On Sunday 15th March, hundreds of people descended on Kenilworth in Warwickshire to stand for the trees on a ‘last chance to see’ walk through ancient woodlands in the area which HS2 Ltd have signalled their intent to fell during bird nesting season.
Armed with chainsaws, Stop HS2 woodland protectors and Extinction Rebellion activists marched to Broadwells Wood with a clear message for Boris Johnson to rethink HS2. @gailbradbrook @ChrisGPackham @stophs2 @joerukin @fabianharrison_ #StopHS2 #ClimateCrisis @CateCrocker pic.twitter.com/d7i1Orkoh5
— WildTalk Post (@WildtalkP) March 16, 2020
This specific weekend had been chosen as HS2 Ltd had applied for an injunction preventing people from entering the parts of Broadwells Wood and Crackley Woods that they have taken possession of and intend to fell, along with all of Birches Wood in its entirety. The injunction would also cover South Cubbington Wood.
The disturbing highlight of the day had to be when 500 Boris Johnson masks were given out, along with a dozen or so chainsaws, which were then taken into the woods.
Here’s the report on the day fro BBC Midlands Today:
And a few bits of the social media coverage
100s of @BorisJohnson s equipped with chainsaws march towards Broadwells wood – just one of the 108 ancient woodlands that will be damaged or destroyed by the construction of HS2, in this time of supposed climate emergency.#ReThinkHS2 Now! 💪🌳 pic.twitter.com/pgVRo1Uw6U
— Fabian Harrison 🌍 (@fabianharrison_) March 15, 2020
At the #StopHS2 walk through the beautiful ancient woodlands that are due to be felled by Tuesday. Please donate to https://t.co/QFzPPlhASJ to put a stop to save our trees, our water, our land and our history 💚🌱🌲🍀☘🌿🌴🌾🌳 pic.twitter.com/N8vc19fN8J
— Trixi Bell (@TrixiBell5) March 15, 2020
The stuff of nightmares. #StopHS2 pic.twitter.com/sbqwXkrCqr
— Joe Rukin (@joerukin) March 15, 2020
I couldn’t get to today’s HS2 event unfortunately , top work to those who braved the weather to stand for our trees !
We must stay strong for our environment to ensure that @BorisJohnson does #ReThinkHS2 .
You can donate to @StopHS2’s funder at : https://t.co/XVB7oIjWLW pic.twitter.com/EkawD38TPt
— Chris Packham (@ChrisGPackham) March 15, 2020
Day of #protest Over 100 ancient woodlands to be destroyed by #HS2 Find out more at https://t.co/syUNYXnBBu and support @ChrisGPackham’s legal challenge #rethinkhs2 @WoodlandTrust @ExtinctionR pic.twitter.com/Z4oW9ukn1s
— Lucy Hall (@Lucylapwing) March 15, 2020
STOP IT NOW. WE DON’T NEED IT! WE NEED TREES TO HELP COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE. PEOPLE CAN: SKPE, CONFERENCE CALLS, ETC AN ANCIENT WOODLAND WILL TAKE 100 YEARS+