Evolution of Dartmoor National Park Authority Ranger Service
by Robert Steemson Head of Ranger and Volunteer Service.
The 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act made provision for the appointment of wardens to :-
- secure compliance with byelaws
- advise and assist the public (in relation to byelaws)
- perform such other duties in relation to the land as the authority may determine
In January 1954 the Peak District appointed the first British National Park Warden called Tom Tomlinson. In 1963 Devon County Council, on request from the Dartmoor National Park Committee appointed through the planning section somebody responsible to look after Dartmoor. The successful applicant was Tony Owen-Evans who became the first Head Warden in May 1963. His duties were:-
- to inform and help the public
- to supervise and co-ordinate a Voluntary Warden service
- to liase between the Park Committee and landowners on matters of public behaviour.
- to maintain contact with District Councils on matters concerning litter
- to provide information to the Planning Department on visitors habits and other matters
Over the next five years Tony Owen-Evans established regular contact with the numerous landowners and communities across the moor and organised a local voluntary warden service. Work started on restricting unsightly vehicle penetration onto the moorland by erecting warning signs, building banks and challenging offenders. Signing, clearing and opening up public rights of way and removing litter became the next challenges. Regular youth groups volunteered to assist particularly when building footbridges across rivers and streams. Two assistant wardens were appointed to help manage a fast developing workload and volunteer help.
In the early 1970s under restructuring Devon County Council established a Dartmoor National Park Department with many evolving disciplines. Out on the ground local communities noticed an increasing visitor use of Dartmoor and during 1974 the warden service was expanded to seven fulltime people. The appointment of Dot Hills as the first woman warden in a British National Park generated a lot of press interest. In the late 1970`s seasonal staff were employed to assist in the busiest areas, a corporate uniform was introduced and the title of warden changed to ranger reflecting a greater custodial role of the landscape.
Through the 1980s the ranger service further developed public rights of way disciplines and learnt rural conservation skills. A strong educational theme was attached to all work and stronger links were formed with local communities and recreational user groups. The 1985 Dartmoor Commons Act gave a legal right onto the privately owned common land for visitors to walk and horseride. Other large areas of private land were entered into access agreements and a comprehensive set of common sense byelaws are enforced by regular Rangers and voluntary wardens patrols.
During the 1990s a Ranger's role has developed further and a vast diversity of educational conservation based work is completed in partnerships with many other agencies and organisations. Each Ranger within their relevant sector are the eyes and ears of the free-standing National Park Authority and all have a few locally based voluntary wardens. We have a delegated responsibility through an agreement with Devon County Council to continue maintaining public rights of way. Regular litter removal, assisting with legal burning, monitoring and surveying of erosion, visits to management and access areas, horse riding establishment visits, assisting emergency services and continuing public liaison all give the job daily variety.
Fifty years later the current day ranger team (see photo below) is committed to the challenge of looking after Dartmoor National Park and implementing the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (external site, opens new window) but now as much as ever the support of everybody is required.
Look at each Ranger's area of responsibility.
Page updated 1 December 2005
