The right to remain
An off-the-grid society fights for a home near the historic Magna Carta site
Daniella Zalcman
On June 15, Queen Elizabeth and heads of state from around the world will descend upon a small plot of land at the base of Cooper's Hill in Runnymede, about 20 miles west of London. They will gather here, around a small stone marker, to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta, a charter agreed upon by King John of England that guaranteed basic human rights for all citizens. Runnymede is thought to be where the Magna Carta was sealed.But what they may not know is that this land has become home to the Diggers.
The residents of the Runnymede Eco Village all agree that modern living is fundamentally broken. So the 40-person-strong group decided they wanted nothing to do with it. On a four-acre plot of land covered in oak, sycamore and birch trees called Cooper's Hill, they built homes that they've lived in in since 2012.Each person came for a different reason. Some were homeless before they found the self-sustaining community; others gave up houses and 9-to-5 jobs to join. They are attempting to question the conventions of consumerism, land ownership and the right to natural resources. And for them, the Evo Village seems to have provided an answer.Now, they're facing imminent eviction.
They call themselves Diggers, after a group of land activists who occupied St. George’s Hill in 1649.
The original Diggers believed that land had become over-privatized. As long as they were cultivating and caring for the area they inhabited, they claimed, they had a right to remain. But suddenly, their historic plot of land has come under public scrutiny; you can't very well play host to world dignitaries and celebrate the anniversary of Magna Carta if the Diggers are in plain view.At least, that's the prevailing theory of the government.
Yet this is a fully functioning subculture of society.
Each member of the community contributes to the overall well being of the Eco Village.Andrea spends her time cleaning the forest of debris left behind by those who dump waste illegally; Scottish James is focused on permaculture and tending the community garden; Benni takes care of the chickens and ducks. Some are builders, some are foragers, some are cooks, some are cleaners. No one ever wants to wash the dishes, but they get done eventually.There’s a huge range of building philosophies, from teepees to yurts to log cabins. Most are made from woven tree branches, salvaged timber, and found objects from local dumpsters and construction sites.The residents of the Runnymede Eco Village routinely organize group trips to other eco villages, either to learn new skills or to show support when other communities are threatened.
When the gathering for the anniversary of Magna Carta takes place on June 15, the Diggers will not be moved. Though officials have tried to hide their community and the people with fences, the Diggers can stay where they are, and it is thanks to the very words and guarantee of freedom found within Magna Carta.
