Revisiting Rural Landscapes Safeguards Our Well-being, Yet Right to Roam Progress Seems to be Reversing
Boldly Stepping off the Beaten Path: Rethinking Our Relationship with Nature's Playground
I'll admit it - my happiest childhood memories involve a bit of rule-breaking. Trespassing and poaching were my preferred pastimes, whether it was fishing for salmon at school or chasing rabbits with my terrier during vacations. But as I grew older, I realized the significance of exploring the great outdoors for our wellbeing, a connection that's deeply ingrained in the British identity. This realization sparked my writing of Uncommon Ground: Rethinking our Relationship with the Countryside.
From the thrill of fox-hunting to the exhilaration of fell running, this is our green and pleasant land. But what are the consequences of conquering these landscapes, and how do they impact farming, conservation, and wildlife? As humans thrive, species like the curlew race towards extinction, a result of our own success.
In January 2023, a landmark protest took place on Dartmoor, as over 3,000 people demonstrated against the official ban on wild camping, a restriction that some landowners had tacitly allowed for years. Alexander Darwall, the landowner filing the lawsuit, argued that mass gatherings of people cause harm to wildlife and trouble for farmers. On the other hand, the Right to Roam campaign, which champions the freedom to camp without permission, believes that "the stars are for everyone."
This demonstration, centered around camping rights, extended beyond that issue. The Right to Roam movement articulates concern that only 8% of the English countryside is accessible, and sometimes accuses large estates of being inaccessible. However, this statistic refers to designated "access land" as established in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act - it includes moorland and registered common land, but commentators often neglect to mention that it doesn't encompass the entirety of accessible land in England.
For example, the Holkham estate in Norfolk allows access to roughly 20% of its 25,000 acres, including 3,000 acres of parkland. While this is certainly a considerable space, it wouldn't be captured by the 8% figure. In these situations, it's vital to separate rhetoric from reality.
The inspiration for my book was to connect with those affected by access, including farmers, conservationists, and gamekeepers, who often go unheard. I was shocked to learn from Dorset farmer Cameron Farquharson that he loses around 10% of his sheep each year to stray dogs. In a remarkable response to this issue, Farquharson started offering farm tours, believing that education is the best defense against ignorance.
Access poses challenges not only for agriculture but also for conservation. People's insatiable curiosity about wildlife, as seen in the persistence of seals in coastal homes, can have negative consequences. Disturbed seals at a hospital in Hunstanton, Norfolk, often abandon their pups due to human interference. Sophie Negus, the hospital's curator, once witnessed a "ridiculous" incident in which a man placed his toddler on a seal's back for a photo.
The pursuit of access can destabilize the harmony between humans, wildlife, and the land. In 1500, Britain's population was approximately 2.5 million, but it has now surged to 30 times that figure. Unfettered access to the countryside would be unsustainable under these circumstances. Activists in England look to Scotland as an example of how Right to Roam can work, but impose no-camping zones have needed to be imposed even there, and farmers in the Central Belt combat constant clean-up efforts from campers.
Most issues stem from a lack of understanding and appreciation for the countryside. When asked if the public doesn't care about wildlife because they don't get to see it, a Pennines gamekeeper replied dismissively. The key is fostering an appreciation for the land as a multifaceted ecosystem that supports life beyond the human sphere. One person's playground is another's office.
Uncommon Ground: Rethinking our Relationship with the Countryside, by Patrick Galbraith, will be published on April 24 (HarperCollins, £22).
Patrick Galbraith is a prolific writer, former editor of Shooting Times, and a regular contributor to our platform.
- In his book Uncommon Ground: Rethinking our Relationship with the Countryside, Patrick Galbraith explores the significance of exploring the great outdoors for our wellbeing, delving into various aspects such as science, climate-change, and environmental-science.
- The renewable-energy industry is not left out as the book sheds light on how our relationship with the countryside impacts energy production, with outdoor-living and home-and-garden playing crucial roles in harnessing renewable resources.
- Financial aspects are also addressed, as the book discusses how the economics of land ownership can influence our access to nature and its resources.
- Lifestyle choices, too, are examined, with a focus on how our approach to the countryside can either jeopardize or preserve the environment and various species, such as the curlew, that call it home.
- Ultimately, Uncommon Ground invites readers to rethink their relationship with the countryside, advocating for a balanced approach that considers the needs of humans, wildlife, and the environment, treating the countryside not just as a playground, but as a vital part of our lives and the world we inhabit.
