Reclaim The Valleys 2

Reclaim the Valleys 2 was rockin’ and wrecked. With less than 50 hardcore activists on three days, they certainly put the boot further up Celtic Enemy’s arse. At 6am on Wednesday, the Celtic Energy offices were stormed and by the time the enemy arrived for work, they found oak trees (saved from Brynhenllys) planted all over the car park, activists d-locked to every door and gate, and superglued locks. Twenty-two arrests were made.

On Thursday, they returned to the now working Brynhenllys site and work was stopped whilst the workers beat activists up and held them illegally. Work then recommenced as twenty activists were arrested for breach of the peace!

On Friday a memorial parade was held with local support going through Selar and on Saturday and Sunday they danced (respect to ‘Oops’ from Reading). Media coverage was very high with actions being headline news on Welsh television for three nights as well as articles in every paper.

They are now taking stock for the winter while Nant Helen is preparing defenses for a likely October eviction. All those talking about a new style of tree defence, get down there and check out the possibilities of the dense forestry plantations. As Wales has such a high number of ecologically dodgy projects, new targets must be considered but the fight against open cast goes on. For more information call: 0385 711364.