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Long Man vandalism 6 months on...

A member of Heritage Action asked me on Wednesday if I had any photos of the vandalism committed at the Long Man of Wilmington on 14/9/04.

I have been remiss in my duties as a supposed HA Site Inspector in that, at the time when it happened, I didn't even visit the site due to being insanely busy with other stuff, not that I couldn't have spared an afternoon.

Today I made up for this with a very depressing walk up Windover Hill to see the damage six months on.

The Long Man of Wilmington — Images

01.04.05ce
<b>The Long Man of Wilmington</b>Posted by Cursuswalker


As you can see from this picture, which is not colour or contrast adjusted, even on a foggy day the slogan is still clearly visible, which was no doubt the intention of the scum who put it there.

After a walk up the path to the east of the Long Man that reminded me how unfit I have become this winter, I arrived at the site.

The Long Man of Wilmington — Images

01.04.05ce
<b>The Long Man of Wilmington</b>Posted by Cursuswalker


There is some plant growth on the letters, but not much, and still a lot of scorched earth.

The Long Man of Wilmington — Images

01.04.05ce
<b>The Long Man of Wilmington</b>Posted by Cursuswalker<b>The Long Man of Wilmington</b>Posted by Cursuswalker<b>The Long Man of Wilmington</b>Posted by Cursuswalker<b>The Long Man of Wilmington</b>Posted by Cursuswalker<b>The Long Man of Wilmington</b>Posted by Cursuswalker


It would also appear that any gorse bushes that got in the way were destroyed possibly before the fire was lit.


Most of the surface consists of bare earth covered with lank dead grass. Once summer comes the whole surface should grow over, but the slogan will still be visible simply by virtue of the different treatment dealt out to the ground that was burnt.

It is truly disgusting, regardless of one's feeling as regards the cause these morons thought they were fighting for, that anyone should choose to desecrate a sacred landscape in this way. Having taken all the pictures I thought I needed (And there are more) I took out my water bottle and symbolically watered the entire slogan in reverse, while uttering words of ill-will towards the inbreds who had put it there.

If my words have some effect on their lives, either of a redemptory or punitive nature, then that is all to the good. If I am just a silly druid who thinks he can do magic and stuff, then all I can say is that, in the face of such f****wittedness, it made me feel better.

If you should happen to find yourself on Windover Hill with a full bladder at some point in the future can I also recommend this as a particularly appropriate place to relieve yourself. It does the ground no harm and is one of the most primal forms of ritual condemnation.

Do I seem a little angry by any chance?

As an afterthought, at the time the vandalism was carried out the C*ntryside Alliance put this up on their website:

The Countryside ignites! — Links

01.04.05ce
Page from the Countryside Alliance's own website, bragging about the vandalism, including a picture of it taking place.

17/8/05 UPDATE: They seem to have removed the picture. What a shame...

2/8/06 UPDATE: It's back again. Maybe they think the heat is off now...

5/7/07 UPDATE: And it's gone again


This is interesting, as the photo can only really have been taken by someone who was participating in the act.

I don't know for sure if this is a picture of the Long Man vandalism, but if it was taken on private land, or on a Site of Special Scientific Interest, then there may be legal implications for the CA. I wonder if anyone would like to ask them for permission to put the photo onto TMA? I imagine one would do this via their contacts page at:

http://www.countryside-alliance.org/contact/Countryside_Alliance_General_Enquiries/

If they refuse permission that means they are admitting copyright of the picture, and therefore responsibility for its being taken by a participant in the action. If they deny ownership, and will not say who does own the picture, then I doubt the copyright owner will want to come forward, so it is effectively for free distribution.

What's the betting they take this page down soon?

All I can say to that is FILE > SAVE AS

Wonderful thing the Internet ;-)

The Long Man of Wilmington — Images

02.04.05ce
<b>The Long Man of Wilmington</b>Posted by Cursuswalker




2006 UPDATE

The Long Man of Wilmington — Fieldnotes

27.07.06ce
I visited the Long Man again last Friday (21/7/06). The vandalism caused, or at least supported, by the C*ntryside Alliance is still very much visible, as the quality of vegetation is different where the letters were burnt on the hillside.

Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures. I'll try to get back there sometime soon.

I still have a copy of the web-page on which the CA condoned this action. They took it down originally as soon as they realised that it might not have been such a bright idea after all.

The Long Man of Wilmington — Images

02.08.06ce
<b>The Long Man of Wilmington</b>Posted by Cursuswalker<b>The Long Man of Wilmington</b>Posted by Cursuswalker

The Long Man of Wilmington — Fieldnotes

02.08.06ce
My wife went and took more pictures for me on 28/7/06.
As I was putting them up on TMA I discovered that the CA have put the original article on this BACK on their website, including the offending picture.

Considering the fact that the damage is still visible at the Long Man I find this unbelievable.
Cursuswalker Posted by Cursuswalker
1st April 2005ce
Edited 2nd August 2006ce


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