Win for campaigners in Dartmoor grazing battle

THE body tasked with protecting Dartmoor’s natural environment failed in its legal duty to assess the number of animals which should be allowed to graze on the moorland, a High Court judge has ruled.

- NINA MASSEY

Dartmoor ponies beside Drake's Leat near Burrator Reservoir. Below, a long-haired Highland cow on Dartmoor

(Janet Williams)

Campaign group Wild Justice took legal action against Dartmoor Commoners' Council (DCC), saying it had breached its statutory duties by allowing overgrazing on the commons.

DCC denied that it had breached its duties, and at an earlier hearing told the court that less than 20% of the commoners were active graziers.

Of the 95,000 hectares in Dartmoor National Park, 36,000 are registered as common land, which are privately owned but open to public access.

There are around 850 commoners, or owners of properties on the commons, who have rights permitting them to keep sheep, cattle and ponies.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Mould said that DCC had unlawfully failed to assess the number of animals that could properly be depastured on the commons from time to time.