Thanks to all those who came down to Stapleton today. The trees are doing well!
In the end tree protectors stayed high in the trees, whilst the Imbolc celebration took place with around 80-100 people taking part in a meaningful ceremony giving thanks and recognition to the land, the life it sustains and our intent to protect it. The police numbers dwindled and some security appear to have been posted for the evening/night.
There appears to be some legal confusion over the boundary of the allotments and Feed Bristol small holding – where the trees are positioned which also adds to the already dubious planning application/s legality.
What next? We are stepping up the action and focussing on our our priority aim to protect the trees and land in Stapleton allotments and small holdings.
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Your presence and support are much needed in this moment and we are calling out to people to come to the Stapleton smallholdings site – by Feed Bristol (Frenchay Park Road BS16 1HB) whenever they can. On Monday please come from 6am onwards ( or earlier if you can!) – we anticipate an early start to the days activities.
There will be information on arrival, bring good energy and motivation, hot drinks and food, music, songs and good cheer! Wrap up warm and don’t forget your camera!
Pass on the word…
Well, things have started early! Today at 2pm today (Sunday 1st) a group of bailiffs and police came and evicted people from a piece of land by Stapleton Allotments – the site where development is due to begin.
However 6 activists got into the trees – high up and stayed there! Some of them are still there now and intend to be there all night.
We then had our planned Imbolc celebration – with more people than we would have had – and the police and security stayed on the other side of the trees ( they are on the boundary with Feed Bristol). It was all rather surreal and we are expected more reinforcements tomorrow….so it has begun!
So far there is no evidence that the conditions set in the planning permission have been met … we need as many peaceful souls there as possible to so they know just how many of us care …
You may be familiar with this: “Only when the last tree has died, and the last river has been poisoned, and the last fish has been caught, will you realize that you cannot eat money.” – American Indian proverb
We recast it thus:
“Only when the last tree has been felled and the last crumb of soil has been paved over will we realise that we need local food and wildlife habitat more than commuter bus routes” Rising up proverb
STOP PRESS! Tree felling set to start Monday on Bristol prime agricultural land and wildlife haven in Stapleton – home to Feed Bristol and Stapleton Allotments.This work is planned to make way for massive soil works and then road building.
Despite tireless work by community food activists over the years, Bristol’s real ‘green capital’ is at very real risk of being irreversibly destroyed at the hands of Bristol City Council/West Of England Partnership – all for an unnecessary MetroBus road
Stay tuned to Facebook for more information…very very soon!!
WHAT CAN YOU DO MEANWHILE?
1) Help protect the land: THE LAND NEEDS YOU!
Email risingupland@riseup.net to find out more about how to help protect the land at this stage. We have coordinated working groups working on various areas from
Awareness raising & publicity
Community Engagement
Political & Financial
Planning& Legal
Creative Activities
Preventative action
Open ….
Get in touch and let us know what interests you..
More news & direction …..very very soon!
We are Rising Up in outrage at the proposals to build Bristol MetroBus feeder roads across allotments and wild-flower meadows in Bristol’s Blue Finger – prime growing land and home to Feed Bristol.
This precious and unique resource is being attacked in order to save an estimated three and a half minutes off a half hour journey. And that is the most optimistic best estimate that the proponents have been able to come up with. 210 seconds less spent relaxing and enjoying the journey to enable the traveller to hurtle into the future slightly earlier and in doing so destroy something that has a value beyond time and money.
Join us to protect real Green Capital in Bristol. How can those who are proud of our role as Europe’s Green Capital this year be anything other than outraged at this squandering of environmental capital for mere presumed economic gain.
The fight is on.
We will prevail.
RisingUp Bristol Website and Blog
