David Cameron and Nick Clegg both sponsor trees.
On Friday 13th November celebrities and leading politicians gathered on Airplot in the village of Sipson to plant apple trees on the site of Heathrow’s proposed third runway (1). The Poet Laureate Carol-Ann Duffy, the actress Alison Steadman and the actor Richard Briers all planted tress. Politicians who planted trees included the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg. The Conservative Party leader David Cameron, though not present, had sponsored a tree. At the event, organised by Greenpeace, trees were also planted by HACAN, NoTRAG (No Third Runway Action Group) and leading environmental organisations.
All the trees planted were of the Cox’s apple variety. Richard Cox had developed the apple at Heathrow when it was prime market garden land. He is buried in the nearby village of Harmondsworth.
HACAN Chair John Stewart said, “For David Cameron and Nick Clegg to sponsor a tree is the clearest statement yet that they have no intention whatsoever of building a third runway.”
Christine Shilling, NoTRAG Press Secretary, said, “This was another great day for the threatened villages of Harlington, Harmondsworth and Sipson. It showed once again the extent of the opposition to a third runway.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). Airplot is the piece of land in the village of Sipson (which would be destroyed if a 3rd runway went ahead) which, on the initiative of Greenpeace, was bought by Zac Goldsmith, Emma Thompson and Alistair McGowan and is now owned by over 50,000 people.