Blackwood Update 17/2/2004

CARRY ON CAMPING
Ok, there are now two camps established (Kerry and Jordan!!!) in st davids wood (blackwood) which are on wooded land which is due to be trashed but is just on the other side of the boundary which Costain have injuncted us from. This is land which Costain did not compulsorarily purchase, (so is not covered by the "harry potter"; injunction) though for some reason they still have the right to trash the trees on this land for their easement strip. In any case there are walkways and the beginnings of proper tree dwellings on Costain's land as well as on the non- CPO-d side. Confused? Get down here and find out more!!!!

Unless they pull a fast one and do a sneaky eviction as NUMBERS ARE LOW it is cautiously safe (famous last words) to assume that the camps are safe for now- so we need to take this opportunity to consolidate these camps and put up more defences in the woods. Until the dormice are evicted Costain cannot touch much of the ancient woodland- if we can hold it all off till bird nesting season starts then they are stuffed.

WE NEED PEOPLE TO COME AND TRAIN PEOPLE IN CLIMBING TECHNIQUES AND HOW TO PUT UP WALKWAYS AND TREEHOUSES.

The site is now a mix of rapidly burning out local experienced activists (who have lives too, believe it or not) staying on site and coming and going, and an amazing amount of local teenagers and younger activists, who are mostly completely new to this but doing great stuff. This is an opportunity to blat down and pass on your skills and experience, and the climbing tat that doesn't fit you anymore, to a new generation before going back to warm houses jobs and kids! Or an opportunity to lunch your life out (heh heh) and do it all again IT IS VERY INSPIRING HERE AND IT'S WINNABLE, HONEST!!!! The locals are clued- up and massively supportive.
Ps we think that the human rights act article 8 would trump the harry potter injunction if we ever get sued.

DAYS OF ACTION

You don't have to come and camp. Small affinity groups blatting down and stopping work for the day is going to absolutely STUFF Costain, who are fast hiring more machinery and manpower to carry on working. Due to burly bailiffs, unless numbers are over a critical mass it is impossible for us to stop work now - we need help from local action groups to coordinate a day of action rota. It's a race against time who gets their act together quickest them or us. Direct action can hold up work while the wrangling over the EU protected habitats continues. Bad publicity, strong local opposition, the dormice and bat habitat issues, and the cost of dealing with direct action could all mean that Costain withdraw.

CONTACT DETAILS: phone 07952 774525/ 07708 420 446

BASIC DIRECTIONS- bus to blackwood from Cardiff. St davids wood visible on skyline on right hand side of valley (if coming from Cardiff- on left hand side if coming from the north) it's a 15 min walk from blackwood high street see directions below. Driving- along high street, find the Asda on right hand side of road-take back road straight on at a couple of roundabouts- find the rock and fountain pub, take road up the hill past the pub up to old railway line. Walk along track follow the yellow jackets trail of destruction, camps on the right in lovely trees. Better directions exist on other postings but its not that hard to find honest!