After over 14 months spent protecting a village green from illegal destruction. Protesters in Sherwood forest are facing the toughest day - Police turned up without warning at 8 this morning and started to evict them.

The trees were evicted quite fast , but there is a tunnel network that will take far longer. The tunnels are well stocked and extremely well defended.

No notice was given that the evictions were to take place and the Under-Sheriff of Nottingham (whose ultimately in charge of evictions in the area) told the protesters only last week, that there would not be an eviction while legal cases were still outstanding.

Protesters and local people are currently trying to prevent the police from getting near the tunnels to stop any further destruction of the village green.

As this release goes out, the beech tree which is at least a couple of hundred years old is facing the axe.

Several people are known to be in tunnels, local residents watch in anger, and the Nottinghamshire Police who previously assured them that no tree-felling would take place until the tunnels had been evicted, have now allowed felling to commence – of very large mature trees, directly above the siting of the tunnels – which could cause a fatal tunnel collapse.

For information telephone: Olan Trust 08708 080 080 or Fax: 08708 080 081
For background facts visit: www.sherwoodgreen.net