Planned mass trespass of the countryside event is 'blatant anarchism'

Extinction Rebellion is attempting to mobilise eco-activists for a mass trespass of the countryside – sparking fury from rural groups.

The demo is being organised by XR North for Saturday 24 April, the anniversary of the Kinder Scout trespass in Derbyshire in 1932, which pioneered the 'right to roam' movement.

XR's website warns activists taking part that aggravated trespass could bring a fine of up to £300 for a first offence.

Claiming that much private land is 'criminally misused', it adds: 'Taxpayers give £3 billion a year to landowners and yet we are denied access to 92 per cent of the land in England.'

Among the targets referenced online are estates, golf courses, grouse moors and farm land.

The group, who prompted national outrage following an attempt to shut down central London during a climate protest last year, encourages activists to climb over NO TRESPASSING or PRIVATE PROPERTY signs.

They add:

Attach your own message to NO TRESPASSING signs

Explore creative, peaceful & covid-safe civil disobedience related to the land

Bring the conversation home, speak to your friends & neighbours about land rights and land misuse

Whatever you do, post photos and join the social media storm using the hashtags #WhoOwnsBritain #TrespassTogether #RightToRoam

Tim Bonner, of the Countryside Alliance, called the action 'blatant anarchism'.

He said: " Everyone is welcome in the countryside, and in England and Wales there are 140,000 miles of rights of way as well as hundreds of thousands of acres of open access land for people to use. Rules around access are there for a reason, not least to protect crops and livestock. Extinction Rebellion's planned trespass is nothing short of blatant anarchism, which aims to disrupt working rural communities for no other reason than for a bit of publicity stunt. Their inability to connect with the wider British public on whatever issue it is they seek to highlight shouldn't come at the expense of hard-working farmers and rural businesses."

The Country, Land and Business Association (CLA) told the Mail on Sunday it 'beggared belief' that farmers who worked to produce food through the pandemic might face the threat of trespassers.

In response to questions from Farmers Weekly, an XR spokesperson insisted the action would be "peaceful" and farmers would not be targetted.

They added: "Farmers are as vulnerable as any of us to the whims of the tiny minority of aristocrats, oligarchs and corporate interests that control the land."