SELAR NATURE Opposition to the 880 acre opencast mine proposed for Selar Nature Reserve in South Wales, UK is still going strong. The watermeadows have largely been destroyed by Celtic Energy, the mining company responsible but they now face the task of removing a growing number of people from several hundred mature oak trees. At least 30 tree houses have been constructed in the trees and a massive network of aerial walkways, designed to allow rapid access to any tree under threat has been constructed. Numbers of people at the camp vary between 5 and about 200, depending largely on the weather and whether or not there is a party on at the weekend! Local support is also going well with a local residents support group being set up to ensure adequate supplies of food and materials. Most of the long term tree dwellers now have "foster parents" in the village (Cwymgrach) who invite them round for tea and a bath! Having dug into the site and prepared for potential eviction, thoughts are now turning to a more pro-active approach. Getting out and "lobbying" Celtic Energy, rather than waiting for them to come to us. Actions against some of there working opencast sites are being planned. A camp on another proposed site has been established 10 miles from the present one. Walkways and baracading of derelict farm houses has occured but numbers are presently low. Active people are desperately needed to help establish the camp. The camp mobile phone is presently out of action at Selar, but should soon be working again. At present for further info contact Cardiff Earth First! 01222 383363. However, it is hoped that a camp office will soon be set up. As an elderly local woman at the camp said to me last week, " They've been destroying this beautiful land for too long. Now our children are rising up to stop it. Mother Nature is striking back." (august 1995)