Jon A Gold Says No To Third Runway

Saturday, 12 December 2009

It’s a damp, cold November day in Northamptonshire, England. You’re with a bunch of mates outside a country pub which has a wide selection of drinks, delicious food and a roaring log fire. What do you do? That’s right, you all troop into the soggy garden and start reading poetry. Welcome to the world of local Greenpeace activists....

Of course, in the end, we all took advantage of the drink, the food and the fire. Greenpeace campaigners may be crazy but we’re not stupid! First, however, we had an important job to do. We were planting a tree as part of Greenpeace UK’s Airplot campaign, which aims to prevent the construction of a third runway at Heathrow and all the associated social and environmental damage.

The planting also involved a bit of a ceremony to twin our tree with those being planted on Greenpeace’s plot in Sipson, the village which would be obliterated if the third runway goes ahead. The plot was prepared, Hannah introduced proceedings, Steve talked briefly about the local group and the campaign, and Nick read a solemn but heartfelt declaration based on an ancient poem*.

After all of the support acts had finished, Mr. Jonagold, a devilishly handsome apple tree, took centre stage. The producer of a cross between a Jonathan and a Golden Delicious, we planted it with a real sense of purpose and then decorated it with apple-shaped tags bearing messages about the third runway from members of the public about the group. It was really satisfying to think that the tree could still be there when we, and Heathrow Airport, are long gone. It may seem like a small gesture but, as anyone who has spent the night with a mosquito will testify, we shouldn’t think that small means ineffective.

We planted the tree in the garden of this particular local hostelry (which is also a restaurant and a hotel) because the new manager is linking up with River Cottage’s landshare scheme. It’s early days but he’s hoping to use the extensive grounds to grow food for the business, thus promoting local produce and reducing food miles.

Once the deed was done, we headed inside to sample some fine winter fare, make bad tree-based puns and, er, ring the bell. But that’s another story altogether……

THE DECLARATION

*the tree minds its own business
and lives in its own place so faithfully
and its trunk supports us when we lean against it
and its branches remind us of how we think

this tree will keep no bank account but hoard carbon
it does not discriminate between starlings and robins
and provides free housing for insects and squirrels
and whispers us oxygen with its leaves

we the people for ourselves and our children
twin this tree with the orchard in Sipson
a symbol of hope for a sustainable future
as long as it and we shall live