Residents forced from their homes by a massive wildfire in Wales say they were appalled by a giant political mural painted on a blackened hillside above their homes, describing it as an 'intrusion into grief'. Two keen walkers marched up the mountain and removed Greenpeace's 'graffiti' with garden rakes.
Community Outrage Over Mural
The campaign group created the 1,120 sq metre 'land art' to show its opposition to oil and gas drilling. It featured an image of Prime Minister Andy Burnham clutching an oil drum with the climate change message, 'Our house is on fire Andy'. For residents in Capelulo, Conwy, the message was too close to home, North Wales Live reports. Last month around 200 acres of mountain land above the village were devastated by a large wildfire that came within yards of destroying properties, leading to the evacuation of 36 properties.
Among the residents was mobile hairdresser Allie Evans, who was left dumbstruck when Greenpeace published images of its mural on Monday. 'I can't remember having been so angry and upset all at once,' said Allie, 53. 'It was so disrespectful to the landscape. It was also an intrusion into local grief, which is how we felt when we came back home to see the mountain so utterly changed.'
Residents Take Action
Dean Ward, a Rhos on Sea resident and regular on the Eryri mountains, messaged Allie on Monday suggesting a trip to the offending mural. The pair planned to remove the paint the following day. 'We were so angry we decided not to wait,' said Allie. 'We got permission from the landowner Helen Rowlands, who was just as upset as we were.'
Working with art collective A Letter From Lucy, Greenpeace said it used 'eco-friendly, plastic-free paint' designed for use on sports pitches. In an attempt to avoid lasting impacts, the group said it picked an area of land that had been stripped of organic matter by last month's fire. When Allie and Dean arrived at the site they were appalled. 'They had painted over soil,' said Allie. 'They painted over rocks too, completely staining them. The ground was so porous that it was unlikely to wash off easily.'
Greenpeace Defends Action
The environmental group said it used Conwy's scorched landscape as 'a canvas to send a message the new PM' as debate rages over the Rosebank oil field in the North Sea. Local critics have taken a dim view of the manner of the messaging. Bangor Conwy Môn MS Janet Finch-Saunders accused the group of 'environmental vandalism', saying burnt hillsides should 'not used as a canvas for political protest'.
Areeba Hamid, co-director of Greenpeace UK, said: 'We understand why local residents feel strongly about protecting this landscape and showing respect to people impacted by the Conwy wildfire. This action was not intended to disrespect either but to draw attention to the escalating climate crisis that is putting these beautiful places and communities at risk.'
