Lewis Winks
@lewis-winks.bsky.social
Researcher, writer and campaigner with Right to Roam; social and cultural geography; environmental social science; campaigning to defend the right to wild camp on Dartmoor. Devon based.
No, the research focuses on ownership which is antecedent to access conditions - there are some estates such as Sharpham and Dartington which take a benevolent view on access, whereas others less so. Where permissive arrangements exist such as at Dartington, there are no guarantees they will remain.
July 30, 2025 at 9:52 PM
No, the research focuses on ownership which is antecedent to access conditions - there are some estates such as Sharpham and Dartington which take a benevolent view on access, whereas others less so. Where permissive arrangements exist such as at Dartington, there are no guarantees they will remain.
Yes quite possibly. I would imagine the Dart has a relatively low number of owners per km compared to other rivers due to the large estates on its lower course, and Dartmoor having the Duchy ownership.
July 29, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Yes quite possibly. I would imagine the Dart has a relatively low number of owners per km compared to other rivers due to the large estates on its lower course, and Dartmoor having the Duchy ownership.
In the UK the river bed ownership varies. On the Dart, upstream (non tidal) it's mostly bankside landowners; downstream it's the Duchy of Cornwall. However I'm more interested in who controls access to the river itself!
July 29, 2025 at 1:16 PM
In the UK the river bed ownership varies. On the Dart, upstream (non tidal) it's mostly bankside landowners; downstream it's the Duchy of Cornwall. However I'm more interested in who controls access to the river itself!
I didn't bother mapping all the small individual land parcels in towns and villages, for a few reasons - but mostly because they have nearly no bearing on access! That said, there are more corps in towns which could be added.
July 29, 2025 at 12:59 PM
I didn't bother mapping all the small individual land parcels in towns and villages, for a few reasons - but mostly because they have nearly no bearing on access! That said, there are more corps in towns which could be added.
I hope this research supports campaigns for a rights-based approach to river access, rather than complex permissive negotiations; I also hope it supports groups such as Friends of The Dart to push for better protections for rivers.
Finally, I hope it inspires others to undertake their own research!
Finally, I hope it inspires others to undertake their own research!
July 29, 2025 at 12:42 PM
I hope this research supports campaigns for a rights-based approach to river access, rather than complex permissive negotiations; I also hope it supports groups such as Friends of The Dart to push for better protections for rivers.
Finally, I hope it inspires others to undertake their own research!
Finally, I hope it inspires others to undertake their own research!
There are 108 separate riparian landowners from source to sea.
1/4 of the riverbank is owned by aristocrats and new money
10% is owned by 34 corporations.
7% is owned by farms, and 13% by individuals.
38% is registered to addresses outside of the catchment.
18.7km is owned via offshore companies.
1/4 of the riverbank is owned by aristocrats and new money
10% is owned by 34 corporations.
7% is owned by farms, and 13% by individuals.
38% is registered to addresses outside of the catchment.
18.7km is owned via offshore companies.
July 29, 2025 at 12:42 PM
There are 108 separate riparian landowners from source to sea.
1/4 of the riverbank is owned by aristocrats and new money
10% is owned by 34 corporations.
7% is owned by farms, and 13% by individuals.
38% is registered to addresses outside of the catchment.
18.7km is owned via offshore companies.
1/4 of the riverbank is owned by aristocrats and new money
10% is owned by 34 corporations.
7% is owned by farms, and 13% by individuals.
38% is registered to addresses outside of the catchment.
18.7km is owned via offshore companies.
I hope this research supports campaigns for a rights-based approach to river access, rather than complex permissive negotiations; I also hope it supports groups such as Friends of The Dart to push for better protections for rivers.
Finally, I hope it inspires others to undertake their own research!
Finally, I hope it inspires others to undertake their own research!
July 29, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I hope this research supports campaigns for a rights-based approach to river access, rather than complex permissive negotiations; I also hope it supports groups such as Friends of The Dart to push for better protections for rivers.
Finally, I hope it inspires others to undertake their own research!
Finally, I hope it inspires others to undertake their own research!
There are 108 separate riparian landowners from source to sea.
1/4 of the riverbank is owned by aristocrats and new money
10% is owned by 34 corporations.
7% is owned by farms, and 13% by individuals.
38% is registered to addresses outside of the catchment.
18.7km is owned via offshore companies.
1/4 of the riverbank is owned by aristocrats and new money
10% is owned by 34 corporations.
7% is owned by farms, and 13% by individuals.
38% is registered to addresses outside of the catchment.
18.7km is owned via offshore companies.
July 29, 2025 at 12:39 PM
There are 108 separate riparian landowners from source to sea.
1/4 of the riverbank is owned by aristocrats and new money
10% is owned by 34 corporations.
7% is owned by farms, and 13% by individuals.
38% is registered to addresses outside of the catchment.
18.7km is owned via offshore companies.
1/4 of the riverbank is owned by aristocrats and new money
10% is owned by 34 corporations.
7% is owned by farms, and 13% by individuals.
38% is registered to addresses outside of the catchment.
18.7km is owned via offshore companies.