Extinction Rebellion March and Picnic

Here I am, dressed as the Goddess Gaia, on my way home from the Extinction Rebellion march and picnic. In the basket I had a small globe, which I carried in the march as the planet I was protecting, and my historical re-enactment wooden bowl, goblet and spoon, which I brought out of retirement because the food and drink were being served with no disposable plates or cutlery.
I had a good chat with several people there, and talked about the days when I used to help out with school visits for children who were studying Vikings. Sometimes they would go up to the farm where my friends lived, where they could cook a real Viking lunch and do various outdoor activities and crafts. When the school opted to send the children with packed lunches instead, it was very noticeable how much rubbish was left when they'd finished, whereas we Vikings produced no waste at all.

There were speeches from Gandalf, who has been involved in various environmental protests in the last few years, and Ellie Chowns, the leader of the Green group of councillors in Herefordshire County Council. Herefordshire already had four Green councillors, including Ellie, up to the recent local elections, and now they have seven, with the already sitting councillors increasing their majorities. Ellie was sorry she couldn't spend the whole day at the rally, but she had a coach load of schoolchildren arriving at her organic farm that afternoon, so had to be there to show them around.

Unlike the last Extinction Rebellion march, where there were no police to be seen, yesterday there was a discreet police presence around town - and in the Old Market there were a couple of chaps in jackets with the Old Market logo on them who looked a bit dubious as we processed up to Waitrose and back.
Leading the procession was a pink canoe with Tell the Truth written on it, Hereford's version of the big pink yacht that was in the middle of Oxford circus in the recent London protests. About 50 people from Hereford went to those protests, and about 10 of them were arrested. There were also banners, and a life sized cardboard cutout of David Attenborough! There was also a very good saxophonist.
Along the march, I met a lady who lives in Capetown, South Africa! She's visiting the area (I think she came from Herefordshire originally), heard about the rally the day before, came along and grabbed a banner!

There they are, around the statue of the Hereford Bull.

The Remain campaign, Herefordshire for Europe, have a regular tent on the market, and as we passed they shouted out that they hoped we were all going to vote on Thursday.
Coming round the outside of the Old Market, on the way back to the pedestrian crossing, we also passed a small group of Brexit Party activists. The only comment I heard from them was "I used to be a hippy once."
Most people round town seemed happy to see the procession, and the people giving leaflets out ran out of supplies!
Back at Castle Green, the kitchen had been making lentil and vegetable soup, and the music tent was all ready for the musicians to play. Castle Green, for those who don't know it, is tucked away near the Cathedral - go past the Elgar statue to leave the Cathedral Close, and turn right down Quay Street to find it.
Sadly, I couldn't stay for long, as I had to get the bus back to Hay.