On a rainy Sunday afternoon at the end of February, 200 people packed into Ashburton Arts Centre to come together and discuss what they could do for nature on Dartmoor. People were waiting out in the rain until start time to see if they could squeeze in. It was incredible to see that so many people wanted to come along and give their time for nature, and to see a way forward together.

We were joined by wonderful speakers; Naomi Oakley of Challacombe Farm, Guy Shrubsole, campaigner for temperate rainforests, Morag Angus, head of the Southwest Peatland Partnership, Tony Whitehead, a local environmental campaigner, Sue Everett, an ecologist with decades of experience and on the board of the Fursdon review, and Nick Bruce-White, CEO of Devon Wildlife Trust. 

Chaired wonderfully by Miles King of People Need Nature, the different points of view of nature on Dartmoor, and the buzz of conversation when questions were posed to the audience were inspiring.

We had questions about swaling, hedges, buying commons, putting a warden in public car parks to engage people in nature, dog disturbance, corvid predation, land ownership and many more ideas swirling around. There was a real feeling in the air that people were ready for things to change.

Many things came out of the talk – a need for legislative change, for robust funding and regulations. A heartfelt request from Guy Shrubsole to have nature at the forefront as we talk to doorstepping candidates, attend hustings and place our votes.

But the main thing seemed to be people – people have the power, if they are empowered. It’s easy to get lost in culture war, and ‘other’ people, as Naomi Oakley so succinctly put. We live in a world now that wants us to believe you’re either for or against, and if someone doesn’t agree with you, then they’re your enemy. It’s only by listening to each other that we can begin to take steps forward into a future that looks good for nature and for people.

It was an overwhelmingly positive afternoon, leaving us all with a sense of great hope. But this is just the first step on the road, and the conversation – and action – must continue. The points, questions and ideas will be gathered and circulated, and our first local group, Wild Card Dartmoor, has formed. There is an opportunity here to make a real difference, and the local community clearly has an appetite for that. 

The year of change is upon us, and we have the power to shape 2024 into a year that sees great strides for nature – as long as we work together.