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Mr. and Mrs. Darwall are at the center of a long-disputed legal action over the right to wild camp on Dartmoor, which is currently being heard at the Supreme Court in London. The couple is challenging a Court of Appeal verdict that permitted people to wild camp on some privately owned commons in the national park in Devon. Dartmoor National Park has said it will ensure that “the public’s right to access the national park for open-air recreation” is protected, while also continuing to “protect Dartmoor’s unique characteristics.”
The Darwalls claimed that some campers caused problems to livestock and the environment. They keep cattle on Stall Moor, which is part of their 4,000 acre (16 sq km) estate. In January 2023, they won a High Court case that allowed them to remove people backpacking on their land. The DNPA urged appeal judges to overturn the High Court’s decision, and in July 2023, the Court of Appeal ruled in the DNPA’s favor, finding that wild camping is a form of open-air recreation.
In January, Mr. and Mrs. Darwall were authorized to take their case to the Supreme Court. Hedge fund manager Mr. Darwall stated that “no one is suggesting restricting public access to walk or ride in the national park.” However, he believes that the extent of recreational activity is essential if they want to preserve the open moor for the long term. According to him, campfires on dry soil are dangerous, and campers often leave litter and human excrement.
Regardless of the outcome, campaigners The Stars for Everyone claimed that the Darwalls’ legal action had “succeeded in unleashing something powerful and ancient, a commitment to our commons, our love for the land, our right to belong.” The hearing lasted one day, and a verdict will be delivered later
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