THE Stars are for Everyone, a campaign group spearheading the appeal against the recent so-called 'camping ban' on Dartmoor, has reacted to BBC Countryfile's latest episode covering the issue of wild camping in the park.

The show looked at the recent high court ruling that ended the legal right to wild camp on the moor without any consent from the landowner. Presenter Charlotte Smith met up with Mr John Howell, owner of a 1,000-acre estate including Harford Moor and Higher Piles.

Mr Howell showed the issues that he had faced on his land, such as fires, tree felling, litter and noise. At one point, Mr Howell said: ‘There'll be excrement and used toilet paper and so on just lying on the rocks, in amongst the mosses, sleeping bags full of vomit.’

Although the programme did air the views of camping activist Lewis Winks and members of the DNPA, the programme was perceived to be one-sided by many on Dartmoor and in the wider hiking community.

The Stars are for Everyone made a statement about the programme:

'Countryfile produced this map showing the new wild camping permitted areas on Dartmoor following January's deal when a watered-down permission-based scheme was put in place in the face of massive public outcry and protest.

'They tried to sell us the idea of success but we called this out as a stitch up: already, we've lost around 15% of the previous area where we had a right to wild camp in the park.

'Now, what remains looks fragile and tenuous. Without a right to camp we rely solely on the goodwill of landowners who renew this permission on an annual basis with Dartmoor National Park Authority - they can withdraw this whenever they choose, and to rub it in, DNPA hand over public money to landowners in exchange for this stitch up deal.

'Lewis Winks speaking on Countryfile last week asked Charlotte Smith - 'What will this map look like in 50 years time, when my grandchildren are wild camping in the National Park? - We have no assurance that there will be anything left.'

'We can do so much better. We're campaigning to return the RIGHT to wild camp to Dartmoor, and we're working with our friends @right.2roam to improve access and rights to the countryside across the whole of England.

'Returning these rights starts with appealing the ruling in the court of appeal.

'We're fundraising to support the financially overstretched National Park Authority to take the fight back to the Darwalls. We'll restore the right to wild camp on Dartmoor and extend the right to sleep peacefully under the stars to national parks across England. Let's ensure this opportunity is still here for our grandchildren.'