Court Hearing August 10 | ||
| Les released Planting at AWE Burghfield Vine & Fig Tree Planters head home News and reflections by Stephen Hancock On Wednesday 10th August the nine arrested Vine & Fig Tree Planters appeared before Newbury Magistrates. All nine of us entered pleas of “Not guilty” to charges of criminal damage to the perimeter fence of Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston. Les Gibbons, fresh from Bristol Prison, told the magistrates that our action had “enhanced the base.” The magistrates committed all of us to trial, and imposed the bail condition that we do not go within a hundred metres of the Aldermaston perimeter fence. Les Gibbons was released from prison, and the group was briefly united outside court before the three Swedes went to catch the train to begin their journeys home. We were blessed inside and outside court with supporters from both Southampton and Oxford. The Ministry of Defence CID police officer in charge of the case was also present. He returned our bottle of wine and told us that the Scene of the Crime officer was very happy to replant and look after the vines and fig trees that had been planted on August 5th. Susan Clarkson signed the vines and figs over.  After a picnic by the river – which included the returned wine – we then travelled to nearby AWE Burghfield, Britain’s nuclear bomb factory to plant the remaining vine and fig tree. The MoD officer there said he looked forward to eating the figs. A vine – called St Francis – was planted to the right of the entrance, and a fig – called St Clare – was planted to the left. The jaws of a nearby dead fox were placed at the base of each plant and Rachel and Susan from St Francis House, Oxford, gave a blessing. This Burghfield planting included several new gardeners, and it was good to see the peace-planting spreading and growing. We watered the plants and headed home for rest. Thirteen days in community. A rich chapter closing. When we have a court date, we will inform you. We have been moved and sustained by support from our Oxford base and from all around the world. Let’s keep communicating and conspiring and planting. One Love Many thanks Stephen Hancock
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Editor: Treena Lenthall, Web slave: Per Herngren
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