Did you hear about the rich bloke that tried to get wild camping banned on Dartmoor? I did and then went down to wild camp on his land with my friend Shaggy then wrote it all up in issue 3 of BOTHER.

Anyway this cockwomble called Darwall, a hedge fund manager and wealthy landowner, took Dartmoor National Park through the courts at great expense. This week the Supreme Court threw out his appeal saying that the case should never have been taken this far. Their word is full and final, there can be no further appeal. This is the law and it feels good to be on the right side of it.

For generations ordinary people have been allowed to backpack onto Dartmoor and wild camp for free, without having to seek landowner permission.

It was often a rite of passage for young people to take part in events like the Ten Tors where they backpacked and camped independently across Dartmoor, leaving them with a lifelong love and respect for the outdoors. Strangely Dartmoor is the only national park in England and Wales where we can do this. It feels like a relic or a whisper to another time when the public had much greater access to the commons than today.

Just imagine what’s going to happen now. Why can’t we wild camp in the Peak District or the Lakes? After all in Scotland we are free to do this. We need a Right to Roam Act and we the people need to have more access to our own country. The time is ripe for people to gather and have their voices heard. I encourage you to look at the campaign by the tiny Right to Roam organisation who have shown some true class through this campaign and come out on top.

What about wild fires, litter, gates to fields left open, beer cans and litter everywhere? Of course there must be rules. Any freedom comes with responsibilities, each side of this coin is necessary for trust to work. Be respectful of people’s houses and gardens, don’t disturb livestock or trample crops, don’t set the place on fire.

Don’t leave your mess for somebody else to clear up and basically DON’T BE A DICK.

The vast majority of people will do this especially if they understand that their good times depend on it. If more of us can go to the beautiful parts of where we live we will value them more. It’s that simple.

Next bit of good news…

We are getting involved with an event in Hebden Bridge in June. 

Moi Outside are a cafe and social hub in Hebden Bridge. As well as serving the best coffee in town Moi also host their own version of a social running club called Pathfinder. They’re organising a summer solstice social gathering that will mix a fun social running-about event in the daytime with an evening party showcasing art, live talks, screenings, live folk music and DJs. Our valley is great for running with hundreds of miles of paths, big hills, bogs, moorland and ancient woodland and we have a great tradition for being good at organising parties.

The HebTroCo PA system will be at the do and I will be playing some chilled but spicy records on the night in the genre of free funk, freaky folk and soulful jazz. Get your ticket here.

Good Links:
Right to Roam
Tickets: Moi Outside’s Pennine Party

Ed Oxley