Finding Common Ground

On Monday, The Times published a feature on CampWild, which sparked a fairly heated 'debate' across social media - so much so it is only right to reflect on the fallout & share my thoughts. CampWild is quickly growing into a thriving, vibrant & exciting community, inspiring & enabling people to experience nature through zero-impact wild camping on private land. By building relationships with landowners, we’ve created a space where both land and people can benefit - unlocking wild spaces that our members can responsibly explore, roam, and camp in.

However, recent events have placed us in the middle of a broader debate about land access in the UK, a place we didn’t intend to be but one that we can't & shouldn't ignore.

This week, an article about CampWild was published in The Times. The original premise was for the editor to spend time in a Wild Space, writing up his experience and highlighting the connections we’re building with landowners. Unfortunately, the editor was not able to get out into a Wild Space & whilst the article was on the whole a positive representation of the CampWild project, community & experience, it also positioned us as an alternative to the Right to Roam movement - a description we feel is inaccurate.

To be absolutely clear, CampWild is not affiliated with, nor positioned as a counter-movement to, any political groups, including Right to Roam. We are a community-driven organisation with one simple mission: to create more opportunities for people to enjoy nature in a responsible, sustainable way by collaborating with landowners to open up private wild spaces. Our goal is to build connections and foster respect, not to campaign or take sides in political debates.

That said, Alex and I can’t ignore that we do personally support greater land access and the right to wild camp in remote places. We grew up wild camping on Dartmoor, the last place in England and Wales where you can legally wild camp without needing landowner permission. It’s where our love for nature began, and we know how important these experiences are. The upcoming Supreme Court case, Darwall v Dartmoor National Park Authority, which will determine whether the public has the right to wild camp on Dartmoor, is a deeply personal topic for us. 

Tom taking part in Ten Tors in 2016. The only adult ever to do so.

So, while we didn’t seek out this debate, we have found ourselves in the middle of it. And although we don’t intend to purposefully campaign or take an active role in land access reform, we do want to engage and collaborate where it aligns with our values.

We can form our own opinions and support causes that resonate with us personally, but we will do so in a way that keeps our vision for CampWild, as a community and project, separate from the broader political landscape. It’s also important to highlight that any future land access reform does not make CampWild redundant. Our vision is about more than just access - it’s about supporting people into this experience, helping them connect with nature in a meaningful, responsible way, with the guidance and framework we’ve created. 

Ultimately, yes, you can have both. 

A key part of this discussion revolves around the value CampWild creates for its members. Some (who are removed from the community) have questioned our paid membership model and access to Wild Spaces in comparison to free-to-access initiatives like Right to Roam. What’s often missed is the immense effort Alex and I have put into building relationships with landowners, creating meaningful connections, and crafting truly unique wild camping experiences. These are spaces that were previously inaccessible to the public, and through our work, more people are now able to enjoy beautiful, natural environments that they may not have otherwise been able to experience.

Our focus isn’t on providing a political solution to land access; rather, we are creating an experience that brings people closer to nature in a way that is respectful, low-impact, and sustainable. We want to enable as many people as possible to experience wild camping while ensuring that the land is cared for and the people who steward it are supported.

At CampWild, our mission remains the same: to inspire and facilitate meaningful, low-impact outdoor experiences while fostering a sense of community. We believe that wild spaces should be accessible, but that access must come with respect for the land and those who care for it. We hope that through collaboration and understanding, we can all enjoy these beautiful, wild places, now and for generations to come.

We’d love to hear from you - whether you’re a landowner, an adventurer, or someone passionate about nature. Join the conversation, engage with us, and let’s explore how we can work together to restore, protect, share and enjoy these incredible wild spaces.  Tom

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