Protestors occupy York Gardens tree for fifth day

Three campaigners ‘occupied’ the black poplar tree in York Gardens on Monday (Feb 22) to prevent it being felled.

According to the council the tree must be removed to lay an electrical cable, which will benefit a new housing regeneration scheme.

But on Monday protestors climbed into the tree’s branches, with food and water supplies, tarp and waste buckets, and are showing no sign of coming down.

The independent group of activists are supported by Wandsworth Extinction Rebellion, whose ‘legal observers’ take turns patrolling the area around the tree.

They fear bailiffs and police are taking a harsh line with protestors, who are struggling to access basic supplies.

Police attending the protest scene

Lu, 58, a Battersea resident and XR member, said:

“We’ve been down here since Monday in shifts. The protectors like people around them as it makes them feel safer, especially at night.

“Our role is as witnesses and observers to what goes wrong, or hopefully what doesn’t go wrong.”

“At times there have been 20 security guards, I was down here a few nights ago and there were four of us versus 16 of them with their dogs. It was quite threatening.”

However, observers on the ground are threatened with fines or arrest if they linger too long, for breaching COVID-19 restrictions.

But many are willing to take the risk to ensure the protestors are supported.

Lu added: “They got a ladder and chopped a bucket with a rope that was hanging there. We’ve been negotiating with the police and last night they came to enforce the protestors' human right to sustenance.”

Marcus, 32, who is occupying the tree, accused enforcement officers of “inhumane” treatment.

“We’ve managed to get a few things snuck up to us, but it made them angry.

“On Wednesday morning someone had climbed the bottom branches of the tree and cut off a rope that had all our food bags and other supplies on.

“They’re trying to take us much of our stuff as they could reach. They pulled the tarp off my friend that he was using to cover himself. It’s a real health and safety concern, it’s quite worrying.”

A spokesperson from Wandsworth Council said:

“This important housing scheme is providing 136 new council homes for our residents on low incomes and in housing need, especially those currently living in cramped and overcrowded conditions.

“No-one wants to see mature trees lost but sometimes it’s sadly unavoidable, despite our best efforts in this case to find a suitable alternative solution.

“However, as part of the regeneration scheme, we are planting hundreds of new trees around the estate and providing a new 2.5-hectare public park so that residents have newly created green outdoor space to enjoy.