Beating the bounds of Gidleigh Common - Dartmoor

Every 7 years the boundary of Gidleigh Common is walked and the marked boundary stones are re-found and cleaned. Adrian Coulston attended and recorded the day in his Dartmoor Blog. It's well worth a read and the photos are marvellous.

At the end of  his piece Adrian posed the following questions. "The big question for me is when the Bounds of Gidleigh Common are walked in 7 years time what will the Common be like? It will have had to deal with Brexit, prescriptions and rules from Natural England, atmospheric pollution and more climate change … I worry. Will it still be dominated by Purple Moor Grass and extensive areas of gorse?  Will John, Robert, Crispin, Penny, Marylou, David and Steven still be there?

Think about it.

Without Commoners the Commons can’t be managed for their ‘public goods’.

It is time to get our collective act together – time is running out.

It is time for some real leadership but from who?

Natural England? Dartmoor Commoners Council? Dartmoor National Park Authority?

Why not all of you …..

Please …. someone….."