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Police in riot gear today climbed into a tree house where environmental warrior Swampy is protesting HS2 and dismantled the camp where he and eight other activists had been living.
The activist, whose real name is Daniel Hooper, had partnered with an HS2 rebel group trying to protect an area of ancient forest marked for destruction.
However, four police officers climbed up to the tree house around noon today and began to disarm it.
The protesters claimed that two people had been arrested in the tree house so far and two on the ground on suspicion of aggravated burglary.
Swampy and the eight other activists have been living in the tree, nicknamed ‘The Beancan’, in Jones’ Hill Wood, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, since October 1.
The HS2 rebel group is trying to protect the ancient forests in Buckinghamshire today
Yesterday his 16-year-old son Rory joined him in the treetop protest but was not believed to be there today.
The son of middle-class Berkshire parents, Swampy became the model for environmentalism after he became involved in protests against the Newbury A34 bypass in 1996.
He later spent seven days and nights living in a tunnel dug by activists trying to stop the A30 motorway in Devon in 1997.
Specially trained climbing officers from Thames Valley Police urged Swampy and his friends to quietly descend from the tree.
One officer said: ‘I suggest you come with us. We will put you in a secure harness and lower you
Four policemen went up to the tree house today and began arresting the activists.
The police today suppressed the protest of activists against the HS2 high-speed railway line
However, when the police and protesters engaged in grumpy exchanges while fighting for the treetops.
An activist accused an officer of threatening to kick her in the head.
The officer claimed that he was protecting his colleague while the activist attempted to manipulate his safety ropes, which would have caused him to cascade to the ground.
But the activists maintained that “none of us is going to put anyone in danger.”
A spokesperson for the HS2 protesters said Swampy and his fellow activists were to be arrested for aggravated burglary.
She told MailOnline: ‘Today is the eighth day of the Jones’s Hill Wood eviction, near Wendover in Buckinghamshire.
Environmental activist Daniel ‘Swampy’ Hooper joins HS2 protesters as they occupy a tree within the HS2-owned land boundary at Jones’ Hill Wood in Buckinghamshire today
Swampy and the eight other activists (pictured today) have been living in the tree, nicknamed ‘The Beancan,’ in Jones’ Hill Wood, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, since October 1.
Green activists have camped out at the tree house in Buckinghamshire, pictured today
HS2 protesters occupy a tree within the land line owned by HS2 in Jones’ Hill Wood today
The activist, whose real name is Daniel Hooper, had partnered with an HS2 rebellion group that was trying to stop the destruction of an ancient forest marked for destruction.
At 1.20 pm, six protesters remain at the last tree house known as the Bean Can. Currently there are police climbers on the tree.
“The protesters in the tree were warned that when they leave the tree and hit the ground they will be arrested for aggravated infraction.”
As of today, the police have arrested 15 and two people have been charged in connection with the HS2 protests at Jones’ Hill Woods.
Jack Hartcup, 30, of Norwich and Toni Bingham, 32, appeared in Reading Magistrates last Friday on charges of violating bail conditions and committing a crime under the Labor Relations and Union Act.
In a bizarre statement posted online, Bean Can activists claimed that their treetop protest was not about stopping HS2 or preserving the ancient forest, but about ‘resistance to government and corporate greed’.
Police block public access as they evict HS2 protesters yesterday
Swampy (above), the son of Berkshire middle-class parents, became the model for environmentalism in the 1990s. He appears at a protest on the Manchester airport runway in 1997.
In a statement issued from their tree house, they wrote: ‘This is a statement from The Bean Can, the last remaining tree house to resist eviction in Jones Hill Wood.
‘The Bean Can is occupied by freelance activists who are not affiliated with any particular organization.
First of all, we want to make one thing clear: it is not a railway. It’s not even about keeping the trees standing – these tree houses are a symbol of resilience.
‘This is a resistance to the greed of government and business, and profits for the rich come before people and the planet.
“It’s about the state prioritizing corporate interests over community and welfare services – HS2 is a kick in the teeth for communities struggling after a decade of austerity.”
