Green protestors set off from Wigan woodland on anti-HS2 walk

The environmental activists trekked 100 miles to the office of an MP in Wales who supports the project.

The duo walked the considerable distance non-stop to support green activists across the country who are currently disrupting the massive infrastructure project to try to prevent it coming to fruition.

Protestors say the high-speed rail network, which is also intended to take services off the West Coast Main Line, is far too environmentally destructive to be justified.

Opposition to HS2 is a long-standing campaign of XR’s, with activists from the borough branch previously holding a protest against the line outside Wigan North Western station.

Sami Webster, one of the protestors doing the walk, said: “We’re doing this to raise money and awareness for the front-line anti-HS2 activists who are bravely holding off this eye-wateringly expensive government vanity project set to carve up our green spaces in this time of climate crisis and biodiversity and habitat loss by using diverse tactics such as tunnels and tree occupations. They will be needing help with legal fees and other expenses.”

Sami said the protestors chose their start location in the borough to raise awareness of the potential loss of local green spaces and habitats to make way for the rail route.

Sami said: “Byrom Hall Wood is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary as a valued community woodland, set to be sliced in half by a train line which is also expected to negatively impact the region economically.”

The walkers will not be met by supporters along the route as the current coronavirus regulations prevent publicly-attended charity fund-raising and social distancing has to be maintained throughout.

The trek is also a non-stop one after the activists considered the implications of the stringent rules currently in place in Wales.

The duo are making their way to the office of Sarah Atherton, a North Welsh MP who is a prominent supporter of HS2.

To find out more or donate visit www.gofundme.com/f/fundraising-walk-for-anti-hs2-activists

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