FAMILY OPEN DAY TO BE STAGED AT A HS2 PROTESTER CAMPSITE
Campaigners hope to persuade others to join rail line fight
CAMPAIGNERS who set up a woodland camp along the route of HS2 in North Staffordshire are urging other communities to join their fight.
Bluebell Woods Protection Camp was set up at Cash’s Pit, near Swynnerton, in the spring as a protest against the high-speed line proposals.
Now it is home to protesters who have constructed a living space in the woods, complete with sleeping quarters and a cooking area.
The group has also set up a Facebook page, where they share footage of their protests and invite people to visit the camp.
They are hosting a family open day on December 12, from 1pm, where visitors will gather around a campfire, make natural wreaths, and hear from speakers about the campaign.
Ross Monaghan is originally from Lancashire.
The 38-year-old said: “People have come from all over, while others are nomadic. Most of us have been involved in HS2 for a while and come from different campaigning places.
“The collective aim is to engage with local communities, slow down the work, and stop damage to Staffordshire’s green areas.
“When you look at the damage done on phase one, we now know what is coming here.”
Ross said he was angry to hear Prime Minister Boris Johnson talking about ending global deforestation at last month’s COP26 climate summit while trees and forests on the HS2 route were being ripped up.
The announcement that the Government was scrapping the eastern leg of the line, between the East Midlands and Leeds, has been welcomed by those opposing the western leg, which is set to pass through Staffordshire on its way to Crewe.
Ross said: “It has given the local communities hope that we could do something up here.
“When you look at how the climate has changed, and public opinion, that is why we are seeing a growing movement.”
HS2 Ltd has said it will bring a number of benefits, including a low-carbon option for long distance travel.
The HS2 website states: “Phase two A unlocks more rail capacity on the West Coast Mainline.
“This could see services rise from hourly to half-hourly or better between Crewe and Stoke-on-trent to Nuneaton, Tamworth, Lichfield and Rugeley, as well as more services from Crewe to Runcorn and Liverpool, as well as via Crewe between North Wales, Chester and London.
“As part of the Phase two A scheme, 78 hectares of native broadleaved woodland will be planted. Over 13.5 hectares of existing ancient woodland will be boosted by freeing it of invasive species.
“The densest areas of trees will be thinned to help the strongest ones grow faster, which helps promote greater woodland diversity.”