LIKE everybody else I wasn’t able to witness the eviction of Yorkley Court Community Farm as the police, with help from private security, imposed a ring of steel around the eviction area, but here’s what I did see around the perimeter:

As soon as I arrived on Yorkley Wood Road I saw two young women, one of them looked like she was still in her teens, shaking and crying, clearly traumatised.

They were unable to retrieve their belongings, their coats, or anything, following what they said was a violent entry from the bailiffs. They also didn’t know what had happened to their dogs.

I walked down the public footpath towards the farmhouse to find my way barred by police, who said all the footpaths in the area had been closed by Gloucestershire County Council. Surely there should have at least been a notice stating the fact, but there was none.

I asked a WPC (who was from Stroud) if they were considering the welfare of those who’d been expelled from the site, minus their belongings, coats or pets and was told they should talk to police on the road.

Her fellow officer was busy rhythmically clapping his gloved hands like a chanting football fan might do as a riot van passed by.

Two legal observers were also barred entry, when I would have thought they had the right to see due legal process was being followed.

I retreated again to the road. A little later an elderly man I know asked if I would accompany him on the footpath as he insisted it couldn’t be closed as there was no notice. This time we were met by three extremely aggressive security men. They threatened to take my elderly friend’s walking stick and “shove it where the sun don’t shine” and threatened us both with violence.

Shocked – there were no police nearby to witness this exchange – I went back to the road.

Here I met several concerned householders who live nearby. One well-spoken lady informed me she’d been threatened by the solar farm’s staff while walking in the public wood near the site.

Other locals said it was a very sad day as they supported the eco-farmers and thought they made a valuable contribution to the community.

I heard many more tales of violence used against the eco-farmers – one showed me a dog bite he said he’d received while he was outside the site, in the woods, from a security man’s dog.

I heard of another case of someone being attacked by a hammer by staff from the solar farm – but the victim was arrested rather than the alleged assailant, before being taken to hospital.

The police claimed they were there to prevent a breach of the peace.

Rather it seemed to me they were there to prevent any witnesses seeing violence from private security, bonfires being made of people’s possessions (as well as their homes) as they certainly didn’t prevent a breach of the peace.

On returning home I was shocked on Facebook to find a number of people demonstrating a complete lack of empathy and humanity for the people who valiantly tried to cling on to a sustainable way of life, pitted against authorities who were prejudiced against them from the start.

I truly hope one day the many injustices surrounding Yorkley Court will be officially brought to light and would back a call for an investigation. And I despair at the lack of feeling some in our Forest community have for their fellow human beings.

Lastly I would just like to point out that the national award-shortlisted Dean Forest Food Hub was set up by the enterprising Yorkley Court Community Farm people.

Thanks to all who occupied this land where the ownership is still being legally challenged, and teaching us gardening skills and about food sovereignty.

Your stay was not in vain – valuable lessons have been learned and I hope you retake the site and you can start again following the destruction of your allotments.

Another lesson I learned is that our authorities work for the rich and the rich primarily.

They can get footpaths and roads arbitrarily closed. They are above the law. The rest of us are crushed beneath it.

– Name supplied, Forest of Dean.