Taking action ... Greenpeace and Neil Gerrard MP vs the Government and BAA

The lowdown

MP for Walthamstow Neil Gerrard joined schoolchildren to plant an apple tree last weekend, to protest against plans to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport. Pupils at Hillyfield Primary School were protesting against the plans in a show of solidarity with Sipson, a village threatened with being destroyed if plans for the runway go ahead.

Why the protest?

The protest follows on from a similar planting last week at the plot in Sipson. Actors Alison Steadman and Richard Briers and poet Carol Ann Duffy planted an apple tree on the 'airplot' last week. The plot at Heathrow has been bought by Greenpeace UK, actress Emma Thompson, comedian Alistair McGowan and prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate Zac Goldsmith.

How did the Government respond?

The Government did not respond to this latest protest but has said in the past that building the third runway at Heathrow is 'right' for the UK. Ministers gave the go-ahead for the expansion in January.

How did the media cover it?

The Waltham Forest Guardian covered Gerrard planting the tree alongside the schoolchildren. BBC News, The Guardian and the Hounslow Chronicle all covered the story, focusing on the involvement of Steadman and Briers.