RIGHT TO ROAM

 Dear Right to Roamers,

 

Could the right to wild camp on Dartmoor be restored? That's what's at stake in an upcoming legal case. Plus, news from our recent river trespass action, and some very encouraging polling results...

 

1) Come to our wild camping rally in London, 18th July

 

For decades Dartmoor National Park has been the only place in England where wild camping is legally permitted. But that right was overturned by a High Court ruling in January this year, following a case brought by wealthy landowner Alexander Darwall.

 

Next Tuesday 18th July, the High Court in London will hear an appeal brought by Dartmoor National Park Authority to reinstate the public's right to wild camp on the moor.

 

Come join us outside the High Court for a rally on the 18th, 12noon-1.30pm, to hear speakers and call for our right to wild camp to be brought back. For more details and to sign up, check out the Eventbrite.

 

 

2) Keep taking action to #LoveYourRiver
 

Last Saturday, the Right to Roam crew had a brilliant time on the River Derwent in Yorkshire - swimming, kayaking, litter-picking, testing the river for pollution and listening to songs and poetry.

 

Thanks to everyone who came along to show that access comes hand-in-hand with caring for nature. You can check out photos and videos from the event on our Twitter and Instagram accounts. And be sure to check out this special video from the legendary Feargal Sharkey calling on everyone to #LoveYourRiver!
 

3) Polling shows two-thirds support a Scottish-style right to roam

 

More good news this week, with a new YouGov poll commissioned by the campaign showing that almost two-thirds of Britons would support England getting a Scottish-style right to roam.

 

62% of the public said they supported "extending the ‘right to roam’ to most land and water in England, with exclusions such as for private gardens, land where crops are growing, and other sensitive areas like conservation and military sites".

  

Read the story in The Times here (£), and view the full polling results from YouGov here.

 

With big majorities supporting this across all voting preferences and demographics, it's clear that extending the right to roam is a vote-winner. So it's been great to see more and more commentators speaking out in favour of it - from Labour peer Lord Chris Smith in the Times (£), to this surprisingly supportive comment piece in the Spectator.

 

But we need to keep pushing politicians of all parties to support a greater right to roam - so please share these polling results far and wide!

 

See you on the streets and in the rivers,

Guy and the Right to Roam team

To follow us on social media:

Twitter: @Right_2Roam
Instagram: right.2roam