Why I'm behind the people of Balcombe against fracking

Amelia Collins

08 August 2013

Yesterday I was lucky enough to visit the protest site in Balcombe, West Sussex. Lucky is in many ways an inappropriate word to use, given that local residents and protesters are fighting oil exploration by energy company Cuadrilla, which they fear could lead to hydraulic fracturing or fracking. They have quite a fight on their hands. But to meet the people on the ground and show support brings the campaign and people to life.  

Balcombe is nestled in beautiful woodlands of West Sussex. Thanks to a delayed train the camp was bathed in a golden evening light by the time we arrived.  Everyone was as warm as the sunlight and made us feel welcome, a relief for a novice on-the-ground campaigner like myself. 

While Friends of the Earth members of staff spoke to local residents, I picked my way through the woods with a little help, to find a clear view of Cuadrilla's drilling site. This entailed climbing a tree and clinging on for dear life with my legs, while I stuck my lens through the branches. The sound and site of the drill working away sent shivers down my spine.

Back on solid ground I joined my colleagues and the stalwart team of protesters. We handed over thousands of messages of support from Friends of the Earth supporters. 

Hearing the personal stories of many locals, most of whom are, like myself, new to campaigning, my respect for their work swelled. I can't really put it better than Carl Lee, local resident: "My message is to everyone, start paying attention to the environment. I was quite blind to it. It was my little girl that dragged me down here saying, "Dad they're going to poison our water" and when your little girl is saying something like that you want to reassure her that is everything is all ok."

A huge thank you to all the people in Balcombe, for inspiring me. We are all behind you and appreciate the work you are doing, not just for your local area, but for the UK as a whole. 

Amelia Collins, Creative Communications team