Today marked the first day of the hearing, which is being divided across two days, with our side presenting first and the Defendant responding tomorrow.

The legal team felt encouraged by the way the judge engaged with the case and by the level of understanding shown throughout the day. While it is far too early to draw any conclusions, it felt like a positive and constructive start.

Proceedings began with submissions from Sasha Blackmore KC of Landmark Chambers on unlawful conduct. He was followed by Stephen Cragg KC of Doughty Street Chambers on the unlawful obtaining and misuse of data, and then Sian McGibbon of Landmark Chambers on the human rights breaches.

It was an important day, and we were also encouraged to see the case receiving wider media attention, including national coverage.

Tomorrow will be the Defendant’s turn to present their case, and we will share a further update as soon as we can.

In the meantime, we understand that surveyors have been out on the land again today. If you have seen them, please continue to report to New South Law at [email protected].

Thank you again for your continued support. It means a great deal as we move through these significant days.

Dear Friends and Supporters,

A significant update from us.

We have won our appeal.

It has taken thousands of hours of work, with people from many disciplines coming together with real care, intelligence and resolve. The support behind this has already been extraordinary, and we want to thank everyone who has stood with us so far.

For those of you who have already generously donated to get us to this stage, thank you. We are not asking you to contribute again unless you absolutely can.

If you were waiting until we really needed you, we need you now.

We are now in a position where we have a very direct ask.

We need to find 500 people willing to give £250 to help carry this case through its final stage.

We are in court next week.

This is not a symbolic complaint or a local disagreement dressed up as something larger. It is a serious legal challenge with the potential to set a clearer standard for how private developers, operating with state-backed powers, can treat farmers, landowners and rural occupiers.

If we succeed, this case could help protect people far beyond our own communities. It could strengthen the rights of those facing pressure, forced access, unlawful data gathering, and that steady sense that once a project is in motion, the rural voice no longer counts.

Some people backing this will be farmers. Some will be landowners. Some will simply believe in fairness, due process, and the principle that rural people should not be ridden over by powerful interests.

Some may be able to give more. Others may want to come together with friends or family to make up £250 between them.

This case is about far more than one company or one stretch of land.

It is about whether private firms handed extraordinary powers can act without proper restraint.

It is about whether ordinary people still have meaningful rights when the pressure comes.

And it is about whether rural Britain is simply expected to absorb all of this quietly.

If you can be one of the 500, please donate £250 today.

If you know someone who could help us, please forward this message to them personally and ask them to stand with us.

With thanks,

Natalie Barstow
On behalf of Justice for Wales

We’re delighted to share that permission was granted today for the case to move forward to a full judicial review hearing.

This is a genuinely significant moment in the case and a real step forward. It means the case can now move ahead to the next stage, after a great deal of hard work and perseverance.

We wanted supporters to hear this news as soon as possible. More information will be shared in due course, once it’s appropriate to do so.

Above all, thank you. Thank you to everyone who has stood with this case — through financial support, time, trust, encouragement and quiet determination. Reaching this point would not have been possible without that collective effort, and it is something we can all take pride in.

On Tuesday, 20 January, the High Court will hear arguments directly from our KCs and barristers and decide whether the case meets the criteria to proceed to a full Judicial Review hearing.  This is part of the “permission phase” of proceedings.

Preparing for the 20 January Hearing

Word is spreading and support over the past few days has been remarkable. More than £18,000 has already been raised towards the £30,000 needed for the next phase of the Judicial Review.  Thank you to everyone who has contributed, shared the page, or sent messages of support - it is making a real difference.

Where things stand

Since the Judicial Review was issued, important progress has been made:

• Survey activity across all three projects was paused for two months between November and 05 January
• Over 21,000 pages of disclosure were forced and are now being reviewed
• GreenGEN changed parts of its approach, including revised notices and published protocols

These improvements came from people standing together and insisting on lawful process.

Why funding now matters

We have been granted “Aarhus protection”, which limits our exposure to the other side’s costs to £25,000, but we must still fund our own legal team, court fees, and the extensive work required to present the case properly.

Reaching the £30,000 target ensures that:

• The case is fully argued at the 20 January hearing
• The extensive evidence gathered from affected people is properly before the Court
• Communities are not forced back into silence through lack of resources

This challenge is not about stopping progress - it is about ensuring progress is lawful, fair, and respectful of people, land, and communities.

Standing together

Whatever the outcome of the hearing, something powerful has already been achieved: stronger communities, shared resolve, and the knowledge that rural Wales does not have to face these pressures alone.

If you can help us bridge the final gap in this fundraising drive, it will directly support preparation for the 20 January hearing.

Natalie
Justice for Wales

Over the past few days, we’ve seen another surge of support — £7,191 raised so far, from people right across rural Wales and beyond. Every single donation is helping keep this case moving at a decisive moment.

Your support is already making a real difference.

We’ve now published a full Donation FAQ on our website so supporters can clearly see where funds go, how they’re safeguarded, and how every penny is used. Please take a look and share it widely — transparency builds trust, and trust builds strength:

How the Legal funds are collected and Managed 

But we now face a very practical deadline.

We must reach £10,000 to unlock the pledges already made.

If we don’t hit the target, CrowdJustice cannot release those funds — meaning vital money will be automatically returned instead of supporting the legal work.

We are close. And with your help, we can get there quickly.

If you haven’t donated yet — or if you can share this appeal into your own local groups, WhatsApp chats, or community pages — please do. Those small actions genuinely move the needle.

This case is gathering pace in the High Court, and while we cannot share everything publicly yet, we can say this:

Your support is directly strengthening the legal action at a moment when it matters most.

Thank you to everyone who has stood with us so far. Your backing is what keeps this challenge going — and what ensures rural Wales is not ignored.

Let’s get this over the line together.

Please donate and share now.

The past week has shown just how powerfully communities can come together. 52 supporters have now donated, bringing us to almost £5,500, and every single donation has helped strengthen this case at a crucial moment.

Our new social channels are also gathering momentum fast — over 300 people joined us on Facebook this week alone, sharing posts, spreading awareness, and helping the story reach far beyond farming circles.

This case is moving quickly. We’ve had some positive developments in the High Court process, and we’ll share more detail as soon as we are allowed to. What we can say now is that the support coming in is already making a genuine impact — but we will need to maintain this pace.

If you believe rural Wales deserves fairness, safety, respect, and lawful process, please stay involved.

If you haven’t already joined our growing network, you can do that here — it’s open to everyone:

🔗 justiceforwales.org/join

And please follow and share our updates so we can reach as many people as possible at this critical time:

📘 Facebook: JusticeforWales

📸 Instagram: @justiceforwales

🐦 Twitter/X: @justiceforwales

Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared, and stood with us so far. People power has carried us to this point — and with your continued support, we can make sure rural Wales is heard loud and clear in the weeks ahead.

Please share this campaign far and wide.