HS2 campaigners have been blockading over 20 HS2 construction sites today - including Crackley Woods near Kenilworth

Stop HS2 campaigners across England are blockading over 20 HS2 construction sites today (Monday) - including sites near Leamington, Kenilworth and Southam.

Protectors are campaigning against the destruction of ancient woodland and wildlife habitats which is going on not only during the current lockdown but also during bird nesting season, badger breeding season and bat nursery season.

Locally, parts of South Cubbington Wood, Crackley Wood and Broadwells Wood - as well as areas near Southam - are currently being flattened to make way for the HS2 line.

Licences have been given to HS2 Ltd to allow works to continue and the HS2 project was recently given ‘Notice to Proceed’.

A spokesperson for Stop HS2 said: "The Government will claim that HS2 jobs will help kick start the economy, but we don’t need jobs for jobs’ sake.

"We need to work towards a more sustainable future, and HS2 is the most undemocratic, expensive, unnecessary and damaging project that this country has undertaken since World War I.

"The coronavirus crisis has given us a golden opportunity to do things differently and to make decisions for the future which will protect our environment, help towards our climate goals as set out in the Paris Agreement, and which will benefit the whole population of the UK, and the world."