Monday 18th February 2002 - National Day of Action against Scotts.

Across the UK offices, factories and peat extraction sites belonging to The Scotts Company (the world's largest horticultural company) were today occupied or disrupted by activists protesting against the continued destruction of rare raised peat bog habitats. Seven facilities belonging to Scotts were targeted by Peat Alert, a recently-formed national campaign network, which aims to stop peat extraction in the UK and Europe. "We want Scotts to know that they cannot continue decimating our wild places without attracting this type of disruptive opposition", said Danielle Locke, a spokesperson for the network.

Godalming, Surrey - Head Office At around 2pm 20 people went into the offices for about an hour & a half before police with dogs arrived and people left. Most of the office was closed down and the front doors were locked using bicycle D-locks. There were only about 70 workers, so they made quite an impact. After leaving the demonstration a van load of protestors were pulled over. By around 5pm 15 people were arrested and taken to Guildford police station, charged with burglary.

Corwen, North Wales - PBI Home & Garden fertilizer & pesticides manufacturing plant. At around 9am about a dozen people locked the gates for a short while before workers sawed them open again. They entered the offices and factory and disrupted work for about an hour and a half. They fliered and talked to the workers, who were surprisingly supportive and really good-natured, as the factory may be closing down, making them all redundant. Photos will be posted on the web-site shortly.

Bramford, nr Ipswich, Suffolk - A group of around 20 people invaded the Levington manufacturing and research plant, occupying offices, blockading gates and locking themselves to the undercarriages of a couple of lorries. They were quickly removed from the offices, but managed to blockade the entrances for nearly 3 hours, leading to long tail-backs of over 20 lorries. Eventually police removed the protestors, using bolt-croppers to cut them free. Five people were arrested for aggravated trespass and obstruction of the highway. One man was assaulted by a lorry driver, but has since recovered.

Hatfield Moors, South Yorkshire - Between 11.30 and 12.30, 15 activists arrived at Hatfield Moor, and spent the day carrying out conservation work on the moor, including filling in drainage ditches to prevent the moors drying out. There were no police, so they just go on with it and left around 5.30, when they were tired.

Goole, East Yorkshire - At around 11.30 two women entered the offices of the Scotts fertilizer & pesticide manufacturing facility, staying only to send a fax to Nick Kirkbride, UK Managing Director at the Head Office in Godalming, announcing their presence and opposition to Scotts involvement in peat extraction. At the same time a set of gates were locked shut by other activists.
Text of the fax: Dear Nick By now you will know that sites across the country are being targeted for demonstrations. This is because of Scotts' involvement (or should that be "championing") of peat extraction from rare raised bog habitats, in the UK and globally.

You will have been aware of the enormous opposition to this practice when you bought up the peat facilities. You have been involved in negotiations around "Special Area of Conservation" status for Thorne, Hatfield and Wedholme Flow & others, and have slowed them down at every stage. You know you will be forced to stop sooner or later, so GO PEAT-FREE NOW, while you can still save a shred of reputation and there remains a chance to save the moors.

PEAT ALERT

More actions also happened, we believe, and will post them when we have the details.

The next big action against Scotts is the Easter blockade 25-28th March - see www.peatalert.org.uk for more