Activists protesting against the construction of HS2 headed to Colne Valley in between Northwood and Ruislip to stop the felling of ancient trees last month.
12 activists from Extinction Rebellion climbed up in trees off Harvil Road Wildlife Protection Camp in an attempt to stop contractors in their tracks.
On April 27, contractors planned to flatten a spot of ancient trees and diverse wildlife to build a power station to power the train and services to it. Activists were successful in stopping the trees being felled but they know they will be back again soon.
Extinction Rebellion joined forces with Stop HS2, Green Party campaigners and local residents to raise concerns about the destruction, they claim the HS2 development is causing to the environment. They believe that London’s water supply is under threat by the HS2 engineering plans in the Colne Valley.
The group want to prevent damage to the chalk aquifer south of Harefield which provides public drinking water to 22 per cent of Londoners.
Sarah Green of Save Colne Valley said protesting HS2 has added a profound affect on her life.
She said: “I’ve been fighting this for many years, I stood for the Green Party for Pinner, Northwood and Ruislip and I will be again. I was served with an injunction with the Green Party leader Jonathan Bartley.
“We weren’t in the trees, they are seeking my home and business, they just want my assets in compensation – this is ridiculous, my business is being taken away.
“I can’t even put it into words, these nature reserves should not be destroyed, these are so precious. The chalk in the valley provides our water, and all of that claiming I’ve broken the injunction on false evidence. I’m put under financial pressure and my business is under threat. I don’t think they can get away with it.”
She added: “There was a planned road closure on Harvil Road, it’s the main artery for Harvil Hospital, HS2 has closed it on many occasions, they wanted to move heavy machinery to cut the trees next to the road.
“People from Extinction Rebellion helped us by staying in the trees from 6am on Saturday to 6pm on Sunday, they basically hung around for an hour and never came in. We know at least three ambulances with flashing lights on came through. The protest was a success, they didn’t fell trees, but they’ll be back.”
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