The Royal Marines have thanked the people of the South West for tolerating their training on environmentally sensitive parts of Dartmoor.

Senior officers say that training on the moor played a vital part in preparing the marines for action in Iraq.

A fifth of Royal Marines' training is on Dartmoor, and although the conditions are different to those experienced in Iraq, Dartmoor training provides the basic soldiering skills of live firing, tactics, fitness and survival.

Taking aim

That training is now being put to use in the dry, arid conditions of southern Iraq.

And the Marines have thanked the Devon public for their understanding of the use of Dartmoor.

Lt Col John Davies of Commando Training Wing, said the training is vital: "We recognise the other demands that are placed on Dartmoor.

"It is a unique environment and challenging and we must make sure that these men are prepared in all respects for operations."

One of the training exercises involves a 30 mile moorland trek. The marines undertaking the exercise currently could soon be posted to Iraq.

Troops reach the end of their 30-mile trek

Recruit Collin Harrison said: "I just want to get out there and give the boys the back-up they deserve.

"They're getting a rough time in the media with all the anti-war protests and MPs speaking out against it, when really they should be giving the troops their support."

And Recruit Daniel Clarke said: "Training on Dartmoor is difficult, and it puts them in good stead to dig in - and, when it's needed, to produce the goods."

But there has long been opposition to the armed forces using the moor for training. An alliance of conservationists including the Ramblers, Open Spaces Society and Dartmoor Preservation Association (DPA) is campaigning against the training.

Conservationists say the training is damaging the moor

John Bainbridge of the DPA said: "It causes an enormous amount of problems.
Over the last 30 years we've had visitors killed and wounded, and we have unexploded ammunitions which the arnmy itself says will take 100 years to clear.

"It's not what the national park was intended to be for."

However, the forces are in no doubt that the training is a big factor in preparing troops for conflicts such as the one in Iraq.

And they point to the fact that not only does Dartmoor provide a tough and challenging training environment, it's also close to the marine bases of Plymouth and Taunton, and the training centre at Lympstone.