Stop HS2 protestors ordered to leave camps in ancient woodlands at Cubbington and near Kenilworth

Following a hearing at Birmingham High Court last Tuesday (March 17) the 'woodland protectors' camped out in ancient woodland in Warwickshire have been told to pack up their things and leave.

Having vacated the camp at South Cubbington Wood on Tuesday (March 24) when the court injunctions came into place, Matt Bishop, who first had the idea to set it up, said: “The campaign to Save Cubbington Woods was founded on the spiritual principles of non-violent direct action - to resist, with peaceful courage, in the face of adversity.

"Our efforts have been acknowledged by the High Court.

"But the High Court has also granted an injunction preventing us from remaining in these woods.

"To show my respect for the need for law and social order, today I will very regretfully leave these woods.

"But we cannot expect a peaceful and law-abiding society if we have one law for the privileged few and a different law for others.

"On April 1st, HS2 Ltd intends to fell four areas of ancient woodland in Warwickshire. Cubbington Woods, Crackley Woods, Broadwells Wood and Birches Wood.

"This is during the nesting season and is a blatant breach of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

"Furthermore, the so-called ‘Oakervee Review’ of HS2 ignored all environmental consultations from the leading British wildlife NGOs such as the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and the Woodland Trust, and it has failed to even recognise the legal requirements of the Paris Agreement.

"So, we have a state-sponsored company that shows no respect for our own British law, or even international law.

"What message does this send to us?

"If HS2 Ltd proceeds to fell ancient woodland during the nesting season, who will stand for the trees?”

In response, a HS2 Ltd spokesman said: “This is land that is legally possessed by HS2. Protests such as this are costly to the taxpayer and are a threat to the security and safety of the public and our workers.

“Some of the UK’s most experienced and leading ecological consultants have worked on the route’s development.

"We have professionally qualified environmental staff on site during the works operations, and have consent from the authorised bodies, including Natural England, for all planned work.

“It is climate change that poses the biggest threat to the environment in the UK.

"Once HS2 is in operation it will be seven times greener than travelling by car and 17 times greener than domestic air travel. We’d urge environmental groups to help us in getting people out of their cars, off planes and onto low-carbon, high-speed rail.”