That's right, Sprid - the landowner seems to have seen an opportunity to expand his leisure business. He is a multi-million pound hedge fund manager - a 'down from London-er' who relocated around 2013 by all accounts.

Hmm, I wasn't aware that he had an ulterior motive. I thought he was just fed up with clearing away nappies, BBQ debris, beer cans, glass and plastic containers and human waste from selfish and irresponsible picnicking holidaymakers, campervanners and itinerants which I could understand is enough to pee off any landowner.

I doubt that it's truly 'wild campers' as I rarely saw any others when I used to wild camp on Dartmoor in most of my late teenage years and early 20's whilst hiking or cycling with a tent. Besides, we always aimed to set up for the night well away from roads or houses in order to enjoy the starry skies and the silence.