Autumn Equinox: Campers 'removed' from Stonehenge byways

English Heritage, Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire Police worked together on the plans for the Autumn Equinox, with the normal event cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It marks the time of the year when the length of the night and day is exactly the same, with the word 'equinox' coming for the Latin for 'equal night'.

Wiltshire Council tell us they closed the byways surrounding Stonehenge at 8.00am yesterday morning (Monday 21st September).

The authority worked with police throughout the day to move people on who had turned up to camp on the byway.

Some of those who left the area then went to Woodhenge to continue their celebrations.

Wiltshire Police 'monitored the group through the night'.

Wiltshire Police have given us a statement on their involvement:

“Yesterday afternoon (21/09) we were made aware of a group of people gathered on land close to Woodhenge, who were marking the Autumn Equinox.

“Police officers attended the site and found around 30 vehicles parked there and between 40 and 50 people in attendance.

“Following the national guidance, they engaged with the groups and gave words of advice about the importance of social distancing. They also spoke to them to ensure music wasn’t being played loudly.

“We will continue to monitor the gathering and continue engaging with those in attendance.

“Extra patrols have been carried out and we are anticipating that the group will move on this evening.”

VERY QUIET AT STONEHENGE

English Heritage have confirmed they 'had a very quiet night and morning' at Stonehenge.

They've said a 'small number of people peacefully observed the dawn from a nearby field'.

The lack of access to Stonehenge for the Autumn Equinox caused some anger amongst the pagan and druid community, saying the stone circle should be classed as a place of worship.

Salisbury's senior druid, King Arthur Pendragon, still went along to the monument to see in the sunrise: