A Kingston University student has decided to forgo living in university halls of residence in favour of living in an eco village.

India Harvey, 19, a first year Illustration student, is currently living in the eco village near Kew Bridge, which was set up by a group of activists in June 2009.

 “I was passing through Kew Bridge on my way to Kingston to see some friends and I was not in a very good mood. As I was passing through, I spotted the eco village and my face immediately lit up and my life changed forever.”

Formerly from Shepherd’s Bush, Hammersmith, India admits she has always been interested in campaigning and used to sneak out of her family house to attend protests when she was younger. She believes that living in the village “promotes” her studying and gives her “influence”.

The village on Kew Bridge Road, Brentford,  is on a piece of derelict land where the activists aim to create a community based on their own construction techniques, growing their own vegetables, donations from the locals and rubbish that has been thrown away.                                                                            

Inspired by campaigns like The Land is Ours, which fights peacefully for access to derelict land and Greenpeace, the villagers' describe their home as a “community garden” and encourage everyone to pay them a visit and share ideas of what they should do with their land.

“We have made friends with the local community and we always have people coming down making music, telling stories, reading poetry, teaching each other new skills and we encourage the kids to take part in out art activities” explained India. She added: “It’s all about waking up the general public to the immediate problems we are facing and being proactive.”

There is growing concern among the villagers as to how long they will be able to remain on the land.  The eco-village is facing threats from the property developer St George, who have applied for planning permission to build luxury apartments on the land.

India said: “We do not need any more luxury housing! Hounslow already has around 10,000 people on the housing waiting list and the locals are against the luxury buildings as well.”

A number of students at Kingston admire the message that the eco village giving. Pip Robertson, 24, a second year Geography student said: “Unless it affects other people and if the neighbours are not too fussed then it is a nice way to live. It is going against the grain as everything is so technical nowadays.”

 Uttare Krishnedas, an MA Film Making student added: “It is admirable and comforting to know that there are people out there doing that kind of thing.”