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Protesters from Warwickshire have set up a camp in Cubbington Woods to stop HS2 plans in their tracks.

The group pitched up on Sunday (September 29) and due to their location in the woods, work which was due to start on Monday in preparation of the high speed rail has been halted for now.

Each day, around 25 people are basing themselves at the camp in order to prevent woodland being destroyed as part of the high speed rail scheme.

Matthew Bishop, organiser of the camp out, said it's now the only way to stop the work taking place.

He told CoventryLive: "All these people here have their own reasons for not wanting HS2.

"This woodland has been here since about the 10th century, it was even mentioned in the Doomsday Book.

"You can't just dig up an entire woodland, an ecosystem, a habitat, and move it elsewhere. It's just nonsense.

"None of us want the loss of our countryside. That's why we are here."

However yesterday, a high court enforcement officer arrived at the site to ask the protesters to leave the area.

They refused.

The officer said he had no relation to HS2, but that he had simply been sent to the site to politely ask the group to leave.

He explained in a video on Stop HS2's facebook page, that because of the refusal, it will now be taken up by the legal team.

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Many protesters at the camp had their own personal reasons for attending.

Pat Bush from Lillington, said: "I just think woodlands are very important and I volunteer with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust so I appreciate how important they are.

"Also from a personal point of view because I live locally, we always used to bring our children here and they would have fun - our eldest son used to camp here with a friend when they were about 14.

"I can't believe it's all going ahead, it just seems criminal."

Dr Will Jackson, also from Lillington, said the plans HS2 have to relocate parts of the woodland simply wont work.

He said: "The reason why I am protesting so much is because this is a totally unique habitat - every single woodland in the country is unique depending on its typography, climate, different plants and the different funghi under the soil and you can't just move it.

"What they are suggesting is they can translocate it... just put it somewhere else and HS2 expect an ancient woodland to grow - it just won't work.

"I have been working to record birds, butterflies and plants in this ward and around for nearly 40 years, so of course I want to keep it."

The campers are appealing for more people to visit the woodland, to see what is going on at the camp.

They are also urging for more people to sign up to help maintain the camp, as there has to be people there at all times.

A HS2 Litd spokesperson said: “As highlighted by the Secretary of State, we must strike a sensible balance during the Oakervee Review, between keeping the programme on track, and recognising that some works cannot be undone.

"We are currently assessing areas of ancient woodland, including South Cubbington woods, and are confident that work can be deferred until the review is concluded.”

UPDATE: HS2 Ltd says it will hold work on 11 ancient woodlands in a statement released today.

This means that no felling of trees will take place at targeted sites, including South Cubbington Woods and Crackley Woods.

You can read the full story here.

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