Monday briefing: The long legal fight for the ‘right to roam’ England’s countryside

In today's newsletter: Will a court case over wild camping on Dartmoor spark bigger campaigns to open up more private green space?

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Good morning. Camping - especially wild camping, outside a designated site - is a fairly Marmite activity. For some, it is an adventure that connects them with the natural world. For others, it is a laborious, uncomfortable, unsanitary pursuit. Regardless of individual sensibilities, however, most people support the right of others to roam and wild camp.

However, this is not quite reflected in the current legislation. Only 8% of England is covered by the right to roam", an ancient custom that allows anyone to wander in open countryside, no matter who owns it. For centuries there has been a growing conflict between those who are in favour of it, and those who would like to restrict access to private land.

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