Travel & Lifestyle
20
14th February 2023
Wild Camping Banned in Dartmoor National Park Concrete Writer
Located in the moorlands of Devon, the Dartmoor National Park hosts wild ponies, rushing rivers, and protected ancient woodland. It has been a place of both comfort and importance for those who seek to wild camp in England. Until recently, Dartmoor was the only place in England where wild camping (defined as camping in the countryside rather than a campsite) was legal. Towards the end of 2022, prominent landowner, Alex Darwall, went to court looking to ban wild
camping across Dartmoor, effectively banning it nationwide. Darwall, who owns a 3,450-acre estate in Dartmoor, has argued that wild camping was never legal as “open air recreation” doesn’t include camping. However, both campaign groups, such as Right2Roam and the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) have fought back against this. A spokesperson for the park pointed out that the 1985 Dartmoor commons act, from which Darwall has used the phrase “open air recreation”, was made to be as open as possible, therefore including wild camping. Groups, such as Right2Roam, held protests by the royal courts of justice and group hikes, for wild camping to be upheld and expanded. Right2Roam actively seeks to promote activities like wild camping and demand greater and more equitable access to the countryside for all. They state that access to our land and nature is a right, and that “the stars are for everyone”. They look to Scotland as an example of how laws on trespassing and wild camping can be undone. In 2003, the Scotland Land Reform Act restored the right to wild camp, roam and swim across Scotland. They also look to show
the benefits of enjoying and being in nature. For example, access to nature brings benefits to mental and physical health as well as supporting positive behaviour towards the environment. This issue of wild camping goes hand in hand with the issue of roaming across England, as ninety-two per cent of the land is privately owned. This means that those who walk on this land without permission can be fined up to £2,500 and forcibly removed from the land. This, now total, ban on wild camping will inevitably backfire on landowners, protest groups argue, as there is a growing momentum across the nation for the right to wild camp.
"Right2Roam actively seeks to promote activities like wild camping and demand greater and more equitable access" A final decision was reached on 13th January, in favour of Alex Darwall, leading to an outright ban of wild camping across England. This has created anger among many, with protest groups such as Right2Roam seeking to overturn this decision, stating that any deal made would not be accepted. One of the group’s leaders said ‘This is a very real example of how, if we don’t fight for our right to access nature, it
Photo: Concrete
Words from the Road Emily Goodwin
Travel and Lifestyle Senior Writer
I cannot speak Italian. Don’t get me wrong – I downloaded Duolingo and spent most evenings repeating phrases like ‘ho una mela” (I have an apple) and “sono una nonna” (I am a grandma) – but conversational Italian? No chance. Nevertheless, I insist on speaking in another language, no matter how incoherent I am. This is often met with frustrated sighs or sideways smirking, and then a stilted conversation in English. The problem is that British people have a reputation for their poor linguistic skills. Colombare sits on the banks of Lake Garda and the outskirts of popular tourist hotspot Sirmione. Thousands of people pass through this quaint village without stopping, their eyes set on snapping shots for their Instagram, or swimming in the waters around Jamaica Beach.
We chose to eat at the local fish restaurant in Colombare on the first night. A waiter approached our terrace table and asked, in English, what we would like to eat. I launched into my food order: “vorrei il ragù di pesce di lago, per favore” (“I would like the lake fish ragu, please.” Sidenote: was delicious).
"You don't have to be fluent in a language to feel welcomed, but making an effort goes a long way" The waiter physically stepped back, a huge smile on his face. And then … asked something in Italian.
Photo: Concrete
Eleanor Radford
Duolingo had not prepared me for an interaction. But when I physically panicked, he asked, “Where are you from?” Again, we proceeded to have a conversation in English. This time, however, he was teaching us new words, evidently excited by our attempts to learn his native language. All night we had drink refills, food recommendations, conversations about Northern Italy: where we had been and where we were heading next. This was the trend that we noticed throughout our travels. As soon as we spoke in Italian, people were friendlier, more generous with their time and services. Extra pizza?
mushrooms No problem,
on my no charge.
You don’t have to be fluent in a language to feel welcomed, but making an effort goes a long way. Photo: Concrete
will be stripped away… We will not back down. We will not let Darwall’s entitled, misanthropic behaviour destroy the only remaining scrap of land where we are permitted to sleep freely under the sky’. On the 21st, they led a mass demonstration across the land owned by Darwall, in the form of a group hike. This demonstration saw thousands in attendance in support of the right to wild camp and the wider right to roam across the country. The right to roam doesn’t just
allow for access to nature, but also allows for people to join hiking groups, connecting with others, and learning more about folklore and the countryside itself. For instance, local groups such as Hike Norfolk and UEA clubs and societies such as Mountaineering and Day Walks. With wild spaces rapidly diminishing, and the effects of climate change becoming ever more visible, it is essential that we are able to maintain an appreciation of the value of biodiversity and of natural landscapes such as Dartmoor.
