Most recently there has been a success for the camp as a road straightening scheme was proposed but has ben turned down, which would have tore through the top half of the woodland, thus up to 150 trees have been saved.

On my second visit to the protest camp, upon entering the camp and found if peaceful and a stillness engulfed me and a undescribable magic lingered in the autumnal air. A spiritual energy touched my soul, and they felt a oneness with Titnore Woods.

I approached the first camp area and met a man whom introduced himself as Rancid, he described himself as an Anarchist Warrior. He suitably informed me that he has been involved in protest sites all over the country, from Nine Ladies [in Derbyshire] to Faslane in Scotland. He sees Peace as the only way forward, no wonder I think after and find out he was at the "battle of the beanfield". No wonder he knocks back the cider to probably numb himself of the horrors that our society has perpetuated in his life. Rancid's activism was thought alive by the band Crass and their politics. The band that were the original instigatious of direct action (stop the city, squatting...) and think for yourself attitude.

I ramble along to the only other camp on site, where there were quite a few more people sat around a warming fire, where I'm given a cuppa and some vegan food to eat, which was delicious!

One of the campaigners explained how the local community was on their side, offering them drinking water, food supplies, and the use of cleaning facilities. One protestor couldn't believe that the place could be destroyed and that humans should realise wht life is worth!

Most assembled informed me that they had been involved with other protest sites, as part of networking and learning and building on their skills of NVDA.

After spending some time at the camp, chatting and laughing, I walked out of the woodland and was dumbstruck by a beautiful rainbow on the horizon - pure magic, I thought to myself.

Catching the train back home, I was left with that ancient wood smoke smell, which reminded me of times past when we all lived in woodland throughout the land, relying on it for food and shelter. And the wolves outside... Maybe, the modern-day wolves being cars, Lord Somerset will have his way and will savage this beautiful piece of land.

–  Chris Tomlinson, Hastings, 2006

More information, including directions to the camp and wish lists, etc, can be found at: http://www.protectourwoodland.co.uk http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/southcoast/ http://www.eco-action.org/porkbolter http://www.www.freewebs.com/titnore Suggested reading: The Battle of the Beanfield, by Andy Worthington The Lorax, by Dr Seuss