Call to join hug a hillfort campaign in Oswestry
It's taking tree hugging to a new level – hundreds of people are being asked to hug a whole hillfort as part of a campaign to protect the surrounding area from development.
The Hillfort Hug at Old Oswestry Hillfort will take place on Valentine's Day, and organisers have billed the day as a family event. They are urging as many people as possible to demonstrate their support for the nationally important hillfort.
The initiative comes as a Government inspector deliberates over whether areas bordering the 3,000-year-old earthwork earmarked for housing should remain in Shropshire's future local development plan.
Dr George Nash, an archaeologist and adviser to the Hands Off Old Oswestry Hillfort (HOOOH) campaign group which is organising the Hillfort Hug, said: "What happens at Old Oswestry is being seen as a test case that could open the floodgates to indiscriminate development exploiting heritage sites and areas of natural beauty across Britain. We have the short-sightedness of English Heritage and Shropshire Council to thank for putting this important Iron Age monument and potentially other parts of Britain's ancient landscape in this state of planning jeopardy."
Neil Phillips, who lives in Oswestry and is one of the campaigners, said: "We are not against house building and development. But the public wants to see it delivered in the right place, in realistic numbers and in tune with the community's wishes."
He added: "We hope people will join the Old Oswestry hug and show we are ready to protect our heritage and countryside against insensitive development."
Those attending the Hillfort Hug should meet at Gatacre playing fields in Oswestry at 1pm for the short walk to Old Oswestry. HOOOH is asking participants to sign up to the event page on Facebook so that they can plan for likely numbers.
Volunteers are also needed to steward the event. Call (01691) 652918 or message HOOOH on Facebook which has information on parking and other event details.
