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Tree protester fears eviction tomorrow

8:38pm Sunday 6th January 2008

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Eco protester Gabriel came down from his tree today to make his own renovations to Bonn Square, in Oxford city centre.

The 34-year-old has staged a four-day treetop protest about a proposed £1.5m revamp of the square, which involves chopping down a group of sycamore trees.

But this afternoon, he popped down from his makeshift shelter in the one remaining tree in the square to join three friends in tidying up the area.

Gabriel and his pals redug two overgrown paths, before returning to his tree for the night.

Gabriel, who refuses to give his last name, said: "We have dug up the old path so people can see how nice it is. If they brought it back to what it was instead of sanitising it, then that would be magic."

The protesters also asked members of the public to sign a petition against the redevelopment.

Gabriel said he believed there might be an effort to evict him tomorrow morning.

He said: "I am going to be hanging on at the top by a rope.

"As long as the tree is still there, we can win."

Oxford police chief Supt Brendan O'Dowda told the Oxford Mail on Saturday: "I am happy for him to stay up there and do not think he will cause any harm."

Gabriel climbed up into the branches in the early hours on Thursday morning in a bid to delay the work. Passers-by have been handing him food and clothing.

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Your Say YourOxford Mail

Mr Ison, England says...
8:47pm Sun 6 Jan 08

Wouldn't the kids just love a coppiced and pollarded bluebell wood in the heart of Oxford?

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Mr Ison, England says...
8:51pm Sun 6 Jan 08

Add a few Silver Birch and some Rhododendron in planters,construct the wooden Arch and it's all good.

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Mr Ison, England says...
8:55pm Sun 6 Jan 08

**** Willow as well.

Catkin's are pleasing.

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Swift Nick, says...
9:04pm Sun 6 Jan 08

And some decking please.
We need Charlie and her Dimmock's

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Mr Ison, England says...
9:04pm Sun 6 Jan 08

Sanctify the area for the scatering of ashes.

Add a fountain.

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Mr Ison, England says...
9:05pm Sun 6 Jan 08

A sign post,should include North Pole.

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Mr Ison, England says...
9:08pm Sun 6 Jan 08

As mentioned the decking,this should sit in front and around a small concession structure.

Beer is served on tap.

That's a couple of jobs and an income.

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Swift Nick, says...
9:16pm Sun 6 Jan 08

Mr Ison wrote:
Wouldn't the kids just love a coppiced and pollarded bluebell wood in the heart of Oxford?
I fear our friend in his rustic repose may himself be pollarded in the morning.
Perhaps pilloried as well going by some of less less favorable comments on this site.

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Mr Ison, England says...
9:19pm Sun 6 Jan 08

Those people desire a dark and brooding land riven with internecine conflict.

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Swift Nick, says...
9:27pm Sun 6 Jan 08

Mr Ison wrote:
Those people desire a dark and brooding land riven with internecine conflict.
The ensuing bloodshed and carnage would be out of character for the sylvan scene you paint for us in your comments.

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Mr Ison, England says...
9:27pm Sun 6 Jan 08

For them i would suggest several small patches of edelweiss,should keep them happy for years.

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Contracts Officer OCC, Town Hall says...
9:34pm Sun 6 Jan 08

Mr Ison,

Welcome and congratulations upon your appointment; together with your new employment with OCC.

Your forsight and vision make you the number one candidate for the position of designer and implementation officer of the revamping of Bonn Square.

Such outreaching ideas are without comparison.

The only downside is how do we rid the vision of the future of the dossers and smelly individuals who currently inhabit the square?

We could offer a concessionary bus service to BBL but they would not be allowed in because they are deemed upper class compared to the locals.

Suggestion welcome.

Cuba rings a bell!

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Swift Nick, says...
9:34pm Sun 6 Jan 08

I will give the nicotine patches a chance to work before I try the edelweiss.

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Cat, Not stuck up a tree... says...
9:38pm Sun 6 Jan 08

Gabriel and his pals redug two overgrown paths, before returning to his tree for the night.

Gabriel, who refuses to give his last name, said: "We have dug up the old path so people can see how nice it is. If they brought it back to what it was instead of sanitising it, then that would be magic


Why didn't he apply for a job with the parks department at the council and endavour to keep the area clean. Or volunteer and do it?

Considering it was probably him and his 'pals' that made it such a dive in the first place I think this is so funny!

I doubt he used the word 'sanitising' as if his vocabulary stretches that far.

If you and your drunken stinking layabout sponging 'pals' hadn't turned this area into 'tramp city' there may not be a need to refurbish it you cocknocker...

Go get a job and start paying your way.

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Mr Ison, England says...
9:49pm Sun 6 Jan 08

One should be asking why the representatives operate a scorched earth policy when the alternatives are so much more attractive.

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Mr Ison, England says...
10:10pm Sun 6 Jan 08

So where are those that favour erecting a Scottish Phallus in the middle of Oxford?

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Cupid Stunt, says...
10:17pm Sun 6 Jan 08

Mr Ison wrote:
So where are those that favour erecting a Scottish Phallus in the middle of Oxford?
Speaking of a phallus, where is the old misanthrope Il Capitano Alan this evening?

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Mr Ison, England says...
10:18pm Sun 6 Jan 08

Fooks could be in there showing us all the importance of mulching.

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Bertram the Bent Banana, Out the closet says...
10:21pm Sun 6 Jan 08

Speaking of a
phallus, where is the old misanthrope Il Capitano Alan this evening?

I am just about to hand him over to Nurse Tess.

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Mr Ison, England says...
10:22pm Sun 6 Jan 08

Visiting Yanks may also like some gargoyles,i suggest Groo and Rufferto.

I am sure they will all know of these two cultural icons.

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Nurse Tess, Headington says...
10:32pm Sun 6 Jan 08

i suggest Groo and Rufferto.

I would suggest Wallace and Grommet.

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Mr Ison, England says...
10:40pm Sun 6 Jan 08

I would sooner drink from the spring than from the river.

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Stephanie, says...
8:25am Mon 7 Jan 08

Why can't that one tree be saved? It looks attractive, and marks the border between the square and the church. It offers shade, and doesn't get in the way of the main plan.

In the above silly exchange, one phrase stands out like a beacon: "scorched earth policy". That is exactly what the city council proposes. Surely there is a better way to keep down-and-outs away?

Gabriel is a shining example to us all, and the way his friends are supporting him is magnificent. (And I never thought I would say that about the Bonn Square crowd.)

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Sharp Shooter, in the shed says...
8:49am Mon 7 Jan 08

Im just oiling up my Carl Gustav snipers rifle ready to help with the eviction, should get a good shot from the top of Westgate. (Tranquiliser dart only...of course)

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Tarbatt, says...
9:12am Mon 7 Jan 08

Stephanie wrote:
Why can't that one tree be saved? It looks attractive, and marks the border between the square and the church. It offers shade, and doesn't get in the way of the main plan. In the above silly exchange, one phrase stands out like a beacon: "scorched earth policy". That is exactly what the city council proposes. Surely there is a better way to keep down-and-outs away? Gabriel is a shining example to us all, and the way his friends are supporting him is magnificent. (And I never thought I would say that about the Bonn Square crowd.)
Stephanie, I agree with every word. The last tree should be saved. Gabriel's actions are inspiring.

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Anon, says...
11:55am Mon 7 Jan 08

Cat wrote:
Gabriel and his pals redug two overgrown paths, before returning to his tree for the night. Gabriel, who refuses to give his last name, said: "We have dug up the old path so people can see how nice it is. If they brought it back to what it was instead of sanitising it, then that would be magic
Why didn't he apply for a job with the parks department at the council and endavour to keep the area clean. Or volunteer and do it? Considering it was probably him and his 'pals' that made it such a dive in the first place I think this is so funny! I doubt he used the word 'sanitising' as if his vocabulary stretches that far. If you and your drunken stinking layabout sponging 'pals' hadn't turned this area into 'tramp city' there may not be a need to refurbish it you cocknocker... Go get a job and start paying your way.
Couldn't agree more

Sponger chop the tree down with him in it

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Tess, Headington says...
12:09pm Mon 7 Jan 08

Bertram the Bent Banana wrote:
Speaking of a
phallus, where is the old misanthrope Il Capitano Alan this evening?
I am just about to hand him over to Nurse Tess.
Haven't seen him either, but then I have been smacked to the tits on drugs for the past few days so I haven't seen much.

Thanks for all that advice on speedballs certainly better than the old coke and dope combination.

The way the Heroin kicks in and smooths out the euphoric high from the crack is indeed incredible and I shall be advising all my patients on the childrens ward to try it when they get home.

Anyway got some 13 year old willies to "examine", its great being a nurse. The stuff you can get away with if you have a qualification, eh?

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Gabriel's nemises, says...
12:10pm Mon 7 Jan 08

Gabriel, who refuses to give his last name


********************
********************
*********HIS NAME IS CHAMBERLAIN*********
********************
********************
***************

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Tarbatt, says...
1:55pm Mon 7 Jan 08

Gabriel's nemises wrote:
Gabriel, who refuses to give his last name
******************** ******************** *********HIS NAME IS CHAMBERLAIN********* ******************** ******************** ***************
Not a very good attempt at spelling 'nemesis'.

You little creep.

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Nurse Tess, Headington says...
2:26pm Mon 7 Jan 08

Tess wrote:
Bertram the Bent Banana wrote: Speaking of a
phallus, where is the old misanthrope Il Capitano Alan this evening?
I am just about to hand him over to Nurse Tess.
Haven't seen him either, but then I have been smacked to the tits on drugs for the past few days so I haven't seen much. Thanks for all that advice on speedballs certainly better than the old coke and dope combination. The way the Heroin kicks in and smooths out the euphoric high from the crack is indeed incredible and I shall be advising all my patients on the childrens ward to try it when they get home. Anyway got some 13 year old willies to "examine", its great being a nurse. The stuff you can get away with if you have a qualification, eh?
Sorry folks, but Alan's responsible for this posting. By the way, he bottled out last night.

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Zach, Oxford says...
3:16pm Mon 7 Jan 08

Its about time they dragged this junkie by the gonads and showed him the cell. What does this arsehole intend to accomplish with his monkey antics.

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jim bob, oxford says...
3:44pm Mon 7 Jan 08

save the trees the place looks ok as it is save the trees

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matron, osney says...
3:55pm Mon 7 Jan 08

Im guesing Gabriel usually works for the Oxford Mail website as a moderator... I've never seen such a huge amount of profanity make it into the comments before!

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matron, osney says...
3:57pm Mon 7 Jan 08

I meant 'guessing', my finger slipped.

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alexandra, oxford says...
10:24pm Fri 11 Jan 08

im all up for keeping green spaces in town. but bonn square. itd need some real thought and work put into it. the bonn square lot scare the hell out of me.

its good to hear that the protesters are cleaning it up a bit. perhaps we should follow suit.

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rebecca, Australia says...
3:23am Mon 14 Jan 08

Fly Like a bird Gabriel : Go for it!

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roby, oxford says...
6:30pm Mon 14 Jan 08

the extension of westgate will surely mean more shoppers right? and that'll mean more cars. i hope they find some space they can knock/cut down and build some more car parking spaces. (p.s. i cannot believe how boring and unfulfilling some people's lives are that they have to go live on a tree. bloody pathetic.)

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roby, oxford says...
6:32pm Mon 14 Jan 08

Zach wrote:
Its about time they dragged this junkie by the gonads and showed him the cell. What does this arsehole intend to accomplish with his monkey antics.
i like this person alot. glad to see someone out there isnt stupidly insane.

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roby, oxford says...
6:36pm Mon 14 Jan 08

Sharp Shooter wrote:
Im just oiling up my Carl Gustav snipers rifle ready to help with the eviction, should get a good shot from the top of Westgate. (Tranquiliser dart only...of course)
just make sure you dont get me mate. i'll be the guy with the 2 glock's in each hand (again i think i'll follow the tranquilizer option. shouldnt really harm a living thing)

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