Doncaster activist is living in trees to protect them from being chopped down for HS2

The HS2 Rebellion group started camping out in forests and woodland to protect trees from being felled around three years ago but recently Doncaster activist Emma Plant decided to join their cause.

She is currently stationed at a camp on Oxbridge London and has been sleeping in the trees for over a month in a hammock.

The 25-year-old from Barnby Dunn, said: “We are in a climate crisis and these woodlands are over three hundred years old, this ecosystem is so vital and beautiful.

“They are chopping them down to make way for a train line which will only save commuters 16 minutes on their journey.

“The pandemic has proven that people’s jobs can be done over Zoom so why do we need to build a line which will just be used by the rich.”

Emma is at the site with more than 50 other activists who are using their time in lockdown to protest HS2 and prevent trees from being felled.

“We want to stay here for as long as possible, we are building tree houses and have spaces for well being and cooking,” she continued.

“We have been skip diving as a way to get food, you would be horrified to see how much fresh food supermarkets throw away.

“One guy said he had the best pizza of his life from one of the skips.”

Emma says there is growing interest in the Free-ganism lifestyle in which people live off food waste to combat the billions of tonnes which are thrown away in the UK every year.

She said: “I honestly have been eating better here than I do at home.

“We get freshly baked bread and cakes every day.”

Emma says that the protesters are being very careful with hygiene due to Covid-19 and have stayed within bubbles to minimize any risk.

“I’m young, fit, and healthy, I have the privilege to be able to come here and protest and think anyone in my position who can, should.”

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