Editorial photo #12685031 Social Issue
'Ecureuils' ('Squirrels') Accupy Again Trees To Be Cut In Protest Against The Planned A69 Highway
An 'ecureuil' occupies one of the plane trees. Since 3 a.m. this morning, four 'Ecureuils' (i.e., 'squirrels') from the GNSA ('National Group of Trees Watching' founded by Thomas Brail, the activist and arborist-climber) occupy two plane trees in Vendine, France, on August 28, 2025, to block their cutting for works on the planned A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres. They deploy a banner on Article 2 of the constitutional law about preserving the environment. Initially, only two plane trees are to be cut, but now about 10 plane trees will be cut. 'Ecureuils' plan to stay until NGE/Atosca explains the necessity of the cutting and consider going on trial about these planned cuttings. The concessionaire of the A69, NGE/Atosca, repeatedly says that all trees have already been cut for the A69. The main association 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free') and other opponents want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content are given. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)
