Tag: front page

Site announced!

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!

Covid Safety at the Summer Gathering

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!