ANTI-HS2 protestors staged a vigil outside the Crewe offices of Natural England today (Tuesday).

The protest group was among those taking part in the 'Truth Trail', a walk along the northern section of the proposed high-speed rail network.

Members of the group, who have travelled through the countryside alongside the rail route through Staffordshire and into Cheshire, said their aim was to "share the truth about HS2" and highlight its cost, as well as the impact of its construction on the environment.

The marchers have passed through Lichfield, Rugeley, Stafford and Stone. Today they marched from Madeley to Crewe and are due to head north taking in Middlewich, Glazebrook and Wigan.

Natural England, a public body funded by the DEFRA, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is responsible for protecting England's natural environment.

The Crewe protestors claim over 200 of its staff are engaged in issuing licences which could see the destruction of wildlife habitats, including those of bats.

One of the group, who chose not to be named, told Nub News: "Natural England is bound to protect nature, but it is providing the framework for HS2 Ltd to do what it wants.

"HS2 is ripping out trees with bird nests in using the paperwork given to it by Natural England.

"They're taking huge gorges out, building cement factories and power stations, while boring through tunnels. It will lead to whole ecosystems being cut off from each other. In the south areas of green space have been obliterated."

Later the protestors headed into Crewe town centre where they targeted the offices of Crewe and Nantwich MP Kieran Mullan in Edleston Road, placing banners and parading around with a large white elephant.

They also handed out leaflets and chatted to passers-by.

HS2 Rebellion, an alliance of groups as well as individuals campaigning against the rail scheme, has organised the week-long walk.

The cost of HS2 is currently reported to be running over £107 billion.

In February this year the section of the network between Birmingham and Crewe, known as Phase 2a, was given Royal Assent by Parliament.

says its role in licensing development is "to ensure that activities affecting protected species are carried out without damaging those populations". It says it does not have powers to stop projects that have been approved or prevent the felling of woodland if it has been approved by the planning system.

Natural England Director for Wildlife Licensing and Enforcement Dave Slater said: "We fully understand people's concerns at the felling of woodland and the impact on protected species.

"The licences we have granted HS2 set out strict conditions under which these works must be carried out to ensure that populations of protected species are not negatively impacted."