The photograph was created for documentation uses, with no initial intentions. In the photograph there is symbol on the side of the traveller’s vehicle, this represents travellers, this shows solidarity within the community. The travellers are an example the present the contested landscapes, and that a landscape is not just a view, but more, as it has social, cultural, political and economic implications that can affect and change the landscape (Bender, 1993). The image shows how the new age traveller has intentionally sign written on the side of the vehicle, for a purpose, to draw attention to the constraints that travellers come across. This quote is purposely written to prove and create awareness of their beliefs and what travellers feel about the Stonehenge, constructing that the land should not be restricted (Hetherington, 2000). However, because the land is restricted, so is their sense of freedom, which is a way travellers relate and identify with the countryside. Their freedom has been eliminated from this landscape. The land restrictions that are presented in the image produce negative illustrations of the landscape. There have been preventative methods adapted in the countryside to prevent the settlement of travellers (Davis, 1997). From the travellers view, the land which has been used for a Free Festival for several years has been restricted by the police, reducing their movements and lifestyle, therefore marginalising them from the landscape, because of their negatively perceived lifestyles (McKay, 1996). The photograph presents that the new age travellers are attempting to disobey the law, and their presence is to protect the landscape. On the other hand, the police presence is vital in regards to protect the landscape, and from the view of the law, travellers are a group of people who are seen as antagonistic to these views. Even though, traveller’s interests stem from environmental issues, communal and alternative living styles, with different identifications and travellers have been involved in a variety of landscape protests, such as anti-road protests, environmentalist and one being the peace convoy in 1982. Moreover, they are part of a new British youth culture, as a group to protect the landscape (Hetherington, 1998), although, travellers have not been perceived this way. The issue does not arise around whether this alternative lifestyle group should hold their free festival at Stonehenge; because access is limited, but how this group is being marginalised from populations because their actions do not fit within regular normalities (Bender, 1998). Here the ‘normal’ way to use the land would be as a visitor, but new age travellers are not seen as tourists (Hetherington, 2000).
The Stonehenge landscape is contested (Bender, 1993) and a contemporary symbol of national identity which presents a symbol of heritage that should be preserved and protected; due to the long history of the landscape it should be conserved. The travellers do not oppose of this but they see the landscape as a spiritual symbol, residencies, and part of life, which they should freely have access to. Travellers gather at Stonehenge for big events such as the summer solstice. However, Stonehenge is seen as a commodity of the capitalist for profitability, due to consumption through tourism. Conservationists and the archaeologists bound together and pointed out that the new age travellers and any access to the stones creates damage to the heritage site (Bender, 1998). This alters the landscapes meanings, and use. This I presented in the image, you can see the police creating a barrier, as a preventative to stop travellers encroaching on the landscape, and this shows how important this space is to the British countryside. Stonehenge is sought to be a museum which holds history and invites visitation to enjoy the heritage of the British landscape but without walls or barriers as a construction to the viewing of the landscape. Contrary to this, are implemented restrictions are aimed towards the new age travellers. However, travellers do not relate to this landscape as a museum but with a connection of this open space. The landscape to travellers is seen as a site of freedom, but also resistance; which is shown in the image, between travellers and the police. The concept Hetherington (2000) explores is that Stonehenge is a museum with no walls but constrictions; this represents visions of modernity, due to the controlled factors and restrictions that have been placed against new age travellers actions, and created preventatives in order to expel the celebrated Free festival in that location. The meaning of this landscape has changed. Stonehenge as a place has declined in the meaning and values that the landscape had in the past because this landscape was the site of gathering, freedom, a place where the alternative travelling lifestyle had begun, and so many individuals have an attachment to this landscape. However, Stonehenge has become an area of which new travellers have been excluded from, since 1985 (Hetherington, 2000) and therefore the meaning of the place has changed. The background of the free festivals presents how important this landscape is to travellers. However, this landscape is also seen as a heritage site, and this is an important aspect of the English countryside and heritage as a way to preserve the past within modern rituals (Bender, 1993).