Protests & Campaigns
Please scroll down for more information:
CHECK YAHOO GROUP FOR UPDATES & ONGOING WORK -Lammas 08 Newsletter now on this page :
Free Tibet London Protest attended by Sacred Grove South West
This was obviously outside the SW area as part of our liaison with the Loyal Arthurian Warband and King Arthur, attending with him and others at the Free Tibet rally in London on 6th April 2008 to protest at the London leg of the carrying of the Olympic torch to the Beijing games. The Chinese hosts plan to be taken through Tibet by the Chinese government which denys the Tibetans the right to speak or use the name of the Dalai Lama or fly their flag, leave their country and every other basic human right, inflicting torture and death on many who resist.
The Sacred Grove South West banner was waved alongside the Tibetan flag by Andraste. Pictures in the Photo Gallery.
Cairn desecrated on Good Friday 2008
We have been informed that a cairn which is an ancient burial chamber has been rearranged, damaged and treated with disrespect by local christians. Cairns are often on hillsides but sometimes on flat areas near footpaths, trails etc, with stones on the top, always understood to be left in place and rarely interferred with by walkers, tourists etc.
This event took place in Ivybridge, Devon on Good Friday of this year and it would appear that a large wooden cross was taken up the tor, and rammed into the cairn in order to hold it up during the ceremony by those celebrating.
We are organising a group of us to go and ensure the cairn is safe, rearrange the stones, and do a harmonising and healing ceremony over the grave.
Plymouth City Council - Education Dept - Balloon launch at school
We challenged a new local school who were going to do a balloon launch to celebrate their opening day. On environmental and ethical grounds, litter,safety of creatures both on land and sea - the Council agreed to enforce its own policy of no littering nor balloons and the school was ordered to find another way, and the Council assured us that the policy would be sent out to schools again.
Snuff Mills Woods Bristol
We heard about this protest via the Loyal Arthurian Warband messageboards and Paganwarriors site which Rowan organises.
We made contact with the campaign organiser Steve and Andraste and partner Dr Jazz who was born in Bristol and knows the woods well visited and made a report with pictures to be sent to Bristol planning dept, although the land in question is privately owned, a public footpath is involved - now awaiting the Council's response regarding the trees it intends to permit the landonwer to fell rather than manage, and the dangerous state of blocked footpath with fallen trees, some into the river Frome and across to private houses on the opposite bank!
Protest today 7 July 2008 - had an email from Steve (snuffmills@hotmail.co.uk) 09:50:55
"To: andraste7@hotmail.co.uk
Hello Andraste
We have a mass protest at 5.30pm today (Monday) to protest at the Council's decision to fell all of the trees next to the road for spurious reasons. We are launching a complaint against the Council for essentially maladaministration."
There had been an application to overturn the blanket TPO but HOORAY, ITS BEEN UPHELD!
FW: TPO Confirmed - we're off down the pub!
From: steve micklewright (snuffmills@hotmail.co.uk)
Sent: 01 April 2009 18:19:59
To: snuffmills@hotmail.co.uk
Hi
Just to let you know the Council confirmed the TPO unanimously.
To celebrate, why not join us down the Masons Arms tonight, we'll be there from about 7ish for a while.
Thanks to everyone who has supported making sure the TPO got confirmed - 50 statements were received by the Council.
Best wishes
Steve Micklewright
Chair
Snuff Mills Action Group
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Stonehenge Picket - Summer Solstice 2008 saw the start of Arthur Pendragon's picket on the Drove until the fence comes down and the road scheme is addressed, swearing he will not enter the stones until English Heritage keeps their promise to do so. Sacred Grove Sw fully supports this picket, was present with their banner at Arthur's side on Solstice and on the eve of the full moon 17 July 2008 Arthur fixed a Notice to Quit on English Heritage at yet another consultation meeting: due to their dereliction of duty and criminal waste of £37Million over the last consultation period - to no avail, reneging on their promise to improve the roads, take down the fencing and return the stones to the landscape and give greater access to the public, to whom it was bequeathed - as Arthur says "take up thy fence and walk English Heretics!" The Website for the Stonehenge campaign is called Honour Thy Spoken word and can be found on the Links page here, via the link button at the top of this page.
September 2008 - We are still helping with the Stonehenge Picket by King Arthur, Andraste and Dr Jazz spent a day there recently, see the Links page for more info.
Plymouth Medicinal Garden
This is a herbal garden belonging to the CJ Park Pharmacy Trust and is threatened by development of part of the garden by developers, because the PCC as landowners have granted planning permission for housing.
We are assisting Dr Jan Knight who is the Chair of the Trust with highlighting the situation via a media campaign via our television radio and newspaper contacts and questioning the planning process which has been to the High Court and is in the process of further discussion as it was granted in a Conservation Area without full disclosure. We suggested a blessing or protection ceremony and this may be organised - will confirm later. The green and yellow link at the top of this page takes you to the Pharmacy Trust site.
DAVIDSTOW AIRFIELD - PROPOSED WIND TURBINES
Taken from the link above via STINC:
"The intial proposal is for 20 turbines with a hub height of 80m, the blades will be 45.2m long with a rotor diameter of 92.5m. This makes a total of 126.25m to the tips of the blades. This is 415ft in old money and from where they will be positioned, they’ll be higher than Brown Willy, the highest point in Cornwall! It’s a brown field site - just the place to redevelop?
OK you could say that it is a brown field site because an airfield was built here during the war. But it is not any old brown field site. It is on the edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, partly within an Area of Great Landscape Value and Site of Special Scientific interest.
It is in area 17 on the map of Cornwall County Council’s Landscape Character areas rated Medium - High sensitivity and bordering area 25c rated High sensitivity.
It is a highly valued amentity for people and for wildlife."
Any comments, and do check out the updates on the LAW Protest board as we monitor this - see link at top of page for LAW Protest board and the Stinc campaign group infor site.
LAMMAS 2008 NEWSLETTER
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SACRED GROVE SOUTH WEST
Newsletter Midsummer 2008
"Dont change the Sacred Site, let the Site change you"
Ancient Sacred Landscape Network (ASLaN)
We started the Sacred Grove South West on the Spring Equinox in March 2008 – Rowan and
Andraste, being sworn members of the Loyal Arthurian Warband who’s King and Battlechieftain is
Arthur Pendragon, and like him we are deeply involved and committed to actively working to
protect the earth, our environment and honour our ancestors and sacred places. Andy Norfolk
was made a Battle Chieftain many years ago by Arthur for his devoted work on many protests
and Andy has honoured Sacred Grove by offering his expertise and support, and being a contact
for us based in Camborne, covering all of Cornwall. [Info on Rowan, Andy and Andraste is at the
end of this Newsletter]
Sacred Grove South West is affiliated to LAW and acknowledges King Arthur Pendragon as its
King, Battle Chieftain and Pendragon – subsequent members of the Sacred Grove, whether
pagans, witches, wiccans or druids, may or may not personally swear allegiance – it’s a personal
choice and one which must come from your heart, there is no pressure nor requirement – only
that you are interested in working with us in our mission as stated on our homepage of our
website:
http://sacredgrovesouthwest.moonfruit.com.
Since we started most of the time has been taken up with organisation, of the Order, the website,
sending out information, posters, networking with other groups, setting up a network of friends
who are working with us, pagans and witches, druids and shamans and working on various
projects. So far we have confirmed contacts in the following areas:
DEVON
Andraste - Plymouth
Allen & Xowie - Torquay
Tamar - Honiton
Beantighe - Brixham
Clarysage - Paignton
Becky - Newton Abbot
Jonathan - Bideford
CORNWALL
Rowan - Bodmin
AndyN - Camborne
Eagle Owl - Looe
Crystal Dragon - Liskeard
Jo & Barry - Launceston
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BRITTANY -we have our first overseas connection! John who is Plymouth born and having been
in France for many years, may be trying to head homewards. Meanwhile he pops back and forth
through Plymouth to visit his beloved Dartmoor and meet up with us when he can. John met
Andraste recently and has kept in touch, and after many years of study both academic and
spiritual, he is inspired more towards druidry now – so we are here to explain, answer questions,
support and offer our friendship to him and any other new seekers.
Networking:
Posters have been emailed to many moots and pagan organisations including the PF
representative in Cornwall, Sowelu, who offered to put a piece about us in their next Newsletter.
Arthur thought the local PF may know where other Warbanders were in the area and hopefully
they will announce the news of Sacred Grove and thereby attract those who are interested in
legal protest and challenging planning, developers and councils regarding possible threats to the
environment and ecology [details of projects so far follow later]. Also people who can act as local
contacts, organising litter picking, tree wardens, watching rivers and beaches etc, nothing too
onerous, just on your usual walks, trips out etc.
We have discussed the aims of Sacred Grove with local eco workers regarding joining up with
them in the Dartmoor area.
Andraste visited the local Interfaith group which she knows well as a community worker and
contact and information regarding druidry was welcomed and we will be attending events and
perhaps taking druid books, items for their sacred room.
Rowan and Andraste travelled to Temple to meet Jack Hemmings who is a leather craftworker
who Andraste first met at the Pagan Federation Conference in Bude, Cornwall. See his site –
www.leather-craft.co.uk Jack has great experience in the ways of eco-protest and many druid
connections and colleagues across the country. Temple is a Templar stronghold and has very
deep energy fields within the local spiralling circles and henges: a place to spend a fascinating
day’s dowsing perhaps? Anyone interested please contact us to arrange a field day.
PLYMOUTH PF - Andraste has been attending the local pagan PF moot and has found
members there interested in Sacred Grove and some are aiming to come to the cairn healing
when we can arrange a weekend day that everyone can manage! Also, Andraste has renewed
her connection with the local Interfaith Group which she used to attend as a pagan community
worker.
BIDEFORD
Last year Rowan and Andraste made contact with Jonathan Downes who is well known to King
Arthur Pendragon and many other Warband members and lives in Bideford. This was concerning
a potential development protest regarding the loss of trees and hedges in the Bideford area. With
Jonathan’s help and inside knowledge, and by Rowan assessing the likelihood of planning being
approved, there was nothing to be gained by continuing with the planned objections. In fact this
was resolved locally and Jonathan confirmed this recently to Andraste, and he has agreed to be a
local contact for that area. This is great news as Jonathan is very involved in projects which
would interest Sacred Grove, not least of which is The Fortean Times and http://www.cfz.org.uk
shows his dedication to seeking mysterious creatures and mythological beings. He works to
protect species which are threatened and is a great conservationist and scientist. Also an eco
activist, there are projects we could get involved with which includes monitoring our areas for
certain endangered species, butterflies, moths, frogs etc, something we can certainly do when out
and about the countryside?
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WEIRD WEEKENDS http://www.cfz.org.uk
At last Andraste and Dr Jazz visited Jonathan Downes at his Bideford home which has a
collection of rare and strange animals, - he has another zoo near Exmoor—must visit one day.
Jonathan also holds Weird Weekends with speakers, strange creatures on show and brilliant
parties - see the links of previous ones. We want to go to the one in August 2008 - are you
coming - click the Weird Weekend link on the CFZ Centre for Fortean Zoology above.
He has a great deal of experience in protest and conservation, organising explorations to find
mysterious creatures. There was a legless salamander which is evolving back to the sea and
turtles which are rare and part of a breeding programme to prevent extinction. He is also working
on reviving rare and threatened species of butterflies and moths, and there are exciting projects
underweigh.
PROTESTS AND CAMPAIGNS
Tibetan Protest in London – Olympic torch procession
Andraste attended with her family and King Arthur plus fellow Warbander, BlueCrow and her son
– details are on the website.
Plymouth City Council and a local school were challenged hard regarding the school head’s
decision to do a balloon launch – the Education Dept, the PCC Legal Dept and the Chief
Executive were contacted to protest and get this stopped as the PCC is famously against such
littering and endangering of wildlife and livestock. This protest was successful and the schools in
the area are being reminded of the PCC policy.
Snuff Mills Woods, Bristol
Notes on this protest are on the Sacred Grove website with the campaign organiser Steve
Micklewright’s details. The report which Andraste and her partner Dr Jazz did after visiting the
woods on the way back from the Stonehenge Summer Solstice was emailed with pictures
showing neglect of trees, footpaths, river and amenities and the Council has replied that it is
“working with the landowner to quickly remedy the problems”!
http://snuffmills.blogspot.com/
You may find this video interesting too:
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit2?ns=1&video_id=ci05m1zKaTE&next=%2Fmy_videos2
%3Fpi%3D0%26ps%3D20%26sf%3Dadded%26sa%3D0%26sq%3D%26dm%3D0
There was a protest at the Council Offices on 7 July against the felling of trees in these woods,
which have suffered severe neglect by both the private landowner and the Council. Updates on
website soon.
Plymouth Medicinal Garden - under threat by developer/Plymouth City Council
http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/museumsparkpharmacy
This is a very old medicinal herbal garden in a conservation area, cared for by the CJ Park
Pharmacy Trust and is threatened by development of part of the garden by developers, because
the PCC as landowners have granted planning permission for housing.
We are assisting Dr Jan Knight who is the Chair of the Trust with highlighting the situation in a
media campaign via our television radio and newspaper contacts and questioning the planning
process which has been to the High Court and is in the process of further discussion as it was
granted in a Conservation Area without full disclosure. We offered a blessing or protection
ceremony and this may be organised - will confirm later. Dr Knight has offered us the Lodge in
the grounds of the garden, in order to hold meetings, and perhaps we can get a gardening group
together to bring the place back into its glory – contact us if you are interested?
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Stonehenge Picket – King Arthur challenging English Heritage/Government
After attending the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge where the Sacred Grove Banner flew beside
the LAW banner “Honour Thy Spoken Word” as Andraste and Dr Jazz and other Warbanders
stood all night with the picket, we have supported King Arthur in his protest to get the fencing
down and the road built as promised by the government and English Heritage – see Sacred
Grove SW website for more details. The picket website is here:
http://honour-thy-spoken-word.kk5.org
REPORTS FROM SACRED GROVE SOUTH WEST CONTACTS:
Beantighe and Clarysage report from Brixham/Paignton area:
They have a problem at Churston Woods with people having parties there littering and defacing
their sacred grove and surrounding woods. A recent visit showed it to be like a landfill site with all
the litter which had been left. This has occurred since the Woodland management people
decided to cut down a lot of trees (overcrowding, they said) thus exposing the spot leading to
desecrating what is a beautiful little sacred grove, where Beantighe and Clarysage and friends go
to do their rituals and celebrations, and have they have cared for the area for several years.
It is near where Beantighe and Andraste celebrated Beltane and we will need to contact the
wood management team to see what can be done to dissuade this level of vandalism.
Beantighe and Clarysage and their friend Di journeyed to Glastonbury for the Summer Solstice, in
dire weather and pea soup fog, and met up with many other pagans and druids for the celebration
– a true quest undertaken and successfully fulfilled in extreme conditions! Well done, we will
organise something nearer as well next year.
Crystal Dragon - Liskeard area:
Crystal drew attention to this, - looks horrendous, will have a look when next down that way or
perhaps our Looe area contacts could take a look when out and about please?
http://www.caradon.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=27670
“Bikers leave a trail of destruction in ancient woodland
Thoughtless motorcyclists and mountain bikers are destroying a prehistoric monument and
environmentally sensitive sites in ancient woodland in West Looe.
Picture of ramps in Kilminorth woods
For the second year running, bikers have been wreaking havoc by riding their vehicles off-track in
Kilminorth Woods, which is designated as an Area of Great Landscape Value and a Local Nature
Reserve. Owned and managed by Caradon District Council, the site lies along the western
bank of the West Looe River and is South East Cornwall's largest primeval oak woods. Until
recently, Kilminorth Woods offered a largely undisturbed habitat for many different species of
wildlife and plants. Last year mountain bikers, who are permitted to use the bridleway through
the woods, began using the area for off-road biking, building several large ramps and causing
substantial damage to ancient woodland's fragile environment. “
Thanks for the info Crystal, we need to keep an eye on this too!
Eagle Owl - Looe area:
With so many projects of her own, we are lucky that Eagle Owl has agreed to be a contact in that
part of Cornwall,
Nothing untoward happening apart from the problems in Kilminorth Woods but Eagle Owl and
family are always out and about keeping watch on the area— we have been in contact with her
and she has given us the contact details for the Friends of Kilminorth Woods . The Friends
have replied to our email and are pleased that we can offer support especially in pressurising the
Council to protect the woods and deal with the vandalism. Keep an eye on the website and
Yahoo group for updates.
Check out Eagle Owl’s websites :
www.nativeprogress.org
www.freepowerboards.com/thedruidsoak www.freepowerboards.com/spiritancestors
CEREMONIES/RITUALS
Plymouth City Council knows we may want to hold ceremonies in Central Park in the future and
were most supportive. The Park is earmarked for development as a Life Centre and sporting
facilities and some of the trees may be threatened to make way for more cycle tracks, and the
campaign to protect the allotments in the corner of the Park is ongoing and Andraste is contacting
them to see what the state of play is. A protection ceremony and blessing may be performed, as
we have been asked to do so at the Medicinal Garden: anyone interested please get in contact.
Future plans
We have been active in our first few months and no doubt will get busier when we get more
contacts farther across the counties.
We will get a meeting organised in Plymouth with people who are interested in forming a local
group to do litter picking, tree wardening, beach cleaning, and checking our local sacred sites. Dr
Knight has kindly offered us the Lodge adjacent to the Medicinal Garden for meetings. Update on
Yahoo group and website later.
Please keep an eye on your areas when out and about, through the press, tv, word of mouth,
and check the planning information on the website, they are the easiest ways of being
forewarned of any large developments which may affect the environment. The Planning Portal is
easiest way of checking what is planned http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/news/?1115316366903
and local links via our website under Protests & Campaigns/Planning.
If you know anyone who might be interested either as a contact or working in
ceremonial/groupwork please give them our email, website,Yahoo group and Facebook
info/contact details, Andraste7@hotmail.co.uk
http://sacredgrovesouthwest.moonfruit.com
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/sacredgrovesw/
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31454579048
Thanks for your support and let us know anything that needs to go on the website please.
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Religious Discrimination Survey - as we were going to press, a date which keeps slipping[!]
Sowelu of the Pagan Federation emailed this survey and it has been sent it out to not only to
contacts in Devon but elsewhere in case other counties may consider doing the same : if you
haven't received it please contact Andraste on andraste7@hotmail.co.uk or 07811367426
Blessed be
Andraste
Editor
SACRED GROVE SOUTH WEST
Newsletter Lammas 2008
PETITION TO PROTECT SACRED SITES- WAS ON 10 DOWNING ST WEBSITE - NOW RECEIVED REPLY FROM PM'S OFFICE:
"We received a petition asking:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to use the Secretary of State’s Powers of Enforcement under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 to counteract the growing deplorable practice to deface, damage and desecrate Scheduled Ancient Monuments for the purposes of marketing and/or advertising/publicity stunts. Many monuments are sacred sites still regularly used for ceremonies and rituals and SAMs which have recently suffered abuse include The Longman of Wilmington, Cerne Abbas Giant, and Glastonbury Tor.”
Details of Petition:
“In addition to actual damage, such desecration causes insult and distress to many people of diverse belief paths. The Schedule of Ancient Monuments is compiled and maintained by the Secretary of State under Section 1 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The fact that a monument has been scheduled means that it has been recognised as being of national importance. The primary purpose of scheduling a monument is to preserve it for the future, and to protect it from damage, destruction or any unnecessary interference.”
· Read the petition http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page17323 [see link at top of this page please]
· Petitions homepage
Read the Government’s response
When an ancient monument is scheduled under the terms of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 it becomes an offence to undertake any of the following works without the prior written consent of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport:
· any works resulting in the demolition or destruction of or any damage to a scheduled monument;
· any works for the purpose of removing or repairing a scheduled monument or any part of it or of making any alterations or additions thereto; and
· any flooding or tipping operations on land in, on or under which there is a scheduled monument.
It is also an offence to knowingly destroy or damage a scheduled ancient monument or to use a metal detector or remove an object found with one without a licence issued by English Heritage. The scope of these offences is intended to help ensure that monuments recognised to be of national importance are preserved for the benefit of current and future generations.
Both Government and English Heritage appreciate that many scheduled ancient monuments are sacred sites for some groups in the community. However, a primary concern must be for the condition of the fabric of the monuments themselves. For the most part there is no contradiction between the two positions; scheduled ancient monuments should be treated with respect and are protected by law because of their significance. When English Heritage receives reports of damage it considers all the available evidence and takes appropriate action on a case-by-case basis. Many incidents arise through ignorance and English Heritage has often found it more effective to engage with the perpetrator to explain the value of the site and the reasons why it is protected than to take a punitive line. However English Heritage takes legal action whenever it considers it to be appropriate."
Not personally satisfied that they realised monuments on private land are at the whim of the owners, and we must all remain alert to those in our areas, keep a weather eye open as to desecration and encroaching developments. Andraste, Oct 2008
STONEHENGE UPDATES
Stonehenge future plans, update
Time short for Stonehenge visitor centre decision
7:00am Thursday 2nd April 2009 By Jill Harding »
http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/4245764.Time_short_for_Stonehenge_visitor\
_centre_decision/ - see SALISBURY JOURNAL button at top of page please
SAVE THE CREWEKERNE OAK - SOMERSET
Please help with this and pass it on, you may have seen it on the telly!
http://www.facebook.com/s.php?q=luccombe&init=q&sid=a69579285c37d3a91e85605d73df4d3a#/group.php?sid=a69579285c37d3a91e85605d73df4d3a&gid=84615665070&ref=search [ see link above for petition and more info' CREWKERNE' - thanks and please pass it on]
WE HAVE TWO WEEKS...to fund an independent survey, to be carried out and delivered to the council on 11th May...SUGGESTIONS FOR FUNDS PLEASE! (see disc. boards)
PETITION TIME!!! Please get involved if you are able! Door to door is going on, if you want to get a petition going please contact Ben on 01460 271227
Please use http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savehenhayes/index.html if you can't get within pens-reach :) (see disc. boards)
Send you comments and OBJECTIONS to the council: towncouncil@crewkerne-tc.gov.uk
Send the Council YOUR COMMENTS on the plans!!! http://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=1925&page_name=comments
(see disc. boards)
