Dartmoor

Dartmoor is a National Park in the centre of the English county of Devon. It covers 368 square miles (953 km²).

Preserving Dartmoor

The integrity of this landscape, many human geographical features of which date back further than the Bronze Age, remains under threat from the industrial conglomerates Imerys and Watts Blake Bearne.

Related Topics:
Bronze Age - Imerys - Watts Blake Bearne

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These companies hold extensive china-clay mining licences from the British Government but have recently renounced them after sustained public pressure from bodies such as the Dartmoor Preservation Association.

Related Topics:
British Government - Dartmoor Preservation Association

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Many of these licences predate much of the heavy machinery which is in use today. Imerys have been singled out particularly for criticism since their 'development' of Lee Moor destroyed a considerable number of archaeologically significant sites.

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The British government have made promises to protect the integrity of the moor; however, the cost of compensating the companies for these antiquated licences which would not have been granted in today's political climate may prove to be prohibitive.

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The northern part of the moor has been used by the British Army and Royal Marines for manoeuvres and live-firing exercises; this is part of a tradition of military usage which dates back to the Napoleonic wars. There is a large Army training camp at Okehampton.

Related Topics:
British Army - Royal Marines - Napoleonic wars - Okehampton

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Recently, this usage of the moor has been challenged by a number of groups such as the Open Space Society and the Dartmoor Preservation Association.

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During her lifetime, Lady Sayer was also an outspoken critic of the damage which she perceived that the army were doing to the moor.

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