Anti-HS2 campaigners join forces with Extinction Rebellion to save 'Britain's Amazon'

Extinction Rebellion has joined forces with the anti-HS2 campaign as they attempt to save "Britain's Amazon" from being destroyed by the project.

The climate change protesters, who brought London to a standstill earlier this year, are being joined by campaigners from sleepy Middle England towns near the lush woods threatened by the rail project.

They plan to protest alongside BBC Springwatch's Chris Packham at Euston Railway Station on the 28th September.

At least 108 ancient woods are threatened with loss or damage from the two phases of HS2, with phase one already underway.

These are crucial spots for biodiversity, because the trees are hundreds of years old and have therefore become prize spots for rare invertebrates, bats and birds.

The woodlands also absorb carbon from the atmosphere, combating global warming like a small-scale Amazon Rainforest. HS2 is currently under review as the government decides whether to continue the costly and environmentally destructive project - but work is still continuing.

Lord Randall of Uxbridge, who lives near the proposed route, told the Sunday Telegraph: "We are up in arms about the Amazon, but what about our own ancient woodlands?

"We need to suspend all this work while the review is going on. If we start cutting trees down now, by the time of the review there will be none left."

Mark Keir, an organiser for Stop HS2, who is also part of Extinction Rebellion, said the climate change group is proud to have brought "Middle England" into the fray.

He said: "HS2 is ripping up a vast area of ancient woodland and there's going to be such an incredible loss of biodiversity here.

"We have 2,400 species in this area, we have otters, water voles, eels, glow worms, barn owls, tawny owls, little owls, kestrel, kite, buzzard, sparrowhawk, peregrines. 120 species of bird that nest in the trees and it's far and away the most biodiverse area of London, we can't afford to lose it.

"It's a meeting between middle England and Extinction Rebellion, what Extinction Rebellion has done really well is bring middle England into the fray. We've made middle England active and not before time.

"There are going to be more protests about HS2 and the ancient woodlands in the near future.

"We are the lungs of London and the water supply of London, we can't throw it away.

"Every ancient tree that gets cut down, a 900 year old tree has 900 years worth of biodiversity in it. If you plant a new tree now, it'll take 900 years to get anywhere near that."

HS2 has been contacted for comment.