Our camp is becoming a really lovely and functional basecamp. The shower block is ready and the storeroom is looking great. A gas tea urn has turned up too, which makes it much easier to enjoy a hot drink! We are singing and collaborating. We have good water systems too, so we can now provide comfortable and safe spaces. Local people turn up in dribs and drabs and then decide to stay. They are careful to maintain their physical distance. Some really amazing people with skills have come along, such as arborologist and a woman from an animal rescue. They want to learn to climb; they want to learn to do stuff that they’ve been watching others do, such as direct action by throwing themselves under diggers. They are completely in awe and want to stay forever. It’s such a magical bunch of people in our camp.
In Broadwells Woods we still have 3 occupied treehouses up. Yesterday the National Eviction Team (NET) went over there with some climbers and a few of us went over too. They did the same as in Crackley Woods where they have a little chat to suss out the people in the treehouses, their knowledge, capabilities, strengths and energy, and the state of the treehouses. It’s kind of a health and safety check, I suppose. There were only 2 people from NET and they were hot, sweaty and not happy. They let us give up some iodine and plasters, so they are being compliant. There were people from our camp watching this to ensure nothing untowards was happening.
Chainsaws are in what they call the ‘undergrowth’ of Broadwells. These are the smaller trees, the ones that will not have any trace of bats in them—although there is nothing to say they don’t have traces of birds in them. Work has also sadly continued at Crackley Woods at quite a fast pace. There are usually 5 or 6 of the tree-murdering grabbing machines and then a lot of chippers. It’s just going straight from tree to chipper and it’s really quite disturbing. The noise on the first day was simply overwhelming: a combination of trees cracking in the chippers and the horrible dust and the heat. So we just put some loud music angry folk music and blasted it and had a regen day. Overall I think we are turning a page in the Crackley camp. There is a positive mood and we are getting organised!
We can always use more support, so if you want to take your daily exercise here you will be warmly welcome (whilst always maintaining a 2m distance!). Please also consider donating to our fundraiser to get the supplies and equipment we need to keep disrupting HS2 works: https://fundrazr.com/HS2Rebellion
