As predicted, Monday 7 January saw the chainsaws back in force on the Bexhill-Hastings Link Rd being built smack through the middle of tranquil Combe Haven.
As predicted, Monday 7 January saw the chainsaws back in force on the Bexhill-Hastings Link Rd being built smack through the middle of tranquil Combe Haven. Despite the fact that the funding for the road isn't yet in place East Sussex County Council seem determined to fell all the trees along the route. With most activity focussed on the area near the railway, just opposite Upper Wilting Farm (TN38 8EG). Activists rapidly occupied trees in the area, and then one of the excavators, also staging a sit-down protest in front of the latter.
“We were up and ready for them at six this morning, before it got light. They were trying to cut trees to the north of the second camp. There are three big oaks there that they clearly wanted to fell but we pushed through the lines of security and got people into the trees”
Two people were arrested and subsequently released: one charged, one cautioned (both for “aggravated trespass”).
“We obviously stopped a lot of what they were planning to do. They were mostly just brush-cutting all day. We were with them until it got dark. I'm not entirely sure what they brought a digger along for but they didn't really get to use it”
Further action – by both road contractors & opponents of the road – is expected to begin early Tuesday (8 January) & more people are needed for both arrestable and non-arrestable roles!And don’t forget the ongoing Camp, not far away, near Adam’s Farm.
[Please note: There is a replacement bus service for the train between Battle and Hastings all weekend (6 & 7 January), so check the times before you leave.]
[Please note: There is a replacement bus service for the train between Battle and Hastings all weekend (6 & 7 January), so check the times before you leave.]
The chainsaws have been silent over Christmas but they’ll soon be back. And when they come, they’ll come early. So: come and defend the trees, and celebrate 12th night (the evening of Sunday 6 January), all in one place!
Bring a dish to share, a song to sing, and be ready to defend the trees early the next morning (Monday 7 January – which also happens to be our best guest of when the contractors will be returning in force). (See here for directions to – and groundrules for – the Camp). Practical workshops – focussing on putting up structures to help with the peaceful defence of the trees – will also be taking place on Saturday 5 January.
Whether or not you plan to stay overnight you’ll probably want to bring a torch, wellies and some eating utensils. If you are going to stay over then you’ll also need to bring water, snacks, bedding and – ideally – a tent. If you haven’t got a tent, let us know, as there may be some spare tent space. The camp is near Adam’s Farm, Crowhurst: see here.
Finally, whether or not you’re able to make any of this weekend’s events, please try and come to the Camp as early as possible on the morning of Monday 7th January (when we anticipate the chainsaws will be back in force). We may be able to offer lifts at 5.45am from Crowhurst. If you require or can offer a lift please let us know – 07926 423 033
The Camp in Crowhurst has been in place continuously since 21 December, and now consists of several tree houses and at least one “fully operational tunnel”!
Current wish list (as at 8am on Fri 4 Jan): personal head torch (donation offered); cooking pot; blankets (esp. ones made of wool or cotton). More info: 07926 423 033.
GROUNDRULES FOR THE CAMP
Please note that the Camp has agreed the following groundrules which it is asking participants to abide by:
1. Peaceful resistance This Camp is about peaceful resistance to the construction of the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road (BHLR). By “peaceful resistance” we mean actions that: (1) do not harm or dehumanise any human being; and (2) Do not threaten to harm or dehumanise any human being. Campers need not subscribe to nonviolence as a life-philosophy, but we do ask that they restrict their activities to peaceful resistance while they are associated with the Camp. Because of the potential risk it poses to chainsaw operators, we do not consider tree spiking to be a form of “peaceful resistance”, and ask that Campers not engage in this practice.
2. Alcohol & drugs policy We want to make this Camp as safe a space as possible. We have therefore agreed a policy that there be no alcohol and no illegal drugs on site. If you want a drink then go to the pub in Crowhurst and mix with the locals!
3. Anti-oppression We want the Camp to be a welcoming, engaging and supportive space. Discrimination and oppressive behaviour (eg. racism, sexism, homophobia, prejudice based on disability, class etc…) are unacceptable and will be challenged. We also ask that campers respect each other’s physical and emotional boundaries and try to foster a spirit of mutual respect.
4. General safety Tree protests are inherently unsafe, and all participants are responsible for their own safety. If you’re going to be climbing high into trees then best practice is to have your own harness and climbing rope, and to rig it up yourself. Do not assume that people know what they’re doing just because they project an air of confidence!
We are also asking participants to please respect the privacy of the residents of the farmhouse, not bring vehicles on-site (tat can be ferried from a near-by drop-off point) and to only use the access down the disused railway track, not the Adams Farm track.
Unprecedented “dump platforms” protected by intricate 100 ft perimeter web of safety lines to protect sitters; action declared in solidarity with “Idle No More” in Canada
From a TSB statement released at 9:00AM this morning — Late last night, blockaders set up two &ldqu
Unprecedented “dump platforms” protected by intricate 100 ft perimeter web of safety lines to protect sitters; action declared in solidarity with “Idle No More” in Canada
From a TSB statement released at 9:00AM this morning — Late last night, blockaders set up two “dump platforms” in trees outside of Diboll, Texas which would otherwise be cleared to make way for TransCanada’s Keystone XL toxic tar sands pipeline. These special “dump platforms” are shielded by an unprecedented 80-100 ft perimeter of life-lines arranged, which if disturbed would certainly dump the two blockaders nested in them roughly 50-60 ft in the air. The Blockaders are sitting in solidarity with the now global “Idle No More” campaign for First Nation’s human rights and tribal sovereignty that very recently started in Canada.
This new tree blockade comes just a couple weeks after the end of Tar Sands Blockade’s 85-day tree-sit near Winnsboro, TX. TransCanada rerouted the tar sands pipeline to go around the Winnsboro tree-sit, despite having told countless landowners, including Douglass resident Mike Bishop, that the route was set in stone and could not be altered to avoid bulldozing their cropland, or to go around schools, neighborhoods, or ecologically sensitive areas.
This new site is surrounded by barriers like Highway 59, railroad tracks, and Ryan Lake. With these nearby, blockaders have found a location around which the pipe cannot easily be rerouted.
The viability of this blockade depends entirely on the safe conduct of TransCanada and local police forces. They could easily end it by cutting ropes and seriously injuring or killing the tree sitters. Blockaders Audrey and Mike know the risks. They are prepared to stay on their platforms, just big enough to lie down on, indefinitely, to defend their collective home from the expansion of tar sands exploitation that Keystone XL would usher in.
“Protecting the living systems which we’re a part of is a moral necessity,” shared Audrey, who is sitting in a singular tree left in a newly-cleared field. “Extraction of the tar sands is the most destructive project on the continent. It threatens the integrity of the entire biosphere, not to mention the First Nations dependent upon access to clean water, land, and air for the health and food for their tribal communities.”
Mike, the other sitter suspended in a 50 ft skypod between two trees, agreed, “That their plight has been so long ignored by industry and policy-makers is a clear violation of their human rights and a crime of conscience. That’s why we are enthusiastically supporting the Idle No More movement!”
Tar Sands Blockade is a coalition of Texas and Oklahoma landowners and climate justice organizers using peaceful and sustained civil disobedience to stop the construction of TransCanada’s Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.
“Institutional methods of addressing climate change have failed us,” explained Ron Seifert, a Tar Sands Blockade spokesperon. “Rising up to defend our homes against corporate exploitation is our best and only hope to preserve life on this planet. We must normalize and embrace direct, organized resistance to the death machine of industrial extraction and stand with those like Idle No More who take extraordinary risk to defend their families and livelihoods.”
[Blockade is located two miles south of Diboll, TX on northbound Highway 59, a massive banner deployed there is highly visible to highway traffic.] See TarSandsBlockade.org for more info.
The trees at Adam’s Farm were successfully defended all day Friday (21 Dec), and the plan is now to hold and secure them over the weekend and beyond. Please consider doing a stint at the camp over the next few days. It is located on the disused railway: please respect the privacy of the residents of the farmhouse and access down the disused railway track, not the Adams Farm track. Please don’t bring vehicles in. More folk are needed to camp out during the day & overnight, and to support with wood, tools, carpentry, climbing skills, driving, and food. All welcome!
For more info call 07926 423 033. Map below: the camp is at the end of the old railway, in and around the trees at risk. Google map here.
Clearly trying to get the jump on the Link Road’s opponents, contractors started work on the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road (BHLR) proper on Friday 14 December with a move to cut down the trees near Adam’s farm in Crowhurst (“clearance” work like this was not scheduled to begin until next year). The resistance over the next week was sometimes shambolic, always peaceful, and occasionally heroic. Six tree defenders were arrested (2 on Saturday, 4 on Monday), and Day 8 closed with activists camping overnight in the trees near Adam’s farm.
Activists are now calling on people to help them hold the site near Adam’s farm.
What follows is a brief summary of the story so far.
Friday 14 December 2012
Anti-road protestors from Hastings, St Leonards and Bexhill were joined by others from Eastbourne, Brighton and London at dawn in the Combe Valley today to stop attempts to begin tree-felling for the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road. On a day of heavy rain and high winds, around 30 protestors successfully prevented any significant work taking place despite the presence in the valley of over 100 security guards, chainsaw operatives and other contractors.
The campaigners initially occupied trees at Adams Farm and successfully blockaded the access track for over 2 hours. The main contractors’ convoy from Sidley arrived en masse at Upper Wilting Farm mid-morning, and they proceeded on foot to attempt tree-cutting near Little Bog Wood. Protestors promptly moved into the woodland to mingle with the workers, making it impossible for any felling to occur.
The contractors then relocated by vehicle to Adams Farm and were again meet by protestors, some still occupying trees and others on the ground. There were lengthy periods of inactivity with the work crews and security seeming unclear what tactics to adopt. On only a few occasions were chainsaws or strimmers started but protestors immediately placed themselves in positions to stop them being used. The contractors and security guards retreated to their vans for lunch and at around 12.30 made a decision to abandon work for the day. Protestors remained on alert in the valley for a further 2 hours to ensure no further attempts were made.
Saturday 15 December 2012
Activists were able to stop some of the trees in Bexhill from being chopped down, though contractors were able to chainsaw quite a large a number there. There were two arrests – one for “aggravated trespass” (now charged and released), the second for not giving their name and address to a police officer (which they have no legal right to demand under most circumstances). No trees were felled at Adam’s farm however, which was also being defended.
Sunday 16 December
Trees continued to be felled in Bexhill at the back of the Leisure Centre (TN39 4HS), despite attempts to defend the trees. Chainsaws and security guards moved-in on trees nr Adam’s Farm with climbers, and one person locked-on to a contractors vehicle, significantly impeding their activities.
Monday 17 December
Tree-felling continued in Bexhill, with four activists occupying the trees in the morning / afternoon. All four were eventually removed from the trees and arrested. They were all released, the last one at 2am the next day! Fellow activists were outside Hastings police station to greet them, and the CHD are now arranging court support for them where appropriate.
Tuesday 18 December 2012
Tree-defenders were in action in Bexhill again where chainsaw-wielding contractors continued to fell trees. They attempted to enter the area but were ejected by security guards. Other sites have been monitored and do not appear to have been attacked yet.
Wednesday 19 December 2012
Work began in Sidley again on Wednesday (19.12.12) as security guards and their ubiquitous Harris fencing crept northwards up the disused railway, giving the chainsaw crews space to do their dirty work unobstructed by the small numbers of protestors present. One early bird protestor dropped by on the way to work and put anti-road posters up all along the hoardings by the A269 bridge.
Tree defenders maintained a presence across the valley, monitoring for signs of activity in the vicinity of Upper Wilting Farm, Adams Farm (where a small number of Environment Agency people were again at work on what’s believed to watercourse maintenance not related to road building), Acton’s Farm and Glover’s Farm. The valley remained just about passable on foot, with about 30 cm of standing water along the footpath in the valley bottom near Adam’s Farm.
Sadly, reconnaissance revealed extensive tree-felling in the copse between Acton’s Farm and Glover’s Farm at map ref TQ748099, about 100m to the left of the footpath as you walk towards Acton’s Farm from Sidley. This work looked like it was done a few days earlier. The contractors cut down around 30 larger trees within the copse but left a screen of surrounding smaller trees to shield their work from view. A few larger trees still remained in the copse on the North side.
Thursday 20 December 2012
Tree defenders were out again in Sidley on Thursday and managed to halt the felling of a number of trees along the disused railway near Glovers bridge. In the early hours two protestors with climbing gear scaled 20ft into an overhanging ash tree and hastily erected a tarpaulin to provide shelter from the rain. Local supporters were also present on the bridge and eventually managed to get chocolates and hot water to the tree-sitters.
The occupied tree and a number of others surrounding it were spared the teeth of the chainsaws, although many significant trees further along the route were felled as the chainsaw gangs and their security detail moved North into the Combe Haven valley. The protestors outlasted the work crews and even managed to rustle up a hot meal at lunch – something the security guard standing on guard nearby for 3 hours in the pouring rain could only envy.
Friday 21 December
The day began with the re-occupation of the trees in Sidley that were successfully defended the previous day. Security and police then made a major move on the trees near Adam’s farm in Crowhurst, felling some near the barns there, and reportedly preventing access along the footpaths.
However, tree defenders were still able to occupy key trees along the line of the old disused railway cutting there, building tree houses. Police tell one of those occupying the trees that they will bring him mince pies if he’s still there in the morning. The day ended with security guards leaving, amid rumors that they may have knocked off now until the New Year, and activists camping out overnight in and around the trees.
Resistance to the road also made the front pages of the three local papers:
HELP NEEDED NOW TO DEFEND THE TREES! Contractors, supported by security and police, have started felling trees today at Adams Farm (TN33 9AY). This is one of the last remaining areas with significant number of large trees on the route of the road.
HELP NEEDED NOW TO DEFEND THE TREES! Contractors, supported by security and police, have started felling trees today at Adams Farm (TN33 9AY). This is one of the last remaining areas with significant number of large trees on the route of the road.
Security and police reported at the top of the access track, and the footpath from Crowhurst playing field car park was closed earlier in the morning. Police are in the car park. Other more imaginative routes in to Adams Farm exist: cross-country, from the Upper Wilting Farm direction, even across the partially flooded valley from the Bexhill end.
Note also a significant pocket of trees at risk located near Decoy Pond, half way between Adams Farm and Upper Wilting Farm. To receive info and action reports throughout the day text 07926 423033.
Update at 10am, Thursday 20 December: Tree defenders are now high in trees just north of Glover’s Farm Bridge TN39 5AJ, in Bexhill. Security present. Any support appreciated!
Update at 10am, Thursday 20 December: Tree defenders are now high in trees just north of Glover’s Farm Bridge TN39 5AJ, in Bexhill. Security present. Any support appreciated!
Tree-felling is continuing at the Bexhill end (see report from today below), and protestors are encouraged to gather tomorrow, Thursday, from 7am in Sidley TN40 2LH, near Glover’s Farm, to keep peacefully resisting. However tree defenders should also be aware of trees at risk near Adam’s Farm and Decoy Pond in Crowhurst, and hence try and keep a watch throughout the valley. If you want to receive info and action updates through the day tomorrow (Thursday) text us on 07926423033.
Work began in Sidley again today, Wednesday 19th Dec, as security guards and their ubiquitous Harris fencing crept northwards up the disused railway, giving the chainsaw crews space to do their dirty work unobstructed by the small numbers of protestors present.
One early bird protestor dropped by on the way to work and put anti-road posters up all along the hoardings by the A269 bridge.
Tree defenders maintained a presence across the valley, monitoring for signs of activity in the vicinity of Upper Wilting Farm, Adams Farm (where a small number of Environment Agency people were again at work on what’s believed to watercourse maintenance not related to road building), Acton’s Farm and Glover’s Farm. The valley remains just about passable on foot, with about 30 cm of standing water along the footpath in the valley bottom near Adam’s Farm.
Sadly, reconnaissance revealed extensive tree-felling in the copse between Acton’s Farm and Glover’s Farm at map ref TQ748099, about 100m to the left of the footpath as you walk towards Acton’s Farm from Sidley. This work looks like it was done a few days ago. The contractors cut down around 30 larger trees within the copse but left a screen of surrounding smaller trees to shield their work from view. A few larger trees still remain in the copse on the North side.
Today hunger strikers in Houston hit day 20 without food and the three activists who locked down inside the Keystone XL pipe on Dec 3rd arestill in jail, facing exorbitant bail.
While jail is oppressive, dehumanizing, and boring, your messages of love and support will help lift their spirits. Please send a letter today… And start making your plans to get out to Texas next month for the TSB Mass Action camp, Jan 3rd – 8th.
For mail to Matt and Glen:
Inmate’s Full Name (1 per letter: Matt Almonte, or Glen Collins) C/O Smith County Jail 206 E. Elm Tyler, Texas 75701
*Note: Letters cannot exceed 12” by 15”. Return address with full name is required. Be mindful that the authorities will likely read your letter. Keep it positive and avoid inflammatory language – otherwise it might not be delivered. As a general rule: if in doubt, leave it out.
Trees to be felled Wednesday 19 December in Sidley, Bexhill, starting early nr TN40 2DD. Tree defenders will be going there and also to the disused railway cutting near Adam’s farm in Crowhurst (see maps below). Info: 07926 423 033. Remember to stay calm and peaceful.
Up till now far it’s all been urban trees being felled. From now on they’ll be hitting the countryside proper.
Important note: If you go to either location then please download and read the bust card here and take it with you, whether or not you anticipate being arrested.
The next two maps are downloadable from this web-site.
