Eighty five acres added to Dartmoor common land

The land is in three parcels near Blackdown Common

Three parcels of land on Dartmoor have been given protection as common land, meaning people are free to walk there.

Eighty five acres (34.4 hectares) of land near Blackdown Common at Mary Tavy have been registered by the Planning Inspectorate.

Two of the parcels of land are east and south of Willsworthy car park, with the third at Black Lion Common near Zoar methodist chapel.

The Open Spaces Society (OSS) said its applications showed the land is "waste land of a manor which means that it can be registered as common land".

It is the latest move in a campaign by the OSS to get more common land registered.

Historian Frances Kerner of the OSS, trawled through historical documents to establish the land's status.

"I am delighted that the two parcels of land have been restored to Blackdown Common," she said.

"It is especially pleasing that Black Lion Common, which is not access land and is isolated from the rest of Blackdown Common, will be added to the register of common land."

Kate Ashbrook of the OSS said: "Frances has been incredibly diligent.

"They are not very big parcels of land, but it is important to get these things right."