Hebden Bridge Web

Take back the Land - camp and occupation

Saturday, 4 May 2019

The Land Justice Network are organising Take Back The Land: a camp and land occupation near Hebden Bridge. Around Walshaw Moor.

Everyone is welcome: they plan to protest, hold workshops, sing songs, and take action together to call for land reform in England.

People who wish to take part should bring a tent, sturdy footwear, warm clothes, "and a strong desire to change the world".

The 16,000-acre Walshaw Estate, a giant grouse moor owned by a wealthy retail tycoon, looms over Hebden Bridge and the Calder Valley. The landowner burns the moor to breed more grouse for sport, and tHebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd flood.

The Land Justice Network argue that the moor should be owned by the community and managed in its interests.  They say that if the community in the Calder Valley were given control of Walshaw Moor, they would manage it properly - slowing the flow of water downstream, restoring the land to ecological health and locking up carbon to address the climate emergency. But for that to happen, politicians need to change the law. There needs to be land reform.

The camp will be a peaceful protest, open to all and family friendly. Visit for as little or long as you please. The camp booklet, which visitors will be given upon arrival, contains a legal briefing

There’s going to be lots of workshops, singing and dancing.

The network argues that, "The landowner’s intensive slash-and-burn management of the moor has deprived the community of the natural flood defences they need. As long ago as 2013, Hebden residents successfully lodged a complaint with the European Commission against the Walshaw Estate’s practices. Now the UK Government agrees that burning of protected blanket bog has to stop. Yet still Walshaw Estate persists – propped up by over £280k in public farm subsidies in 2017. We need the government to ban the burn."

The site of the Land Camp and Occupation will be revealed soon.