam Amidon. A series of 'thought-provoking' events from Right to Roam have also been announced, as well as the Wheels and Feet Roller Skating Disco, arts and crafts, a laser maze, and a Nerf gun arena. Deer Shed Festival director, Megan Evans, said: "It's so exciting getting more of our lineup out there after keeping it a secret for so long! "We're over the moon that Lucy Beaumont is joining us in Baldersby Park this year, as kindred northern spirits we've loved everything she's done and cannot wait to hear more of her hilarious tales of Hull and beyond." The festival will also include a cinema, theatre, and performance arts programmes, and other activities such as adventure school, floating sound baths, retro gaming, yoga, and wild swimming. Ms Evans added: "We're proud to be welcoming plenty of emerging comics this year too, with rising stars like Ignacio Lopez and Frankie Monroe bound to have us in hysterics. "Similarly, we've bolstered our musical lineup with even more exciting new talent to celebrate our 15th birthday in style. "We're lucky to be welcoming old friends and new up to Topcliffe for one of our best years yet." The festival is designed to be a "brilliant experience for all ages," and a spokesperson said: "Deer Shed is a festival for everyone - families, friends, and fans." The full music lineup for Deer Shed 2025 includes Wunderhorse, Kae Tempest, The Big Moon, Idlewild, Sprints, Antony Szmierek, Big Special, Bodega, Divorce, Fulu Miziki, Hamish Hawk, Honeyglaze, Ibibio Sound Machine, Joan As Police Woman, Joshua Burnside, Kathryn Joseph, King Hannah, Maruja, Moonchild Sanelly, Nadia Reid, Rich(ard) Dawson, Roddy Woomble, Sam Amidon, The Bug Club, The Scratch, The Unthanks, Alice Boyd, Anchorsong, Benefits, Black Found, Chris Brain, Honesty, Jacob Alon, Keg, Mandrake Handshake, Naima Bock, Nancy Williams, Sheherazaad, The None, The Sick Man of Europe, Olive Grinter, Roís, Silver Gore, The Pill, Spielmann, Tommy WA, Ugly, Yoshika Colwell, Zawedde, Across the Tracks (DJ), Get in Her Ears (DJ), and Rory Hoy (DJ). For more information and to buy tickets, visit
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Stop scapegoating Britain's landed classes
An essential tenet of today's land access movement is that landowners are villainous and the larger their holdings, the worse they are. It's an attractive idea but it doesn't withstand all that much scrutiny. Last year, the Right to Roam campaign published a collection of curious essays titled Wild Service. The premise is that farmers and landowners have ruined English and the public need to make the countryside great again. It's an argument I sort of like, except I'd go in for doing it in a less antagonistic way. Turning up uninvited on somebody's farm with a JCB and a plan to create a wetland habitat is quite likely to end in tears and prosecution. Team Right to Roam, in the introduction, single out Richard Benyon's Englefield Estate for a bit of a kicking. His 'vast domain' is, according to Wild Service, ''shut, at all times, to the public'. A clumsy comparison with the church on the estate is made, which is apparently, 'open to all'. The grace of God, it goes on, 'and the meanness of man, side by side'. You can imagine my shock when, as part of the research I was doing for my own forthcoming book, Uncommon Ground, I turned up at Englefield to find that the front gate was in fact open. I wandered up the drive and happened to meet David, a lovely Ghanaian man. He told me he was just so thankful that people open their property to the public in Britain because in Ghana there is 'nothing like this'. Curiously, over the next couple of hours, I had half a dozen similar experiences. A month later I wrote to Richard Benyon and he invited me to talk. He too had read Wild Service and his take would be best summed up as bemusement. Not only are 1,700 acres of Englefield accessible but the public being able to enjoy the countryside is something he's championed all his life and, as for that church, his 91-year-old mother opens it every morning. The narrative that large landowners are hell-bent on keeping the common man off their acres is juicy but it simply is not true. In fact, generally, the larger the holding the greater the access. Take the Holkham Estate, for instance, where Jake Fiennes – the conservation manager – told me proudly that over 20 per cent of Lord Leicester's 25,000 acres can be enjoyed by joggers and picnickers. Conversely and quite understandably, I discovered too that the smaller the holding, the less good the access often is. Sure, let's break up large estates but will there be rambling after the revolution? I met a young activist who had been sent down to the Arundel Estate to 'bear witness to the ecological destruction' that goes on behind those hedges. Funnily enough, on a place famed for wildlife conservation, she had found it anticlimactic. Not only was it teeming with birds but nobody chased her away. She concluded, resignedly, that her adventure had been a 'symbolic thing'. Last week, the news broke that Clan MacDonald's 20,000 acre estate on the Isle of Skye has gone up for sale. Some cheered – but not apparently the tenant farmers and crofters who've benefited from centuries of ownership. The Scottish government continues to give landowners a kicking and tenants suffer – it's like hammering a CEO while ignoring the impact on everybody who relies on the company. Benyon is a thoughtful man – life is too short, he told me, to care about people writing nonsense. What matters to him more apparently is the happy sound of schoolchildren visiting his estate. The week I was there, they'd had 1,700 of them through the gate. 'I want young people to understand,' he told me, 'that the countryside doesn't just happen. There are skilled people who make it happen. I want them to understand where food comes from.' We desperately need to rethink our relationship with the countryside, but if we allow half-baked narratives to foment, we will all lose. Patrick Galbraith's 'Uncommon Ground: Rethinking Our Relationship With the Countryside' will be published on April 24 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
