Dartmoor is one of the few areas in England where wild camping is legally permitted. Photo: Dartmoor NPA
A veteran campaigner is urging people to join him in resisting proposals to restrict wild camping on Dartmoor.
John Bainbridge said Dartmoor National Park Authority is trying to reduce areas where camping is allowed under current bylaws.
The authority wants to revoke a set of rules on access land that the government approved in April 1989 and is currently running a consultation on its plans.
Mr Bainbridge said: “I’m a great supporter of the Dartmoor National Park Authority. But sometimes they get things plain wrong, as they seem to be doing with their proposed plans to restrict the allowed wild camping areas on Dartmoor.
“Unlike in Scotland, there is no legal right to camp in most of England and Wales. The only real exception to that is in the Dartmoor national park where wild camping, with certain minor restrictions, is allowed by law under the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985. The commons act also granted Dartmoor a legal right to roam, long before the Countryside and Rights of Way Act in 2001.
“But now the authority is trying to roll back the areas of Dartmoor where wild camping is allowed. At its last meeting the DNPA published a map showing areas where they wish to change the bylaws prohibiting any form of camping.
“The excuse they are using is that a minority of people, during the pandemic, came to Dartmoor and made a mess, dropped litter, started fires and cut down trees. Actions which, I’m sure, we would all heartily condemn.
“So it would seem to be the case that, because a small minority misbehaved, the majority of responsible wild campers are to be punished. Rather like banning everyone from driving cars because a small minority drink and drive.
“There are of course other forms of legislation that the DNPA could use to deal with troublemakers who are caught making a mess. They might be charged under the existing bylaws or even wider national legislation. After all, are they going to restrict ramblers using the right to roam provisions of the Act because a small minority of Dartmoor visitors drop litter? Well, the jury is still out on that one.
“I believe the DNPA is using the misbehaviour of a minority to attack the provisions of the Dartmoor Commons Act because, in their hearts, they loathe the thought that such provisions exist at all.”
Mr Bainbridge said he has spent 50 years campaigning for Dartmoor, including nine years as chief executive of the Dartmoor Preservation Association, and many years as a Dartmoor representative of the Ramblers Association. He been a council member of the Council, now Campaign, for National Parks, a committee member of The Two Moors Way Association and worked with the DNPA on the Dartmoor Action Group Committee.
“I spent many years as a Dartmoor guide and have written books and articles about the Moor,” he said. “I have been involved in some of the great battles involving threats to Dartmoor.
“The DNPA’s attack on wild campers comes at a worrying time – the British government is pushing through its policing bill, which could make criminals of anyone in other parts of the country who free-roams or tries to put up a tent as they have done by tradition for generations.
“I suspect the DNPA know they are on dodgy ground. A few months ago, they were all for making wild camping illegal at a greater distance from roads than the present law allows. When it was pointed out that this would ban camping from some of the most popular spots on the Moor, they retreated.
“Their new idea is to list areas which will be excluded under new bylaws. Many of these are equally popular wild camping spots.
“In their recently published document, the DNPA claims to have consulted. Well, they’ve certainly consulted with the landowning lobby and other elements of the Dartmoor establishment.”
He urged outdoor enthusiasts to object to the plans by emailing the authority. Dartmoor National Park Authority has also set up an online survey page.
Mr Bainbridge said: “It’s worth remembering that most of wild Dartmoor is owned by just 15 landowners – individuals, companies and organisations. The national park authority is listening far more to those 15 rather than the hundreds of responsible wild campers, thousands of regular ramblers and other users of the Moor.
“And what they have not done is consulted with wild campers themselves to much of a degree.
“As I’ve said, I appreciate the difficulties the DNPA and its rangers had during the pandemic. I share their horror at the bad behaviour of the few. But to make life more difficult for the vast and well-behaved majority is not the answer.
“Use existing legislation to deal with troublemakers and don’t pick on the law-abiding. Encourage responsible wild camping and engage more with experienced wild campers in spreading and teaching newcomers to camping how to do it properly.
“Bad campers of the sort we saw out during the pandemic will ignore the bylaws anyway. Only the well-behaved will suffer.”
Alison Kohler, Dartmoor National Park Authority’s director for conservation and communities, said: “We’re seeking wide-ranging views on revisions to the bylaws to ensure they are fit for purpose and can help protect the national park for all to enjoy today and into the future.
“We’d encourage people to consider the amended bylaws and provide feedback to help us understand why you might support or object to the proposals.
“This will help us with the decision-making process. The consultation runs for six weeks, closing on 1 November and we and welcome responses from individuals and organisations locally and nationally.”
More details of the plans are on the Dartmoor National Park Authority website.
Shamus McCaffery - Dartmoor Access Group
29 September 2021The Dartmoor National Park Authority has failed to answer the concerns of an evermore distrustful community that are being criminalised for the sake of, lets face it, a handful of wrong-doers.
And before we criticise those that got it 'wrong' let us just take stock of the fact that there was (and still is) a pandemic sweeping the planet. Our nation responded to the challenges of 2020 by surrendering their freedoms to protect the NHS; this was a time when mass mortuaries were running out of space, when people were afraid for their families, and we were told by our Prime Minister that "we would lose loved ones before their time". The influx of people into the countryside is what they were being INSTRUCTED to do by daily briefings from No 10 - exercise, keep your distance, fresh air. For the most part the 'wrong-doers' knew no better and were entirely unaware that there were local restrictions in place. And what did the DNPA do to provide facilities? The increased footfall within the national park should be celebrated and facilitated; additional toilets, parking, interpretation, education - EDUCATION not LEGISLATION!
The byelaws that are currently in place could tackle any of the foreseen problems, you cannot misinterpret "no camping within 100m of a road", and yet the DNPA did nothing about it; so how on earth does extending the current restrictions aid existing byelaws? Existing byelaws that they have dramatically failed to uphold in the first place - how does it meet their stated aims! All it will achieve is the alienation of those of us who have maintained and upheld the law thus far.
The DNPA is supporting, lock stock and barrel, the wishes of the landowners. The byelaw revision isn't just about camping, they are enforcing many other areas of recreation activity. At the meeting where this proposal was approved (sept 3rd) the DNPA stated that they considerd banning the launching of kayaks - but felt that there was enough legislation in place to deal with that already - This gives you a picture of the things to come!
Other National parks embrace, welcome and help outdoor users of all persuasions, the DNPA just seems to outlaw what a small number of landowners object to. They've become the mouthpiece and spirit of a legitimised 'Farmer Palmer' shouting get off moy laaand or I'll fine 'e' 500 quid! AND reserving the right to expand wild camping bans without further consultation.
So that's now a £500 for:
Riding a bicycle anywhere other than a bridle path.
Having a dog on lead longer than 2m.
LNT camping on open country.
Camping with a 4 man tent.
More than 6 people camped within an undefined radius.
"Occupying" a vehicle after 9pm!
Hitting a golf ball.
Flying a drone.
And most dramatically - Limiting our freedom of association with others to 50 people! a freedom that is upheld in article 11 of the Human Rights Act.
This proposal is nothing short of a power-grab by a local authority that would rather many freedoms of public access didn't exist. They are putting into place localised law where national legislation already has primacy, thus enabling an increase in revenue while upholding the wishes of landowners who's land would be a public right of access anyway. The Dartmoor commons act, in respect of public access, has ben superseded by the CRoW Act for what is undeniably open country.
The DNPA will be looking just a bit silly when they become the first park authority to provoke a reenactment of '1932 on Kinder Scout' for recklessly infringing on the freedoms of our great British countryside.
shamus mccaffery Dartmoor Access Group
29 September 2021The DNPA has failed to answer the concerns of an evermore distrustful community that are being criminalised for the sake of, lets face it, a handful of wrong-doers.
And before we criticise those that got it 'wrong' let us just take stock of the fact that there was (and still is) a pandemic sweeping the planet. Our nation responded to the challenges of 2020 by surrendering their freedoms to protect the NHS; this was a time when mass mortuaries were running out of space, when people were afraid for their families, and we were told by our Prime Minister that "we would lose loved ones before their time". The influx of people into the countryside is what they were being INSTRUCTED to do by daily briefings from No 10 - exercise, keep your distance, fresh air. For the most part the 'wrong-doers' knew no better and were entirely unaware that there were local restrictions in place. And what did the DNPA do to provide facilities? The increased footfall within the national park should be celebrated and facilitated; additional toilets, parking, interpretation, education - EDUCATION not LEGISLATION!
The byelaws that are currently in place could tackle any of the foreseen problems, you cannot misinterpret "no camping within 100m of a road", and yet the DNPA did nothing about it; so how on earth does extending the current restrictions aid existing byelaws? Existing byelaws that they have dramatically failed to uphold in the first place - how does it meet their stated aims! All it will achieve is the alienation of those of us who have maintained and upheld the law thus far.
The DNPA is supporting, lock stock and barrel, the wishes of the landowners. The byelaw revision isn't just about camping, they are enforcing many other areas of recreation activity. At the meeting where this proposal was approved (sept 3rd) the DNPA stated that they considerd banning the launching of kayaks - but felt that there was enough legislation in place to deal with that already - This gives you a picture of the things to come!
Other National parks embrace, welcome and help outdoor users of all persuasions, the DNPA just seems to outlaw what a small number of landowners object to. They've become the mouthpiece and spirit of a legitimised 'Farmer Palmer' shouting get off moy laaand or I'll fine 'e' 500 quid! AND reserving the right to expand wild camping bans without further consultation.
So that's now a £500 for:
Riding a bicycle anywhere other than a bridle path.
Having a dog on lead longer than 2m.
LNT camping on open country.
Camping with a 4 man tent.
More than 6 people camped within an undefined radius.
"Occupying" a vehicle after 9pm!
Hitting a golf ball.
Flying a drone.
And most dramatically - Limiting our freedom of association with others to 50 people! a freedom that is upheld in article 11 of the Human Rights Act.
This proposal is nothing short of a power-grab by a local authority that would rather many freedoms of public access didn't exist. They are putting into place localised law where national legislation already has primacy, thus enabling an increase in revenue while upholding the wishes of landowners who's land would be a public right of access anyway. The Dartmoor commons act, in respect of public access, has ben superseded by the CRoW Act for what is undeniably open country.
The DNPA will be looking just a bit silly when they become the first park authority to provoke a reenactment of '1932 on Kinder Scout' for recklessly infringing on the freedoms of our great British countryside.
Mike W
30 September 2021This is a difficult one as I agree the majority (of responsible wild campers, myself included) would be penalised by further measures for the actions of the minority (of irresponsible social camping groups). However, having seen for myself a huge group of 'wild' campers pretty close to the road and their cars, with music, fire, BBQ etc and the rubbish that was left there the next day, then I think something has to be done.
Not sure limiting the permissible areas will work that well but certainly reducing the maximum camping group size (eg. 3 people max). Most importantly though is that any measures, existing or new, have to be effectively enforced (and the DNPA resourced / empowered to do this).
John Bainbridge
30 September 2021The thing is neither last year or this did the park authority prosecute anyone under the existing bylaws - so why have new ones that would give the national park powers to close down other wild camping areas with no further consultation.
David Salter
02 October 2021As a National Park the DNPA should be supporting access for all the moors stakeholders. While some clarity of byelaws is welcome, the restrictions being put on a significant community of visitors to the moor based on the actions of a minority seems like a punishment of many over the unpunished actions of a few.
Given the lack of active enforcement of existing byelaws, one has to wonder how more draconian restrictions will make a positive impact on that ignorant minority.
John Graham
29 December 2021Perhaps I'm naive but I have some hope that the government will now take steps to improve leadership and professionalism in both NPs and AONB in response to the Glover Review.
This https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/28/englands-national-parks-overseen-new-body-leadership-criticised/ seems encouraging in that George Eustice appears to have been talking about leadership and oversight rather than money.
Separate subject: I complained to DNPA about the yellow Dogs Must Be Kept On A Lead notices because the bye-law quoted didn't support the message. After a bit of prevarication they said, some time ago, that the notices would be taken down. I saw a few days ago that all the yellow notices on the gate above Holne had actually gone. I wonder whether they were actually taken down by the DNPA?