Inside the house of activists at centre of Spy Cops storm

AT the top of Forest Fields, a humble townhouse is arguably the epicentre of Nottingham’s activist community.

- By LOUIS CORBETT

Behind the double-fronted, pale stone facade is a collective of some of the best-established groups of campaigners in the city.

And they've certainly had their share of dramatic headlines.

The Sumac Centre has been around since 2001 and is home to groups like the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Friends of the Earth, and the Veggies catering campaign.

The centre has had its fair share of attention over the years, from the close call of nearly being involved with McLibel - the UK’s longest court case to date, involving two activists fighting McDonald's with Sir Keir Starmer as their lawyer - to two undercover police officers carrying out covert operations which led to the Spy Cops public inquiry.

The Post sat down with Patrick Smith, one of the Sumac Centre's founders, as well as Mobey Farrands and Heather Ince, two colleagues also involved with the day-to-day running of the centre.

Patrick, who also runs the Veggies Catering Campaign for ethical fast food, said: “Way back in 1983/84, there was an environmental shop on Goose Gate.

“There was a wholefood shop above it where Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace campaigners hung out.

“We got a shop on Mansfield Road and a group called the Rainbow Centre formed to move in alongside, and it became a hub for environmental campaigners, peaceniks, animal rights and vegan campaigners.

“Then people were fed up of paying the vast amount of rent. A team went out and found this place, and it became the Sumac Centre.”