Ingrid and Duke

Just over 4 years ago they decided to drill for oil in a beautiful spot in Woodburn forest. It happened just as I said goodbye to my pal of nearly 13 years Storm. I had been following the story but didnt think much of it until I saw the posts that they were chopping trees down to clear the site. I'd lost my pal, was medically retired fro my job through depression and was totally pissed off cause they were going to drill in my forest so for the first time in my life I did something about it. Went to the camp on Paisley Road and made some friends for life. We set up a camp and got issued with court orders to leave, that was kind of scary but exciting too, first time in my life I've ever got caught doing something 'wrong' Made our new camp across the road and then the dreaded day arrived when the drillers came. We slow walked up the road in front of them and then one of the guys jumped onto the drill and that stopped them for hours, our hero, but unfortunately they got their way and entered the forest, I sobbed at the amount of lorries went in. They drilled for oil and we watched, our group got larger, we had a visit from the European Friends of the Earth, got mentions from celebrities on Twitter and were constantly on local news. Meantime, me, I was lost without Storm, I pitched a tent at the camp because i couldn't bear to go home to an empty house. So I was at the camp one night when managed to get a signal to to Facebook and saw a German Shepherd called Duke at Lisburn dog pound needing rehomed. It was a sign for sure. When mum and dad were dating my granny had a Shepherd called Duke so I knew this guy was meant for me. I went to see him and he came home with me that day. He became a regular visitor at the camp and got me through a very emotional experience. I'm very glad to say that they didn't find any oil, just water and walking the drill out of the site was an amazing experience. I've got loads of pics and loads more tales, it really was an amazing experience, I was so glad I plucked up the courage to be part of it.

Ingrid Gault