Respect existence or expect resistance!
Site phone is live! If you need help getting on site give us a call or message us at 07949490913 – preferably by Signal!
We’re now 24 hours into our Summer Gathering and our schedule of workshops is beginning this morning. If you want to come and take part, all site and access information is available at earthfirst.uk
Hope to see you here. Love and rage!
Come one! Come all! Bring your friends!
EF!ers have secured the squatted site for this year’s Summer Gathering which is (drum roll please)… on Moscar Moor in the Peak District!
Grid ref: 53.382678,-1.680292
What3Words: blotches.weep.glass
EF!ers have been beavering away since the early hours to set up some basic infrastructure and now require all hands on deck to get Big Top up!
For those of ya coming from Sheffield, the site is accessible by a half hour direct bus ride from the city centre, on the 257 bus to Cutthroat Bridge. The bus runs from about 8am until 6pm (except on Sundays) – any gaps in the service should be filled by a shuttle. It will then be a 5 minute walk on a slightly bumpy, narrow track next to the road, and then up a track with a steep section.
Or for those of ya rolling in from the west you can take the Hope Valley line to Bamford, from there the site will be a ten minute bus journey, also on the 257.
There is no on-site parking, and hardly any nearby. There is a layby at Cutthroat Bridge, however this should be prioritised for site vehicles, people with access needs, shuttle run vehicles, and people who aren’t us who want to go on a walk. So if you’re not in that category, please find a place to park elsewhere and take the bus or walk. You are very welcome to do drop offs at the gate.
Please bring some water and a packed lunch if you’re arriving today, as the first scheduled meal won’t be until the evening, assuming the rest of set up goes to plan! If you can bring food to share – all the better 😋
Check in with each other during set up, and take regular breaks for hydration and sun block! There’s a role for everyone and no one should feel like they’re being forced to do tasks they don’t feel 100% safe doing!!
The gathering will last until Monday 17th, which is the pack down day. On Monday we ask folks to help pack down the site or go home so we don’t have to source food for an excess number of people. On Monday there will be breakfast, but no lunch or dinner.
Hope to see you soon on this beautiful space we’ve reclaimed!
Love and rage!
Why here?
This year’s Earth First! Summer Gathering is on a part of the Moscar Estate. But why did we decide to squat some land here and not somewhere else?
Moscar is a 6000-acre grouse shooting estate in the Peak District which is owned by the Duke of Rutland, a rightSite announced! wing aristocrat who lives in a fancy castle in Leicestershire. He is a fox hunter who also owns the Belvoir Estate, just to help paint the picture. His sole interest in this land is to use it for the blood sport of shooting grouse – and it is ruthlessly managed to achieve this.
Grouse moorland management is devastating for animal welfare, ecology and the climate. The Hunt Investigation Team surveyed Moscar between 2017 and 2022, and found that the gamekeepers systematically use guns and traps to murder all potential predators of grouse, such as foxes and birds of prey. Other animals end up in the firing line too, with 71% of snare catches belonging to species they weren’t targeting as grouse predators, such as badgers and lambs.
Part of grouse moor management is the regular setting of so-called ‘controlled’ fires, in order to remove areas of heather, as grouse eat the green shoots of heather regrowing. These fires often run out of control and burn for days, creating wildfires which kill wildlife and destroying the vital peat carbon sink, all while accelerating the climate crisis. In 2023, Moscar Estate deliberately set fire to large areas of its land, blanketing Sheffield in smoke and causing a public outcry.
We’re here in part to support a local campaign called Reclaim our Moors. They are demanding that the Duke of Rutland sell the estate back to the public for a token sum of £1, so it can return to being used for the good of all life – not just the rich, murdering landowners. You can find out more and participate at these events:
Saturday 15th: Introduction to the Reclaim Our Moors campaign
Sunday 16th: Join the annual ROM protest against grouse shooting. This will involve a ~5km hike out to the ROM rally spot, where there will be speeches and music from 12pm. Come to the workshop on Saturday to find out more!
Earth First Summer Gathering 2026
12th- 17th August, Peak District
Nearest Train Station: Sheffield
More info:
Travel planning guide
Fire safety information
What is a squatted site?
Hear ye, Hear ye!! You are invited to five days of cross-movement pollination and solidarity in the form of workshops, skill shares, crafts, games and political education. These gatherings are a space for those who believe in the liberation of all life to put our heads together and dream new worlds into being. Come along and learn about past environmental struggles and movement victories, biocentrism, green anarchy, current direct action and social justice campaigns, and let’s figure out how we can tear the capitalist system a new one.
Beautiful surroundings, kid’s space, live music and late-night jams, delicious vegan scran, and much more, all within a stones throw of Sheffield! Bring ya hiking boots and your dancing shoes, it’s gonna be glorious!
More info including about accessibility and transport, wellbeing and covid will be shared here nearer the time. No need to sign up, just turn up and bring ya mates. If you need to get in touch, if you have a proposal or have any Qs you can email earthfirst.uk@proton.me
We don’t rely on algorithms or adverts to get the word out about these gatherings, we rely on you sharing this with your comrades and networks xx
TL;DR
1) Covid is still a threat and we are all responsible for protecting the most vulnerable among us.
2) Please do a lateral flow test (LFT) before coming to the gathering (yes, they’re annoying, so is getting covid)
3) If you feel ill during the gathering please take a test, we will have ones available. We will still look after you.
Last year we had several people leave the summer gathering with covid and take it to another event later the same week. This sucked for the people who were ill. It also sucked for other people attending the second event. We would very much prefer this did not to happen again.
The mainstream societal view is that covid is no longer a threat, this is unfortunately very much not the case. While catching covid might mean “just a cold” for you, this is very much not the case for everyone at the gathering. For those of us who are immunocompromised, have existing health conditions etc it can be far more severe, disabling and dangerous. It is also a much greater risk for those who have caring responsibilities for people more vulnerable.
Much like any threat, it is impossible to completely remove the risk. The good news is that the gathering is outside where the transmission rates are much lower. It is still not zero, especially in crowded areas like lunch/dinner queues, morning meeting & busy workshops.
The less-good news is that many people from across these islands and beyond will be travelling to the gathering. Covid, like all infectious diseases, clusters. By having many people from many different places we are at an increased risk that someone is exposed to a cluster of covid. There is also the risk of people catching covid while they are travelling.
There are several things we can do to reduce the likelihood of an outbreak at the gathering.
1) Do not come to the gathering if you are unwell – yes, even if it’s “just a small cold”. We know that it sucks to miss out, but this year will be the 32nd summer gathering. There will be one next year too.
2) Do a Lateral Flow Test (LFT) test before travelling to the gathering – yes, even if you feel better than you ever have before (we’re very happy for you if so). LFTs can test for covid even if you don’t have symptoms. If it’s positive please don’t come to the gathering until you test negative (see above). Tests are easily available in pharmacies and larger supermarkets. If you are unable to do a test before travelling, there will be tests freely available when you arrive. Yeah we now they’re unpleasant and annoying…they’re still important to do.
3) Do a test if you are ill during the gathering – yes even if it’s only a little bit ill. If at any point during the gathering you feel unwell, please do an LFT test. Don’t worry if it’s positive!! There is no shame in it and we will still look after you! You will be asked not to go to crowded areas but you will very much not be kicked out!
4) Masking – you are very welcome to wear a mask during the gathering, but we are not asking everyone to mask as a standard as there will normally be plenty of space and fresh air around us. If you are in a crowded and unventilated space such as a workshop, you might want to consider wearing a mask (which will be available for free at welcome desk). You may want to mask for other reasons – masks are cool and fun (unlike surveillance states!). Also consider wearing a mask while travelling to the gathering, especially if you have a long journey.
If you have any questions please contact earthfirst.uk@proton.me or ask at the welcome desk when you arrive.
Let’s keep each other healthy. Love and rage!
We have some workshops lined up for the summer gathering! Some titles include…
International Solidarity Movement in Palestine, Access to Land for Disabled Folks, Biocentrism 101 , EF! goes prepping, First Aid, Reclaim Our Moors, Organisation against G7, Action Climbing, AI, History of the Luddites, Eugenics & GM food, Reclaiming Birth, Tech security, Kurdish freedom movement, Electrics, Green Anarchism 101, Consent*, Visible mending* Reclaiming Play*, Foraged Sculptures**, Forest School activities**
*all ages
**for kids
and much much more!
How much money?
This gathering is as DIY as it gets, and doing it ourselves also means funding it ourselves. No one profits off of these gatherings. No one gets paid.
Gatherings always run on a donation basis, and no one is turned away for lack of funds. At the welcome desk you will be able to donate whatever feels right, based on ‘solidarity pricing’:
Solidarity pricing: Have more, pay more. Have less, pay less.
Here’s a little guide to help you judge how much you can afford compared to others, it’s not just about income, other factors are important. Class, wealth and experiences of systemic oppression all play a part. Remember, it’s just a guide, an imperfect way to create a more economically liberating model while we work to smash capitalism and create different economic systems.
– Having above average income
– Owning land or property
– Being likely to inherit property or wealth
– Having significant wealth, savings or investments
– Being easily able to meet basic needs and can afford luxuries (holidays, takeaway)
– Having recognised educational background and qualifications (good schools, degrees, postgrad etc.)
– Being easily able to get well paid work
– Having a safety net or strong social support networks (eg a parents house to retreat to, friends with money etc.)
– Earning less than average income
– Supporting dependents or having care responsibilities (children, relatives, partners etc.)
– Having disabilities or long term ill-health
– Regularly being in contact with state/institutional violence
– Precarious migration status (eg being a Refugee, asylum seeker or person without papers)
– Being unable to legally work
– Experiencing financial distress (eg. unexpected court fees, losing a job, sudden rent increases)
– Experiencing systemic oppression due to things such as race, class, gender, neurodiversity, sexuality
No one is turned away for lack of funds, please don’t let cost put you off attending!
We all have different relationships to money and we encourage everyone to be honest with themselves. The emotions that come up when we talk about what we can afford can often cloud our judgement. Capitalism breeds a culture of scarcity – for some this feels like emotional instability and uncertainty, and for others this looks like material poverty and a lack of resources. It is impossible to talk about things like class, money, wealth or income without thinking about systemic oppressions like racism or ableism.
There are lots of hidden costs involved with gatherings like this. Some stuff can’t be found in bins or borrowed, and while we try to keep costs down, there is equipment we would like to purchase to make summer camps like this more accessible in the future, (eg track matting, a minibus, lighting, solar panels, hearing induction loop,.) By donating more generously you are helping achieve this!
No one is turned away from EF! for a lack of funds, but if you are planning on spending any money at the gathering, cash is preferred as there’s not a cash machine near the site!
EF! is as DIY as it gets, which means sometimes the card reader doesn’t have signal, and do you really want to give someone your whole entire government name so you do a bank transfer to buy their zine?
EF! doesn’t receive funding from billionaires and donations help cover costs like food, kit maintenance, hiring vans and buying equipment to increase accessibility of the gatherings. If you are unsure what you should contribute, please have a read of this solidarity pricing guide
This is your (non-exhaustive) kit list for the EF! Summer Gathering!
tent, sleeping bag, roll mat or hammock, mosquito net, tarp
head torch, ear plugs, face mask
good shoes for lots of walking, sun cream, battery pack + cable
long trousers and socks (tick proofing!)
bug repellent (mosquito proofing! no nasty chemicals plz)
toothbrush, any meds you need for the week
bowl, mug, cutlery
crafts & propaganda
cash!! (for zines, books, snacks, donations to cover gathering costs)
Amplified music can be very disruptive to wildlife, especially during periods of extreme weather when creatures are already stressed. We love a wild woodland rave as much as the next EF!er, however to make sure that our presence in the ecosystem is as low-impact as possible, evening entertainment will be an acoustic affair at this year’s summer gathering. We are looking for activities that everyone can get involved with in the evenings and will have some very special performances🐴🐷🐲. If you can host a evening activity, quiz, wide game, an open mic or a ceilidh please get in touch!
The workshop schedule for the EF! Summer Gathering is filling up!!
EF!ers asked for more hands-on and practical workshops and opportunities to learn with our whole bodies, so to meet this need there will be workshops on 12V electrics, climbing, herbalism, tech security and more! Please get in touch if you have your own practical skills to share!
To follow on from convos at the last year summer gathering there will be workshops on topics such as cancel culture, artificial intelligence & data centres, and movement strategy. We’re especially interested to include workshops on themes such as prison abolition or ecocide & the military industrial complex. If you have one on those topics please get in touch!
And because we are always welcoming new people into the movement, we will have our regular workshops discussing key principles of green ecological direct action movements, including workshops on green anarchy & biocentrism, and an intro to EF!
To get in touch, email earthfirst.uk@proton.me
