Extinction Rebellion and HS2 protestors scale Chiltern Tunnel to remind "Boris Johnson to keep his pledge to protect biodiversity"

They have said this is in responds to the Prime Minister's call to protect biodiversity.

Protesters blocked HS2 worksites across the 140-mile stretch from London to Birmingham asking him to tell the truth and, in his own words 'act now without dither or delay'.

Extinction Rebellion targeted the 135 acre tunnelling site in West Hyde near Denham next to the M25, where the £16million tunnel boring machines are due to break into the Chilterns in early 2021.

Protestors stood on top of the 17m high tunnel, released flares and blocked the gates to the compound by locking and gluing themselves onto structures similar to those used to disrupt the distribution of the Daily Mail and other newspapers outside Broxbourne printworks only a few weeks ago.

A banner held outside a compound entrance read ‘Extinction if forever: Stop HS2’

They were supported by a crowd of concerned campaigners from across the UK and local community members, who say they have had enough of Government lies and leaders’ inability to see the catastrophic impact of HS2.

Extinction Rebellion claim: "HS2 construction and biodiversity destruction delays any plans for the UK to reach net zero by 2050. Claims that HS2 will contribute towards a new ‘greener’ future are simply not true.

"The carbon footprint of its construction is so huge that HS2 will not reach carbon net zero within its predicted lifetime of 120 years."

Rob Callender, Extinction Rebellion spokesperson, said: "This is not about whether trains are better than road or air travel.

"The generation alive today is at a crossroads; we must halt all deforestation and all biodiversity loss and this starts with HS2 because it is unnecessary, undemocratic and it is about to permanently eradicate hundreds of miles of habitats for living, interacting natural species.

“HS2 is not a project of need but of greed. What we need is to harmonise our economies with the natural world because this colonial attitude to nature is destroying lives already right now. The sea level rise being felt in the Pacific Islands and the kind of political culture that pushes HS2 through despite its overwhelming unpopularity are not separate. And if you're at home, you have to consider getting out here and fighting for nature and reparations because we don't have any more time. They can resell the tunnel machines. This is the end of the line for HS2."

HS2 have been approached for a response.