frequently asked questions

We know you are curious... so here we will try to address some of the most common questions people seem to have about us.
If, after reading, you have more questions, just get in touch and we will try to answer them (and add them to this list for others to see!)

about the camp

• Where do you get your water from?
  Well, a mixture of sources. Sometimes we bring water with us (sometimes it comes from the Welsh valleys and is very good indeed!) and sometimes we visit a garage and get some from a standpipe. When we have larger events we get our own standpipe and draw for a day or so from the mains. It is safe to say we always have good fresh, clean water.
• What about your fire?
  We burn wood mostly, though sometimes in the winter we buy some coal too. We get our fuel from several places - sometimes we buy a load of logs, we carefully collect fallen wood (but we leave the forestry piles for insect habitats etc), and we are donated wood by people who support the camp.
• Isn't it cold? How do you keep warm/dry?
  The fire helps! But over the years we have developed innovative ways of remaining warm and dry even through the hardest winter months. Cunning methods include the use of Karrimats on chairs (keep the back and kidneys warm against the cold/wind), plenty of thermals and layers, good socks, boots, hats and gloves - and keeping busy! We also bring waterproofs and have tarps and shelters for coping with the rain.
• What do you eat?
  We eat very well at camp! We cook predominantly vegan food (though we are by no means all vegan or vegetarian - but it means we can all eat the same dinners) and we try to cook nice things over the fire. The days of veggie slop are over. Over the years our culinary highlights have incldued: vegan sushi, home-made pies cooked in our DIY oven, sauted vegeatables with white wine sauce, bean casseroles with cider, thai noodles, and so on.
• Do you get hassle from locals/police etc?
  We have reasonably good relations with local people and the MoD police. Of course, for some people our very presence is a challenge to their need to get on with their lives while ignoring all the bad stuff in the world. The fact that they feel threatened in some way seems to provoke them to anger and abuse. However, this is not too frequent. We welcome constructive dialogue with the local community and welcome visitors during daylight hours.
  Our relationship with the Ministry of Defence and Thames Valley police forces is variable. We try to see them as individual human beings with their own ideas and consciences, flawed sometimes by their willingness to blindly follow orders, but ultimately redeemable.

about the campers

• Where do you come from?
  Everywhere! We come from across Britain and beyond. The nature of camp makes for a transient community. We come and we go, we are from here and from there. The spirit of women's resistance is everywhere.
• Are you all lesbians then?
  Been waiting for that one! No, we are not all lesbians. We represent many forms of women's sexuality - we are heterosexual, lesbian, bisexual, militantly queer, active, celibate, married, single, in long-term relationships, etc. We have the same range of sexual identities you'd find in your average high street. Just because we choose to hang out with women doesn't (necessarily) make us dykes, it does, however, probably mean we a) have some analysis of male power and violence and b) like hanging out - and working - with other women.
• How do you make decisions?
  Slowly! We try to make decisions by consensus (while also recognising its limitations). There are no "leaders". We try to listen to each other and respect different opinions and ideas. Sometimes this means we take time to respond to things, and for those used to strict hierarchical structures (eg the police or military) it can be hard to appreciate that we work in a very different way.