Dartmoor Preservation Association

A guardian of one of England’s most precious landscapes, helping to look after Dartmoor for more than 130 years.

The Dartmoor Preservation Association, or DPA, has been helping to look after Dartmoor for more than 130 years. Also known as the ‘Friends of Dartmoor’, the Association was a guardian of the landscape for almost 70 years before the National Park came into being and it has worked tirelessly to ensure that Dartmoor remains one of England's few surviving pieces of wild and beautiful moorland.

The DPA was founded in 1883, amidst growing interest in Dartmoor's landscape, history and natural history and concern over attempts to fence in and ‘improve’ the moorland at the expense of the rights of the commoners. The first act of its founders was to engage a barrister to produce a report on the historic rights of commoners, which could be used as evidence in the courts. Unfortunately, in their enthusiasm, they lost track of his costs and when the bill was presented, they didn't have the money to pay it! However, funds were eventually found and in 1897 the research proved to be decisive, when it was used in a court case to prevent the unlawful fencing-off of 39 acres of Peter Tavy Great Common.

Over the following 50 years, the DPA fought a number of battles against attempts to damage the moorland, starting with protests against the War Department's use of land leased from the Duchy of Cornwall for live firing. This caused serious difficulties for the commoners and meant that the public was excluded for virtually the whole of the summer months. Although the DPA has never been against the armed forces, it has always campaigned for respect for the landscape and public safety and has had some success in negotiating improved public access. Even today, the Association works closely with the Ministry of Defence to try and ensure that minimum disruption is caused to the landscape and the people who want to enjoy it.

Throughout its existence, the DPA has campaigned against denial of public access; attempts to flood huge tracts of farmland to create reservoirs and build power stations; and the disfiguring of the landscape by inappropriate development, the planting of conifers and the dumping of spoil from quarries. It has had varying degrees of success and has even raised funds from its members to purchase four pieces of land to prevent them from being misused.

Apart from campaigning activities, from the very beginning the DPA's members have also been involved in conservation work, raising fallen stones, clearing leats and preventing historic sites from becoming overrun with bracken. It still has a keen group of volunteers who meet to carry out conservation and survey work and to manage the DPA's own pieces of land. Indeed, in 2017, one of its trustees was named as the UK National Parks ‘Volunteer of the Year’ for his hard work, carried out over many years.

With the creation of the Dartmoor National Park in 1951 it was hoped that there would no longer be a need for a watchdog organisation. This turned out to be wishful thinking and vigilance is required as much today as it has ever been. The National Park designation has not afforded all of the protections which had been expected and the next few years are likely to throw up a number of serious issues: planners are already struggling with the national policy framework, which has enabled some significant and inappropriate developments to go ahead; Britain's exit from the European Union may present threats to the livelihood of the farmers who play a vital role in managing the moorland landscape; and there is also a question mark over whether EU environmental protections will be maintained. The large number of housing developments being built around the National Park will undoubtedly lead to more recreational use and increased pressure on the landscape. 

In the face of these threats, the DPA will carry on with its role as a guardian of Dartmoor. It will fiercely protect its independent status, which allows it to work with other organisations without being beholden to them. So, for example, while the DPA will support the National Park Authority when it is doing the right thing, it won't hesitate to oppose it when it isn't.

As the recognised ‘Friends of . . .’ body representing the Dartmoor National Park, it will join like-minded organisations, both local and national, in campaigning for the protection of all of the nation's National Parks. It will also work with conservation organisations on projects for the protection of Dartmoor's ecology and its cultural and historical heritage. 

If you are interested in supporting the work of the DPA, would like to help with its volunteering work, or simply go along to one of its free walks or events, you can find out all you need to know on its website: www.dartmoorpreservation.co.uk

Phil Hutt

Dartmoor Preservation Association