Against my preconceptions that a week in a field could get very boring, the camp was actually buzzing with activity when I visited. Amongst an array of public tents in the central area, including an internet cafe and meditation centre, two massive workshop areas host various talks and activities. University lecturers and other experts dropped in as guest speakers.

The topics ranged from the educational (Free market environmentalism – a look at the carbon market trading schemes) and informative (Green parenting) to exploring solutions (Can ethical consumerism save the planet?, Decentralised self-organised eco-communities – a workable alternative?).

The camp guide contained tips for reducing personal emissions. Among them were growing your own food, holidaying in the UK or by train (since aviation is one of the largest and fastest-growing contributors to climate change), buying electricity from a 100% renewable energy company like Good Energy or Ecotricity, wearing more clothes in winter to cut down on heating, and pooling cars or travelling by bike.

The camp itself was intended to be a working example of sustainable living. The food was organic and locally produced, a 'grey water system' was used for filtering water and returning it to the ground, and a wind turbine and solar panels charged batteries to power electrical equipment, which was used sparingly.

Tents are organised into ‘neighbourhoods’ by city of origin, enabling people to continue networking with others in their area when they return home. Each neighbourhood was self-governed by consensus working, intended to make the significant statement that progress can be achieved by co-operation rather than authority.

With everyone working hard to maintain the site, prepare food and keep everything ticking over, the atmosphere was busy and lively. There was also more light-hearted social events like a speed dating night, and a kids’ entertainment area.

Thursday saw the camp embark on (non-violent) direct action, with the aim of closing the power station for a day. Unsurprisingly, considering the massive police presence throughout the week, that was unsuccessful. However several people got into the site and there were clashes with police resulting in 39 arrests. So why direct action?

'We’re already feeling the effects of climate change,' explains one of the organisers, 'but the government isn’t really doing anything about it, there’s no seriousness at all in the government, so people feel they need to take action themselves.'

There’s also anger that Drax is suing the EC over cuts in its allowances under the Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme.

Another key aim is to generate publicity, to stimulate awareness and debate in the mainstream media and society. This was achieved, with the action being the lead story on national television news that night and the camp receiving media coverage all week. Not all of it was positive, however, and there was a sense that the action risked being counterproductive if it led to the protest being portrayed as too militant.

Alex is conscious of such perceptions. 'People in mainstream society think we’re anarchists, that we just want chaos, but actually it’s the opposite. I see mainstream society as chaotic because this self-interested, individualistic way of living is detrimental to the whole – it’s a backwards way of living. It’s not sustainable and we’re going to have to face the consequences sooner or later.

'If we act now, hopefully we can minimise the reprisals of climate change.'

Many people interviewed for this piece were wary of the police presence and therefore reluctant to give full names, ages and occupations.