Inside the Battle Over the UK’s Ancient Woodlands

[@recurf7492]

As someone who lives in the UK, its makes me really sad seeing the green areas of my home town slowly be taken away. When I was a kid, my town had 2 massive nature reserves, now theyre both buidling estates. And im not even old, im 25. Its just sad

[@TheSlizzer348]

Same mate

[@marktabaczynski2826]

@@TheSlizzer348 same in us. washington state.

[@cjthegreat6722]

Feeling this comment. The rush to make make everywhere a concrete jungle just makes me sad & angry.. we're just ants.. being controlled by other ants on the colony

[@gavincardy8458]

Bet you're PRO-Mass Immigration though ain't YA.

[@recurf7492]

@@gavincardy8458 nope

[@alexisdetocqueville9964]

It's crazy how small these woods are. This wouldn't be considered a small park in upstate New York. Goes to show how much England's entire ecosystem was changed when basically the entire island was deforested hundreds of years ago that this is considered significant woodland.

[@ince55ant]

Yup, traded it all for a bunch of ships to make rich people richer

[@AaronH542]

its not significant don't worry haha. These guys are just trying to find controversy by the looks of it. Could plant more trees in an hour if they actually wanted to do something productive.

[@coryparni3620]

@@AaronH542 you can't replace ancient woodland by planting new trees .

[@AaronH542]

I know you cant and it is a pity, but if theyre argument is "bla bla environment bla" then they dont have any ground too stand on. Its literally such a small site. I love trees and if was my ground there is no chance that i would let that happen. But its not mine. So its not my decision.

[@eugenevasseur1040]

Jones Hill woods is one example of the 108 ancient woodlands under threat / already felled by HS2 www.hs2rebellion.earth/environmental-destruction-by-hs2/

[@TheBanana93]

This hurts me so much, my favourite place in the world is an ancient woodland, so much respect for the trees and wildlife that reside there :( Bought me to tears and really made me realise I need to get out there and do something!

[@TheSlizzer348]

Same dude, my happiest and most peaceful times are sitting in an ancient woodland on my own at night and once I’ve got my jab I’m joining the cause

[@NoahNobody]

Did I hear this correctly? They wanted to buy the land. The land owner said no. The government then sold the land on behalf of the land owner to the company developing the new railway line. Is that how this went down?

[@LiamBaileyMusic]

It's mad

[@carolyneculver3960]

Land in the way of the train line and its associated building compounds and haul roads is being compulsory purchased (or in some cases temporarily purchased and will be returned to the landowner in the future). Many landowners still haven't been compensated for having their homes and land seized. Many have been threatened that unless they sign non disclosure agreements they will not receive their compensation.

[@The_Google_User]

It happens in the US too. If the govt wanta ur land they have the right to take it they just have to pay u

[@niallholman3231]

@@LiamBaileyMusic its really not, this is true everywhere. without compulsory purchase no infrastructure could ever be built

[@jonahview123]

@@The_Google_User the government tried to take land from cattle ranchers in Nevada and the local citizens and landowners took up arms. They had a stand off in the end and the landowners won. They got to keep their land.

[@mrnarason]

Ancient, virgin or primeval woodlands/forests needs to be protected because they cannot be replaced. Destroying the will forever destroy the ecosystem, it cannot be "moved" like a house on a wheels or somethingm

[@mistergeopolitics4456]

At the same time all of China is currently connected by high speed rail which is cheap and efficient and leads to economic opportunities for millions of people. In the last 20 years China has lifted 800 million people out of poverty, largely thanks to their expanding high speed rail system which is world class.

[@kk224gd6]

@@mistergeopolitics4456 enjoy your trains when there's litteraly no natural ecosystems left in the world🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@DieNibelungenliad]

@@mistergeopolitics4456 clearing away natural forests isn't gonna reduce poverty in England by any significant amount.

[@GarthBuxton]

@@mistergeopolitics4456 CCP put them in the poverty in the first place. Plus you need to define the poverty line here.

[@mistergeopolitics4456]

@@GarthBuxton CCP never put them under poverty. China was a relatively well off country until western nations, led by the British, imposed a number of unfair treaties onto China using Opium and warfare. In any case, in the last 50 years China has achieved what it took the west hundreds of years to achieve by means of slavery, colonialism and imperialism.

[@DomFishingUK]

Never seen the point in HS2 when there are thousands of miles of railway that desperately needs upgrading.

[@alrightyru]

In Canada a dirty little secret was the more than 18 months that Churchill Manitoba didn't have a road in, only unusable damaged rail tracks. The community depended on boats to bring essentials since the rail company didn't care one bit .... 18 months!

[@laurenz4528]

Its always easier to establish a new System than upgrading an old one.

[@jaif7327]

@@alrightyru jesus when was this?

[@jermainetrainallen6416]

We need HS2 to release capacity on the existing rail network for more local and freight services which cuts carbon emissions by taking HGV's off the roads, cut domestic flights, encourage modal shift to rail from cars and stimulate economic growth etc. Upgrading the existing network e.g. by widening lines would mean more homes businesses and woodlands would be affected, there would be much more disruption over years to the existing rail network and it would only release a fraction of the capacity that HS2 will without the benefits of cutting domestic flights, encouraging a large amount of modal shift to rail from cars and stimulating economic growth etc.

[@danielmckendrick1371]

@@alrightyru and there's still whole communities that have to boil their drinking water.

[@Xellot]

Hasn't England lost enough of it's woodlands already?

[@wullfsaxon2634]

Yeah when we gave all those countries independence

[@firmangobi6477]

@@wullfsaxon2634 best comment!

[@betterwithwinebetterwithwi2359]

Profit

[@WSFM_Rex]

@@wullfsaxon2634 😂 god damn 🔥🔥

[@notize8246]

If you’re bored or high, watch this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYaTZ32tr8admrc💀😂😂

[@FowlorTheRooster1990]

the irony in the government saying we must plant more trees when they are cutting down native forests for a railway line, we already have a network that needs a bit of work done to it

[@mtf_nine_tailed_fox385]

_"Politics "_

[@Dorgpoop]

The point of HS2 is to free up space on other lines for extra commuter traffic, not particularly that people can shave ten minutes of their journey to Birmingham

[@perhaps1094]

@Albert Fels You and i both know its a bit deeper than some 'neo-ludites', many of the people in support of the protests are in support of things like green energy as well

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

The real reason they're doing this is because it's cheaper and easier than buying land from normal people. Destroying nature should not be the cheaper option.

[@qjtvaddict]

Too slow

[@79RockShox]

I'm glad they managed to preserve it, I'm in Scotland and 90% of the ancient woodland is gone, which is a shame, it's getting better with reforestation but still much of the landcape is barron, or is spoiled by yet another housing estate, having said that my work has planted just about 500k trees in former caledonian woodland and still adding to it, it's better than nothing.

[@jb6725]

I've never been to Scotland but from what I've seen it looks lush and celtic I didn't know it was 90% barren in the highlands

[@callumpettitt8192]

We have no woodland left in this country. You've got to travel up to the Scottish highlands if you want to experience anything even remotely like nature here, England has no woodland to speak of anymore and with it, very little wildlife.

[@StrikeDigital3D]

Even the Scottish Highlands aren't especially natural. The classic "barren" barren look of the Scottish mountains isn't actually the way they are supposed to be. A thousand years ago, they would have been covered in trees, but due to clearing them for sheep farming, and killing all of our large predators, they have been pretty much destroyed. It's quite ironic that now they are seen as some of the most natural places in Britain, simply because they were just destroyed so long ago, rather than more recently.

[@RichDreamz87]

Theres plenty of woodland in england like 90% of the land is woodland the rest is cities and small towns. If you live in London then you'll know how vast Epping Forest is.

[@brunolondinese5857]

@@RichDreamz87 so where are British farms?

[@RichDreamz87]

@@brunolondinese5857 in Britain

[@StrikeDigital3D]

@@RichDreamz87 actually, woodland cover is just 10% in England, of which, only 15% is ancient woodland (meaning it has never been cut down and replanted). That's a total of 1.5% of the land in Britain is woodland that has never been cut down.

[@k1medward]

Standing Rock, Amazonian fighters, Woodland folk, warriors everywhere... do not give up the fight. It’s about all of us.

[@AliciaMully]

YES the Earth and all life on it depends on us not allowing corporations & governments to destroy it by greed or negligence.....

[@nyakwarObat]

Unfortunately, that it's about all of us is a little too late. Your generations before you including you let them take over the whole land indiscriminately, especially when it was happening elsewhere , even places like amazon forests are still busy supplying your must have furniture so you can get to binge on the latest while there's absolutely nothing wrong with the current one

[@alrightyru]

Vancouver Island Canada. Old growth forest fight :(

[@mohamednaflan4361]

That young lad using empathy to change the officer's mind. Respect sir.

[@theroidragedtrex7908]

Yknow people doing the "koombaya" stuff always seemed silly to me, however as time has gone by the more I've realised the importance of conservation, especially in a place rife with history like an english forest.

[@justinetaylor5924]

Thanks for this comment. it really spoke to me.

[@ivoryking509]

Do you not realise how much of England is woodland and fields? This documentary is leftist hippy propaganda

[@theroidragedtrex7908]

@@ivoryking509 sorry here in the US we were taught that most trees in england were cut down and used during the industrial revolution. I assumed it was one of the last few forests in England but I guess im wrong.

[@theroidragedtrex7908]

@@ivoryking509 thought england was all farmland, pasture, bogs, and highland tundra

[@ivoryking509]

@@theroidragedtrex7908 there's huge forests in England, its the same as the hippies than moan about logging in the amazon... the amount of trees there would take 2000 years to chop down... they don't understand that to advance the human race we need to use earth's resources and luckily for us earth's resources are renewable

[@boomhauer1752]

Cuts down ancient woodland so the rich can be 10 minutes early for work ffs

[@saltymonke3682]

funny that it's the labour party who wants this in the first place to make UK, more european

[@Barry43]

Well said

[@bums009]

Lmao the rich!? It's the rich that are camping up in trees all day cos they don't have to work for a living apparently. Classic middle and upper middle class pretending they're helping the working man when they have no idea the priorities of an average working man. It's the labour party who wanted HS2 the most, in order to connect the North and South and create more job opportunities for the working and lower middle class in both ends of the country. (Mostly for the North ofc, we know they need all the help they can get, let's be honest lmao).

[@Barry43]

@@bums009 is that so the cost can go 100s of millions over budget $$$$$ What are you talking about live to work or work to live just cause you want cash so bad at any expense be happy with what you got stop advocating destruction of the forest as we are running out of it fast once it's gone m8t you can go back feel some compassion fuks sake m8t fuk life bring in the tar level it off ae go for a walk you mite get it doubt it

[@misterbear9211]

@wisdom niko You join a conversation with "you're annoying" and "you know nothing" yet bring nothing to the table. Is that your way of flexing your wisdom and intelligence.

[@klaasvaak6137]

this makes me so mad. The english goverment turnes out to be extremely good at hiding vital information like this from the world. respect to the people who are fighting for their environment

[@justwatching2428]

It’s so unnecessary. As a northerner I have no interest in getting to London any quicker than I already. What we need is better investment in the infrastructure IN the North, not yet more money spent draining the entire economy into London.

[@c.h.9547]

1. HS2 provides jobs 2. You do not represent the whole of the north 3. Most business’ with the exception of some manufacturing companies have their roots in London (including our services which make up the majority of our exports as we run a trade surplus in services but deficit overall) 4. There is significant investment and wealth in London that can then be more efficiently invested in the north through better communication and personal travel 5. Increased tourism from people living in the cities in the north going down south (for eg camping) or the reverse benefits the respective local businesses. 6. To just ‘invest in the infrastructure in the north’ means what? Subsidies? Guaranteed minimum price schemes? State owned railways, roads? 7. Subsidies have opportunity cost that the government could use elsewhere in a more profitable area (London) to get better tax revenue and international presence in trade 8. The north doesn’t suffer from structural unemployment so creating railways or roads in the north isn’t going to effect the mobility of labour as mobility within the north isn’t a problem, whereas, mobility between north and south is (another benefit of HS2) 9. To better explain point 8, people that would like to get into the (e.g) tech industry can just use HS2 and then use that money received to spend on northern businesses, instead of relocating to London entirely (allows a further commute) 10. Please don’t comment personal opinions without any knowledge of economic benefits or negatives considering this is such a widely debated topic and you chipping in simply encourages others to not do their own research and make their own informed decision. Have a swell day 😃

[@scytheoflife1947]

I'm not a northerner but have long known the south gets the lion share of investment so I can't blame you for not caring about HS2 and a quicker rail network. They cant even run the ones already running in most places to a decent standard with over the top fares

[@lolcatmaroon]

As a Londoner, I cannot agree more! I grew up in Windsor and am priced out of home, and had to buy in a crap hole in East London in order to work and not get shafted by train fares. I would love to live in the North if it had better state schooling. The space, price and proximity to nature such as lake and peak District make it far more attractive for me. However gross underfunding for generations mean much of the North has poor schooling and high unemployment or low income earners. It will take a serious shakeup to fix it. The only positive I can see is that international travellers can get to the high growth north faster... But seriously, they should just have more international flights to Manchester not bloody build a third runway at Heathrow.

[@scytheoflife1947]

@@lolcatmaroon What I love is government in the UK tells us theres no money for new schools, NHS, more policing etc but in 2008 we went to the magic money tree and bailed the banks out. Now Covid I saw a statistic that says the NHS funding tripled during covid biggest increase in like decades. Of course when covid came the magic money tree had replenished. Now I am not naive I know that there borrowing to fund these things but the point is when the actual people whether it be North, South, East or West suddenly the money tree doesn't exist. I dont know a single person who doesn't think the NHS should be funded more but it took Covid to happen. A little off topic but its all related.

[@marcustrevor1883]

It is not just speed of travel to London. One of the most crucial benefits will be more space for commuter traffic and freight on regional, low speed railways. With population increasing and concerns about emissions we cannot afford to keep pushing more commuters onto already busy roads. We need more commuter services and that can only be achieved by moving high speed railway to its own dedicated network. This had to be built. Perhaps not immediately, but the longer it is left the more difficult and expensive it will get. We cannot avoid building infrastructure for ever, or offloading the problem for future generations.

[@topkat578]

Those rich and famous environmentalists are never around where their help is really needed!

[@risingforce9291]

Money, money make money!

[@evsal8087]

Because they, more often than not, are directly profiting from projects like these. A wealthy person crusading for environmental causes is a blatantly obvious hypocrite. You can't claim you care about the environment, while owning multiple mega-mansions and flying about on private jets. I don't care how many bullshit carbon credits you buy to "offset" that.

[@Youboremenow]

@@evsal8087 Can you claim to be anti child abuse if you buy fast fashion?

[@Kyryyn_Lyyh]

No, easy slowball their mate.

[@lilbacon7777]

@@Youboremenow Lmao that's not really comparable. You can critique society while living inside it. A gilded age factory owner can't claim to be anti child abuse. But an average worker who bought those clothes can be. Same idea.

[@robwestern7702]

There is nothing in the uk more beautiful than the Forrest woodlands the trees in those woods go back to the beginning of civilisation in the British islands just strolling through these beautiful places are a feeling of pure magic the power of ancient culture is a force only to be felt when your at peace within these places

[@centraltexasshotokankarate9489]

I’d like to thank the activists for what they have done and continue to do. It’s sad to see where this world is going.

[@arronmccarthy1]

Similiar issues on Vancouver Island where we have only %1 of old growth left and police have issued an injunction to move in and arrest the protestors at Fairy Creek Old Growth forest blockade. Wish this could get more attention.

[@seanbrummfield448]

We in Britain always thought you Canadians were living fine over there. You guys are the happiest country in the Western hemisphere, with more political trust, better healthcare, etc. What could you guys possibly complain about, that the world could say, "Bla, bla your needs."?

[@autisticfieldmarshall1006]

@@seanbrummfield448 Canada is the exact opposite of that, at least under current regime. Trudeau's government has been a disaster for the environment. While Justin hands over grants to some bullshit "climate pacts", he looks the other way when our forests are being destroyed to free up space for more housing and our waters polluted with garbage. Not to mention that trudeau himself is basically a puppet of Chinese government, which is the biggest source of pollution in the world.

[@seanbrummfield448]

@@autisticfieldmarshall1006 Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I don't like Trudeau either. He has a menacing look in his face.

[@alrightyru]

Prayers for the island's trees 🙏

[@ricLPHDMC]

The forest occupation scene is getting bigger and bigger all over Europe. Would be great to see high quality documentaries like these about socio-ecological struggles like these in countries like Germany, France and Poland.

[@alrightyru]

We're still protecting the old growth forests of Vancouver Island, 30 years later 🙏

[@MrMultiAfrican]

What made VICE decide to go back to their roots reporting on real stories?

[@MILLIONMILESFRMHOME]

👏🏾

[@bums009]

A few years of utter failure and shame hopefully. I'm glad they're back.

[@NeoTemplar]

maybe one of the trees was trans?

[@DarthVantos]

Trump no longer in office.

[@aesieaiyahcloe]

Yep No more Orange Man. Can't even make a fake article about him(most of those are btw) because he's distanced himself from the Media. Funny seeing these outlets cope with withdrawal. 🤣👍

[@Yes-sf5uu]

What I think should happen is the government should focus on reinstating previously existing railway infrastructure, there are hundreds of disused railways across the UK many of which ran to or through Birmingham. Reinstating localised railways will go miles for giving smaller communities easier access to the big cities

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

Exactly!

[@earthfm]

It started a bit random and without hope but finished good. Loving how the women (or somebody) captured the sound recording of the bat and made a strong checkamate case with it. I record sounds of endangered and unique habitats and im happy to se how the power of sound can actually make a difference. Good people those who went to protect the woods.

[@tommeehan4061]

But in the end it didn’t make a difference

[@alrightyru]

Didn't the company do an environmental study first to know the wildlife? Or they cut that piece out thinking it was a bother. Let's hope the little bat gets to stay where he is.

[@kadenelijah9329]

Anyone else recognize the buzzfeed unsolved music in the background lol

[@mivuhis]

yep

[@LowkAlexander]

First thing I noticed tbh

[@RazorSkinned86]

That song track is a meme now.

[@heyarnold9050]

Where yah at shane?

[@whywhywhywhy7559]

What is the. Name called

[@curst2948]

There won’t be anywhere you can go that will save you once the environment is gone

[@Angel-tw3ko]

Regardless the world will be destroyed by fire, no matter what.

[@a.m.doesit9347]

mars

[@curst2948]

@@a.m.doesit9347 it’s all riding on Musk now lmao

[@spongmongler6760]

"it has been purchased whether it has been paid for or not" purchased: "acquire (something) by paying for it; buy.", "obtain or achieve with effort or suffering." buy: "obtain in exchange for payment." - this payment being bruises.

[@mmakotal4388]

here in america native american r doing the same thing for the water from oil companies

[@oscarosullivan4513]

Same with Corrib

[@pactimnoob1131]

bruh their ancestors turning in their graves

[@PabloPerez-ng5hw]

If only all Americans could be as awaken...

[@Jrod110]

Except the difference is America is still the invader & Oil leakage destroys the ecosystem & water supply completely.

[@JoshuaC0rbit]

This hit home especially for me because I bought my house because it was adjacent to 30 acres of forest and there were people living back there along with bats and all kinds of wildlife and an entire ecosystem. I came back from a vacation to find it completely leveled and street signs where there used to be trees. I don't even know what happened to the people that were displaced but the damage to the ecosystem is huge. I'm glad that people are able to purchase decently priced homes in a new subdivision but I don't think they realize the environmental impact they had.

[@arthurb8436]

@Albert Fels you disgust me.

[@Sakura11101]

@Albert Fels eh the dehumanization of other humans isnt necessary

[@ivanfry6138]

@albert fels I pray and know when you’re in your beautiful little tower of self opinion, one day one of those supposed bums you know so much about literally and figuratively changes your life for the worse. I can say the better but you wouldn’t have learned your lesson.

[@pepesylvia848]

They're probably just like you. They saw a nice place to live and bought it. No thought as to what was there before. If you wanted the land behind your house, you should have bought that as well. Otherwise, you should have known they'd develop it as soon as the houses in the previous development were sold.

[@grimsleeper5945]

Steve Masters, the Green Party councillor in this video once did a talk at my old secondary school. He seemed like a really good guy and I have a lot of respect for his actions.

[@j3rka]

Even if you actually own your own land, the government can still come along and take it from you. In fact, no person can own land to 100%

[@mikelowrey7454]

People still think they own stuff in UK. Very dumB and guillable people. Read the page in your passport, in other words if the queen the satanic circle wants she will take it off you. Read you CAR log book, even tho you brought the car it not yours, Read your log book. Same thing with your homes you think you own them but we don't. All part of the great reset. Humans are gullible if we stood together regardless of colour race religion they would not dare do this, divide and conquer. We are doomed.

[@saltymonke3682]

@@mikelowrey7454 you can move out from Her Majesty's land if you don't like it. France perhaps? You still pay property tax in US anyway, if you can't or don't pay, your property will be auctioned or foreclosed to pay the tax.

[@vir4193]

@@saltymonke3682 Your missing the point. Even though we think we "own" everything, we actually don't own anything.

[@saltymonke3682]

@@vir4193 no I know, that's why you have to pay the property tax or council tax

[@DieNibelungenliad]

That's because a country is defined by the land the government owns. No one can buy ownership of land from the government with complete sovereignty. They only hold land. They still have to follow the rules of the government. The Gov is one big landlord. That's how it has always been since the days of old Kings.

[@alejandroalvarado9520]

Kinda reminds me that one avatar episode where they meet those kids in the trees that hate the fire nation village lmao

[@suddenuprising]

top tier reference

[@SikhoGuwa]

Or avatar the movie

[@gobarn1877]

@@SikhoGuwa yeah, somehow the movie is a better metaphor

[@GeNiaaz]

LOL YEAH

[@CrowClouds]

The world is dying aka ending. Just like every organism dies. There will be other earths. And we will reincarnate there. Me, I'm out, going to the void.

[@bigboyyesyes184]

I just want to show my kids some beauty in the world, I don't want them raised in the industrialised norm.

[@josephdowey1302]

move to Scotland then

[@oed84]

this makes my blood boil... the saddest part is, that this is happening all over the world. all in the name of "progress". and I'm pretty sure BJ meant 30% of England's remaining woodlands. just reading between the lines...

[@morphkogan8627]

@@seantamburrino7446 Or just go Vegan which would reduce the amount of land needed for agriculture by 75%

[@damienlewis6104]

Are you a Parkway fan?

[@yassinahmed4288]

This world getting crazier... most thanks to those heroes who said NO 🎩👏🏼

[@bigmac7077]

Thanks to the bats you mean lol

[@pakde8002]

They wouldn't do this if everyone stood up and said no they wouldn't dare but the ancient woodlands will be razed ostensibly for the sake of a few jobs, but in reality for the wealthy to quickly commute to London from their posh country estates and the profits to be had from grifting off public funds.

[@Anglo-Brit]

Hardly

[@JR-ut2ne]

Environmentalists always tell people that they should use the railway instead of driving and now they are protesting the building of a new fast railway line which would make going by train much more attractive.

[@nawa3236]

My respect to the warriors. Making a stand however fruitless their mission was. Do not make it easy for the destroyers. Any other way they would have been called terrorists.

[@natashalion8028]

THANKS, to all involved in saving the area. We ALL need to be Guardians !

[@gabbajon5654]

you can find all info to get involved on the @stopHS2 instagram as well as the individual site accounts like @rolddahlwoods for st jones' hill

[@anonralph7081]

Greetings from Ireland. I stand with you.

[@meepulp]

We have a worse problem here

[@775LonelyBoy]

Only thing stronger than fear is hope. Keep fighting

[@DEMONFOXALEX]

President snow hunger games

[@noonecares9425]

* and a woman's jealousy

[@qjtvaddict]

Stop holding back infrastructure

[@1nativetree]

humans will not stop till it's all gone RIP Nature

[@arthurhughes-watts1180]

Well probably kill ourselves and over 100,000s of years nature will recover

[@Barry43]

Wont be long 5 years we will have no rights left no gathering phone passports as identity to get food playing the covid games only strengthen them

[@rl751]

@@arthurhughes-watts1180 let’s hope

[@YachtsOnTheReg7]

@@arthurhughes-watts1180 Actually nature recovers remarkably quickly when humans are absent. Look at Chernobyl. Even only 30 some years after a horrific nuclear accident nature has already returned.

[@arthurhughes-watts1180]

@@rl751 if you look at what's life's gone through over billion of years life would recover

[@MeAMoose]

I hate to be the one to say this, but with an ever-expanding population with increases in traffic we need to expand and enhance our infrastructure. While an ancient woodland is being destroyed in order to build the new rail-line, a new transport route is being installed allowing quick movement between Birmingham and London. At the end of the day it's a balancing act between a rising population development and maintaining pre-establish ecosystems (or building new ecosystems).

[@johngalt3138]

This isn't a battle over woodlands. This is a battle over property rights. If the property is still on the landowner's deed then they have taken it by eminent domain. Eminent domain is theft. Period.

[@johngalt3138]

@linlinö önilnil Or for any lovers of big government for that matter.

[@NYPATRIOTBX]

Destruction of forests under the guise of “saving the environment by reducing carbon footprint”

[@FowlorTheRooster1990]

and then the government goes taxing us for having carbon emitting vehicles but wont make them more available to the average person. the government punishes us for something that we cant help because we cant afford electric cars

[@jermainetrainallen6416]

HS2 will help the environement by releasing capacity on the existing rail network freight services which cuts carbon emissions by taking HGV's off the roads, cutting domestic flights and encouraging modal shift to rail from cars.

[@NYPATRIOTBX]

@@jermainetrainallen6416 The UK isn’t that big, I doubt they need more of their forests being cut down for the sake of more train lines that not too many people want more of. Not to mention the land being stolen from under the people who rightfully own it.

[@jermainetrainallen6416]

@@NYPATRIOTBX We need HS2 for the reasons I've mentioned. There are much more needless and damaging projects out there, most of them road projects. The Lower Thames Crossing (a 14.5 mile road) affects almost as much ancient woodland as HS2 (54 hectares) while HS2 (a 470 mile railway) affects 58 hectares for example. HS2 affects only 0.018% of the UK's ancient woodland which isn't bad considering it is a 300+ mile railway. Many road projects affect much more ancient woodlands than HS2 does.

[@jonathantan2469]

Wind turbine farms & solar farms.

[@SKtube0]

Trespassing isn't a criminal offense in the UK? That's surprising to me, but I'm not at all shocked by all this now. Here in the US, you trespass onto my private property, you're liable to get shot.

[@Squimblorbimblor]

Really important story, glad vice covered this

[@Charlzton]

I really want to know more about the landowner who says he owns the freehold to the field and that HS2 have no legal claim to it

[@mistersands339]

under the law the government can still take your land for "vital" infrastructure, with payment at their discretion.

[@marcustrevor1883]

The government has the legal claim to any land. It is called compulsory purchase, and without it there would not be a single road or railway in the country because at least 1 person is always going to refuse to sell their land.

[@danielglassmeyer1381]

It’s England….so you’re looking at a well connected heir likely in cahoots with the ‘state’ over the decision. Would imagine even had negotiation leverage and had a favorable return for forfeiting the property.

[@MR-op3mo]

If they save this woodland, doesn't that mean that these people should be evicted because the woodland doesn't belong to them

[@CactusCowboyDan]

The woodlands belong to the landowners. And most of them allow public footpaths where dog walkers and hikers can go. But now the landowners are being overruled by the government.

[@dandedee1]

Well done Vice for making this

[@timbird2741]

Its actually a charity called Not1More :)

[@MuffinManUSN]

The character of the people protecting those woods far outweighs that of those just doing their jobs. Your sense of duty is amazing even when paralleled with that of a police officer. Our hearts ache for those slave to a system, and those protecting one alike.

[@friederkumpf8158]

Innocent question: isn't a high speed train better, as it makes cars redundant?

[@ArivanAshstar]

Replying before this comment disappears

[@jonathantan2469]

And short-haul flights. Plus it also takes off congestion from the existing lines that are bring used for both passenger & freight services...

[@ahdr8852]

Protect our environment ❤️👍

[@hsvr]

Throw your house down and plant some trees then

[@Special_Agent_NSB]

I’m with the protesters on this. England needs to protect its few remaining woodlands.

[@wildandbarefoot]

If they found golden Pandas capping rare orchids they'd still plough ahead.

[@ReclusiveEagle]

1:34 This is how Watchdogs Legion starts

[@mitchellmaytorena1137]

I bought the game but never ended up playing it. How is it? Is it worth a play through?

[@PogGamerMan]

@@robertmacnaughton4190 and ironically it took place in Britain

[@stein1885]

@@mitchellmaytorena1137 Besides some bugs on pc the other ports run great, still worth a play through.

[@474yx]

@@mitchellmaytorena1137 not really.. a boring story..

[@damianw2761]

@Nigel Lush exiting? Missles? C'mon this is grade school spelling

[@flejt7107]

The amount of brits in country idk how theres not more folks protecting their woodland from these new age encroachers for their profitable agendas

[@tytzup5397]

Everyone is too busy chasing their arses on the perpetual hamster wheel.

[@2000rayc]

wouldn't it be better to do it underground?

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

Most people have jobs annoyingly

[@thej0f]

it blows my mind that people would even think about destroying ancient woodland! if you can justify tearing down ancient woodland then nothing is off limits

[@Artemis7373]

From what I have seen the workers actually enjoy bringing down 300 year old trees and killing wildlife and birds.

[@ryancaldwell5377]

It looks like England has an aspiration to become like Trantor from Asimov's Foundation series. Pave the world and put it under a metal dome. In such a small country, creating barriers through the middle of an ecosystem could wipe out larger swaths of the ecology than they plan because of disturbances to the native range of various animal and plant species.

[@shamanahaboolist]

Imagine how empty your soul must be to take that job as one of those enforcement agents.

[@DMWBN3]

The way they bleed they are "high court enforcement officers" like people should be scared of them, abusing power every way which possible.

[@RokeJulianLockhart.s4eb2q]

@Train 2noplace Not necessarily, but somewhat.

[@Artemis7373]

What about those workers who clearly enjoy demolishing 300 year old trees, killing birds bats and everything a round. I have seen videos of them doing it.

[@lanaholmes7098]

I think the word your looking for is tryants!!

[@jonathantan2469]

On the other hand... they believe that they are helping build a high-speed rail alternative to carbon-intensive air & car travel, as well as a solution to take traffic off the existing lines used by both passenger & freight rail traffic.

[@Arrivatrainswalesfan]

These uninformed people are protesting the greenest mode of transport! Road transport projects are not seeing this kind of protest despite destroying much more green land. It’s confusing.

[@ricLPHDMC]

In fact they are. Look at Germany and France. Many forest and field occupations and permanent protests are fighting against new roads and highways for motorized individual transport. For example look up Dannenröder Forst, A14, KeineA20

[@ihsanayyasy6036]

sadly, unbeknown to them and most people in the developed countries, this happens every day and every minute in the developing countries, on a much enormous scale.

[@nataliekhanyola5669]

It does, it really is sad.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

Look at the Corrib gas field, read an article about an Elizabethan home owner who has tried and failed to stop. The planners have failed to avoid any homes or woods, bent bastards

[@callumpettitt8192]

Very true but here in the UK, nature is a precious commodity. We're one of the most densely populated countries in Europe and most of our woodland is gone already, certainly in England anyway.

[@yungjoemighty879]

But this is about England

[@nataliekhanyola5669]

@@callumpettitt8192 is it due to farming? I never understood why England has endless rolling hills that aren't used for anything but just exist.

[@fairdose]

If you keep cutting down trees, you begin to destabilize the soil and earth since the tree roots keep earth in place. You eventually start creating flood plains.

[@yellard6785]

400 years is not "ancient forest".. It's "established forest".. Worth preserving but it's not "ancient"..

[@jw6489]

I hope these protesters never give up, never stop fighting for our world.

[@hsvr]

I hope they all get arrested

[@ze89412]

Lol they don’t care about the environment they just hate rich people

[@seunayadi]

I live here, in Aylesbury and I didn’t even know this was going on

[@1RAGEACE]

Lovely countryside there, get out more this summer fam

[@xelanosbig]

Bro how ayelsbury is full of anti hs2 signs

[@itchyballsack6627]

Drive up to the top of the Wendover bypass, straight over the roundabout and about 100 yards on the right is/was a anti HS2 camp set up. These guys deserve respect for what they're trying to achieve but unfortunately the pound note will win again. The woods around the Chilterns is priceless. I had the very rare experience of seeing a lynx up there a few months back. I love the red kites, deers, owls and all the other wildlife you see but they'll be gone soon to save people 20 minutes on the morning commute...

[@ce1834]

Because they’re building 10 miles of tunnels under you in Buckinghamshire and 13 miles more into London because of the lobbying

[@marzouk6270]

Sad how England used to be teeming with life and Woodlands almost like a mythical land from a fantasy genre. We had wolves, bears, elk etc.

[@YourPupsBestFriendNY]

It's fucking sad that over 70% of the UK used to be dense woodlands and now look at it. Nothing but endless fields as far as the eye can see, and the few remaining forests are largely monoculture pine forests for the logging industry

[@KDH-br6hy]

@@zakariyaiqbal6130 ? What that gonna do

[@maxbrandstetter528]

@@zakariyaiqbal6130 lol isn’t gonna recreate these delicate ecosystems

[@daemonk756890]

I laugh at people who say the the English countryside is in any way pleasant. It's pathetic, just field after field after field. Our forests are an absolute priceless treasure.

[@daemonk756890]

@@zakariyaiqbal6130 but ancient woodland takes a reeeeeeally long time to develop, as the name very heavily implies.

[@daemonk756890]

@@zakariyaiqbal6130 as much as I agree that we should be planting more trees, protecting the ones we have is far more important in the short term for so many reasons.

[@ayandas874]

When you are being arrested by the police for something you believe in, don't shout as if you would change those people's mind by startling them. Be openly and proudly defiant about your non cooperation.

[@ampxz951]

Hs2 will do far more good than harm and help millions of people. Stand back and let them work stop screaming like children

[@clintwestwood1895]

What does the Queen have to say about all this? You guys created an underground tunnel across the channel, do the same for the trees go under them.

[@saltymonke3682]

cost, H2S is almost 100% overbudget than the initial planning

[@minigrande1939]

You obviously are not British.The queen does not have any governmental or political power.The Uk is a democarcy.She will have an opinion yet she has to very careful because by agreeing or not she maybe deemed as siding with a political party .The Uk has slowly been destroyed due to global affairs and a very right wing party being elect for nearly 3 terms .I hope it ends well

[@bartomalatesta5652]

@@minigrande1939 not so much of a democracy if you cant really elect the head of state

[@GooopGoooop]

@@bartomalatesta5652 This. Did we vote for Theresa? No. Did we vote for Borris? No. Democracy is dead in this country, and this video only supports that statement.

[@AtomicSymphonic]

@@GooopGoooop most of your countrymen voted for Boris, though, so... At this point, the Left has lost a lot of influence and these forests being lost forever is part of it and cannot be prevented any longer. It's unfortunate, but life can be completely unfair sometimes...

[@minigrande1939]

Im a British man (born 10 miles from these woods) can we please get some polotitions in place who care and love the UK ,because we so have not for over a decade now and its really starting to show.

[@forexed8948]

The March of progress is impossible to stop, but it CAN be slowed

[@m.m9769]

I would love to see some date as to which will be better for the environment, those trees as beutifull as they are to look at or the carbon reduction by the train line.

[@analogsamurai9576]

Carbon reduction my ass, a forest is not just the pounds of co2 it absorbs but serves an important function as biosphere hub from the birds who spread it's seeds and the ground mycelium to which it is attached to, and it would take decades to regrow that complexity, what is more important to you? Preserving the beauty of life and this planet or more transportation for more trade for more useless plastic things..

[@meh23p]

The rail line is designed to replace air traffic, not to make a dent in car traffic and actually transition the country away from car dominance. By the time it opens we’ll probably have hydrogen-powered airplanes and Scotland might not even be in the U.K. anymore, reducing the environmental benefits of a HSR line that’s supposed to eventually go to Scotland. Not worth destroying pristine ecosystems over.

[@lbrown5227]

@@meh23p You cant just replant deciduous *ancient* woodland it forms over such a long time. Truly is a shame.

[@chadmonty9967]

Do you really think these protesters even know what carbon reduction means?

[@pauldoporto6811]

@@chadmonty9967 Absolutely.Most people know what carbon reduction means.Why wouldn’t they?

[@crustycobs2669]

This infrastructure infringes on Mother Nature. Bless all, and hope it's not an exercise in futility to try to protect the environment.

[@weltschmerz333]

a cause worth fighting for, protect the environment...it feels like we are fighting a losing battle, but we have to stand up against the destruction of our planet no matter what

[@RackHasAttacked]

Not really, in hs2 a few million trees will be cut down and a few million more replanted so it doesn't really make a difference

[@weltschmerz333]

@@RackHasAttacked replanting trees doesnt fix cutting down 500 year old trees, this forrest is ancient please educate yourself

[@Sir_Richard_Long]

I see the same thing here, what happened in the heart of Budapest, Hungary. A right wing gov. demolishing a nature park what the locals loved, for business. Shameful corruption. And people still vote for them...

[@constancetalavera-rowe2961]

Fight! Don’t let them win!

[@cakestalker]

Trees are plants and you plant new ones and they grow back just like any other plant. Ironically these people will not cut down a tree, but they gladly support cutting down other types of plants for food. You plant new trees and they grow back just like any other plants.. like vegetables and fruits. England doesn't have any rainforests, so there is no argument for any irreversible habitant loss or any damage to the ecosystem. In fact there are more trees today than 100 years ago due to the paper industry. Why? They plant a lot of trees and cut them down and then they plant new ones.. just like with vegetables and fruits.

[@nefrabms4019]

After colonising and destroying so much parts of the world they have finally started to destroy their own backyard

[@oscarosullivan4513]

Yep the Lib Dems have new voters

[@callumpettitt8192]

we didn't destroy any part of the world what so ever but ok

[@demonorse]

They've been destroying their own for 10,000 years. Almost done!

[@user-op1tq9ur3t]

Stop killing are 🌎🌿✌️💚🌹🌷🌱🌳🌲🌼 Praying for you guys/girls from USA! Never give up!🙏

[@BenCarpendale]

your profile pic is a railway track how ironic

[@user-op1tq9ur3t]

@@BenCarpendale Yes that's we're my brother was killed. YOUR POINT? Some advice to you pal, don't make assumptions.

[@colatf2]

Our*

[@user-op1tq9ur3t]

@@colatf2 wild yuw like aa cookei ?🤣

[@user-op1tq9ur3t]

@X LOooLll

[@sherrattsp]

HS2 is net carbon neutral after around 20 years - rail is also one of the lowest carbon methods of transport. With the demand for that route, rail or not you have to accept that roads will be built in its place which will take up a lot more room. While sad the deforestation is a necessary evil - and what wasn’t mentioned in the video was the fact that HS2 is planting back more than it destroys (which I know isn’t the same - but for the sake of a bit of balance in this argument is worth pointing out)

[@thesecondYouTube]

Most people are working from home now. And will continue from now on.

[@sherrattsp]

@@thesecondKZbin very little evidence to support this over a long period of time. Plus freight movement will continue to only grow

[@maxgoodchild6111]

*people will be kicking themselves in few weeks if they miss the opportunity to buy and invest in bitcoin*

[@jessicafranco3061]

Bitcoin trading nowadays is a big change to make money

[@ivannasasha1174]

BITCOIN: IS THE ONLY TRUE DEMOCRACY EVER EXISTS IN THE WORLD

[@angelsmith6337]

Crypto is the future, trading crypto has become a lucrative way of making money

[@BarrySilbert57]

Stock are good too

[@amstronglucas275]

I wanted to trade crypto but I got confused by the fluctuation in price

[@runningfromabear8354]

My family have roots going back to this area since medieval times. Such a heart breaking scene.

[@tiko4621]

@II DEMON II nah, peasant roots

[@Ohhiohh]

So your family where slave owners?

[@heyhey8626]

@@Ohhiohh Explain this logic to me. So people who have roots in Britain back to the medieval times (most white people in Britain. Meaning most people in Britain) where descendants of slave owners? Doing a quick search provided me with the information that in 1833-at the abolishment of slavery-3000 slave owners were compensated in Britain. Meaning three thousand people came forward to receive their 'compensation' (rewards) for being slave owners. Meaning even this number may likely be an inflation due to how it would be in their economic interest to claim that they were slave owners. Three. Thousand. To assume with the leading question 'so your family were slave owners?' is insulting. What was the point of your question? I genuinely want to know why you felt the need to ask that question. To make this dude feel bad about himself for no reason?

[@runningfromabear8354]

@@Ohhiohh My ancestor showed up in London in the 1400's and received a Freedom of the City certification. He came from this area. Other branches of my family originated from this area from a long time ago and more recently. To the best of my knowledge, none of them owned slaves. I see tailors, landlords, carpenters, colliers, gamekeepers, labourer's and that sort of thing. No one that owned any slaves though. I'm not sure why you thought my ancestors owned slaves. I don't come from a wealthy background.

[@Ohhiohh]

@@runningfromabear8354no one asked

[@MrGeometres]

Environmentalists: We need to use more trains and public transport to save the environment. Also environmentalists: How dare you build new train tracks!11!!!11!!11!!! bloody hippies...

[@CactusCowboyDan]

We already had trains before this project. The reason they protest this one is because its as pointless as Trump's border wall. Not to mention damaging. Do not mock those who are trying to protect what little free woodland they have left on such a small island.

[@Artemis7373]

Do tell what is the point of building something which destroys everything is is supposed to be going to save ?

[@TrentGamingCo]

i wish they could arm themselves so that they could properly protect that land

[@oscarosullivan4513]

They likely will and expect to see machinery stolen, damaged or destroyed

[@zyanego3170]

Got a loicense for that m8?

[@davidbarry5527]

Respect to the farmers for trying to help .... Hard watch but nice to Vice going back to it's root's...

[@gregmarah8908]

There's a distinct lack of balance in this. Lies being told in regards to when HS2 will be carbon neutral, that over 100 ancient woodlands are directly affected when they won't be. Shame these individuals aren't as passionate about the 4000 miles of road building that are being done as part of RIS2 which will destroy significantly more woodland than a railway will, a railway which is still the most green form of mass transportation of goods and people.

[@joseroldan7392]

DAMN I JUST WANNA BE THERE AND PROTEST TO SAVE THOSE WOODLANDS.

[@IanPhillipsWildlife]

Same here, but I'm too old and unwell, but I'll still fight to protect my local habitat

[@michaeltruesdale6055]

Do it! You will be very welcome :)

[@tommo2020]

It's near where I live, barely anyone other than knobhead suits think this is acceptable. A lovely area being destroyed through dodgy dealings also.

[@alex_n8863]

That's what it's all about. Government contracts to Tory party donors.

[@tommo2020]

Albert Fels I have more of a problem with how the contract was set up and the choice of land. All for advancement etc but this is entirely scandalous.

[@EdricoftheWeald]

@Albert Fels We're in the dark ages without HS2? What a ridiculous argument

[@EdricoftheWeald]

@Albert Fels Absolutely no one here is arguing to break up infrastructure that's already there. Stop trying to destroy what little protected ancient woodlands are left on a vanity project to save 10 mins on a multi-hour commute.

[@EdricoftheWeald]

@Albert Fels This is an ancient woodland, and one of many being felled for HS2. There's no point talking if you're going to live in an alternative reality. Destroying what little is left of this country's ecological heritage, irreplaceable for hundreds of years at least, is not 'progress'. Its vandalism and the future won't thank you for it. Look at the trends and say that's false. And I don't understand what you mean by sustainabilty when this is obviously the opposite. Unless you deny climate change this makes no sense.

[@r.h.f.6073]

solidarity with all land and water defenders. we fight a common struggle all around the world.

[@Global.Blackmail999hug]

I wanna see good things like this more often

[@kashthkkr87]

It's very sad and disheartening to see this happening everywhere :( Human greed has no limits, it will end with the end of our mother earth, which I don't see far away from now.

[@Rokaize]

It won’t end anything. The planet and its life will carry on just fine even after we are gone

[@rentisme]

It's not even stuff like that but just when you have a nice little village that's just about perhaps 20 miles from the nec and then in like 5, 6 years go from like pretty cosy village to roadmen and countless cars and all that shit Like bruh I'm only 15 and I've lived here all my life some people that moved here like 2 years ago for school fuckin lecturing me about the fuckin layout of the village my family has lived in since the fifties Btw if you want to search it it's called Balsall Common Also it's so crazy that vice is making documentaries in what is essentially my backyard

[@YuureiInu]

For 100B pounds they could probably tunnel all the way through.

[@saltymonke3682]

no, it's already overbudget

[@YuureiInu]

@@saltymonke3682 overbudget now, overbudget when in a tunnel, so they can as well do it underground XD

[@saltymonke3682]

@@YuureiInu if it's already 2x over the initial budget even with surface construction, it won't be economically viable.

[@YuureiInu]

​@@saltymonke3682 It's not at all economically viable now and will serve only a fraction of UK. The maintenance cost will never make economically viable except for the construction companies.

[@VvV-kp3xw]

In my country forests get cut down for coal mines and highways. Why the f are we letting them cutting us off our O2 supply and combining it with Carbon, so we cant breath it anymore? Madness

[@andyroo9806]

you know what though.. the raods that crisscross the land are premenant and growing. one rail line, could stop the contruction of thousands of miles of roads. and prevent people from needing a car. progress sucks, we all hate it, but you know what they say, You Cant Stop Progress

[@Artemis7373]

sorry, i do not view this a progress - unless it is seen as human progress towards its own extinction

[@sabrinamerolla6590]

HAVING to watch all this is heartbreaking, but the constant advertisements interruption is outrageous. Quite emblematic of the system we live in though. No way to dissent from them, @Vice News?

[@cosmickingdom625]

Just subscribe to KZbin premium. It's cheap and worth it. No ads.

[@x12danx]

Really wish Vice went over both sides here instead of giving us one side's perspective. What is the projected amount of carbon emission that would be saved through this railway vs how much would be increased by cutting down the land for it? Are there any estimates out there, if there are then that would be very relevant here.

[@Bringon-dw8dx]

Why not just update the extensive rail network that’s already there- the biggest reason rail isn’t used as much as it could be in the uk is because it needs updating. NOT a whole new line

[@lalala6255]

Although I think the whole HS2 plan is an awful idea and a waste of money, but I will say I have worked on a felling site in Oxford and they carried out every procedure in place to check every tree that was coming down for any sort of wildlife. They would check for bat's by putting cameras down 'features' (holes in the trees where wildlife, but specifically bat's in this case). They would also carefully rig down every branch, limb and log that comes off the tree so the 'ancient' soil isn't ruined or disturbed. Of course I can only speak from what I have seen but they do carry out the necessary checks before doing anything.

[@fairdose]

Why does Birmingham need to be linked to London via high-speed train? There are already tons of train lines linking the two cities.

[@davidz2808]

Because this will be a faster line. Why shouldn't there be high-speed rail travel between them, like there is between Paris & Lyon, between Berlin & Hamburg as well as between Madrid & Barcelona?

[@coolnormalandwelladjusted]

@@davidz2808 so you want them to destroy a habitat just for the speed? They’re already connected.

[@xXZian6Xx]

@@coolnormalandwelladjusted Time is money, and speed is a catalyst for a productive society.

[@davidz2808]

@@coolnormalandwelladjusted It's important for business, tourism, commuting etc. It's a price worth paying.

[@guahk2727]

@@xXZian6Xx Extremely marginal productivity increase (debatable) or keeping what few irreplaceable woods and habitat the UK has left Which wins? You decide!