It was a sunny summer's day when a group of 30 eco-warriors set up camp on a disused field earmarked for development next to Kew Bridge.
Six months later, the residents of the impromptu sustainable community are still living on the former Scottish Widows site, in Kew Bridge Road, Brentford, despite the looming threat of a nine-storey block of flats being built there by developer and site owner St George.
The sub zero temperatures brought by the big freeze – one of the lengthiest cold spells to hit the capital in more than a decade – have also failed to deter the eco-villagers from leaving their wooden structures, herb gardens and compost toilet and shower.
Peace activist Gareth Newnham, 30, said: “Actually, the coldest time for me was the first night back in June. Since then we have become a lot more organised and now that winter's here we are unaffected by the weather.
“A few weeks ago we had a six month celebration and invited people from the community to a fire party. It was a great success.”
In September last year, villagers cheered when Hounslow councillors put off a plan by St George to build 164 flats, a riverside pub, a business hub and a piazza on the site.
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