Party time in the Glen of the Downs as eco-warriors get out of their trees

The self-styled "eco-warriors", the environmental protest group which lives in and under the trees at the Glen of the Downs in Co Wicklow, marked the first anniversary of their protest with a party on Saturday night in the camp.

The group is protesting at Wicklow County Council's plans for an £18 million roadwidening scheme, part of the N11 between Kilmacanogue and Kilpedder.

Permanent members of the camp since the protest began last May mixed with supporters who included druids in the celebration which lasted into the early hours. Because of earlier difficulties with some supporters, alcohol is now banned in the camp.

However, Kevin, one of the protesters who has been longest in the glen, told The Irish Times that the camp would be a little quiet yesterday as " most of us were up all night and will be staying in our trees today".

Having lived through all the seasons in the glen, Kevin said it had been a difficult winter but added that the recent fine weather had brought renewed vigour to the camp.

The campers particularly objected to recent criticism from members of Wicklow County Council that the camp is damaging the environment of the glen, and is therefore self-defeating. Kevin pointed to a county council depot at the northern end of the glen, which he claimed was used by council workers to store toxic material.

"There was a fire there recently and the council said that leaves were being burned, but the glen was filled with thick black smoke and we have photographs of plastic containers of corrosive material being burned." The photographs could not be produced yesterday. " Keith has them but he is asleep in his tree". The protesters promised to produce the pictures at a later date.

A woman member of the group who did not want to be named also rejected criticism of the camp.

"The truth is that the council is doing damage and plans to do much more damage than we ever could," she said.

"There is a stream running through the glen which has become chronically polluted with sewage - a treatment plant has broken down - but the county council seems unable to stop the sewage getting into the river where we wash. It's disgusting."