Skip to content

Campaigning Wiki

4 min read

lang: en

Summary

From November 2013 to April 2014, a community in Eccles, Manchester, UK, established the Barton Moss Community Protection Camp to oppose fracking. Through nonviolent occupation, delay tactics, and public outreach, they aimed to shift public opinion against hydraulic fracturing. The campaign succeeded in turning local opinion from 34% against fracking to 73% against it in Northwest England.

Background

By 2013, the UK government under Prime Minister David Cameron supported hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract natural gas, issuing permits for test drilling despite local opposition. The campaign aimed to build community opposition to fracking, discourage mining companies, and raise the costs of their operations. The target was Igas, the company conducting test drilling near Eccles, Manchester.

What happened

On 27 November 2013, the campaign began by establishing the ‘Barton Moss Community Protection Camp’ near Eccles, with tents set up beside the road near the test drill site. [source: nv-database] Campaigners used nonviolent intervention to block or delay trucks entering and leaving the site, leading to four arrests on the first day [source: nv-database]. On 3 December, a press conference called for transparency and publicized the dangers of fracking [source: nv-database]. Police routinely used repressive violence, with up to 150 officers clearing roads and making arrests; one disabled protester suffered a broken knee [source: nv-database]. On 16 December, 50 pro-renewable energy campaigners dressed as Santa’s helpers delivered a 17-meter wind turbine blade, blocking the entry site [source: nv-database]. Two days later, protesters left a disabled bus blocking the entrance with five people locked to it, causing a six-hour delay [source: nv-database]. On 30 December, a protester locked himself to the first truck in a convoy, holding up traffic [source: nv-database]. In January, tactics included a woman supergluing herself to gates, three women attaching themselves to concrete barrels, and two people supergluing themselves into a car [source: nv-database]. On 12 January, hundreds marched in support of the encampment [source: nv-database]. On 19 January, Faslane Peace Camp trained local protectors in direct action [source: nv-database]. On 26 January, 1500 people marched and held a rally [source: nv-database]. On 31 January, five campaigners locked themselves to a fixture in Salford Council’s Civic Centre, protesting alleged bribes [source: nv-database]. In February, Green Party leader Natalie Bennett visited the camp [source: nv-database]. On 23 February, a rally with 250 people featured music and speeches [source: nv-database]. In March, Bez from Happy Mondays joined and spoke against police violence [source: nv-database]. On 30 March, Igas dismantled the drilling rig after completing test drilling [source: nv-database]. The camp ended on 11 April 2014 with a party and site cleanup [source: nv-database].

Key people & organizations

  • Frack Free Greater Manchester
  • Rachel Thompson
  • Frack-off
  • Friends of the Earth
  • Faslane Peace Camp
  • Bez
  • Igas
  • Natalie Bennett

Tactics used

The campaign combined nonviolent occupation and delay tactics to physically disrupt the company’s operations, while public speeches, marches, and symbolic actions built media attention and shifted public opinion against fracking. [source: nv-database]

Outcome

Verdict: won.

The campaign achieved its goal of turning public opinion, with polls showing opposition to fracking in Northwest England rising from 34% to 73% between December 2013 and March 2014. Igas’s stock price also fell significantly during the protests. The delays extended the testing process by a month, and the campaign resolved to resume if Igas returned. [source: nv-database]

Lessons

  • A sustained protest camp can effectively shift public opinion on environmental issues.
  • Nonviolent direct action, including delay tactics and occupation, can raise the costs for companies and attract media attention.
  • Building alliances with experienced activist groups (e.g., Faslane Peace Camp) strengthens campaign capacity.

Sources

Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.

Sources & verification

  • nv-database — grounding: primary — license: link-only
  • Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via worker_casestudies_v2.py

Graph View

Backlinks