Camp for Climate Action 2009

A Camp for Climate Action campaigner outside the Royal Bank of Scotland's headquarters in London Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

Climate campaigners block the entrance to the London headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland. The protesters were demonstrating against the bank's investments in fossil fuel projects, especially funding for the coal industry and tar sands extraction in Canada Photograph: Shaun Curry/AFP/Getty Images

Climate change campaigners stage a naked demonstration at the offices of PR company Edelman, in Victoria, London, in protest against Edelman's PR work for energy company E.ON. Activists said the firm was behind advertising plans for a coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth in Kent Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Environmental protesters gather near London's Greenwich park on the third day of Climate Camp Photograph: Daniel Deme/EPA

Environmental protesters stretch a banner in front of Barclays Bank headquarters in Canary Wharf on the third day of Climate Camp. They were protesting against practices used by large companies which allegedly pollute and poison the environment, in particular the system of carbon trading, which they claim allows companies to exploit loopholes to avoid reducing CO2 emissions Photograph: Daniel Deme/EPA

An environmental protesters leaflets some office workers in front of Barclays Bank headquarters in Canary Wharf Photograph: Daniel Deme/EPA

Messages written by Climate Camp protesters are removed from outside Barclays offices in Canary Wharf Photograph: Simon Newman/Reuters

Protesters at the Climate Camp entrance at Blackheath, south-east London. This year's location was selected for several reasons. It has historic resonance as the place where Wat Tyler led the Peasants' Revolt in 1381 Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

A man secures a plastic cover onto a marquee. Another reason for the choice of Blackheath as this year's site is its designation as common land rather than parkland, making it harder for authorities to evict campaigners Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Activists make their point. Climate camp began in August 2006 with a demonstration at Drax coal-fired power station in West Yorkshire – the largest CO2 emitter in the UK. Photograph: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP

Buildings in the Canary Wharf financial district tower above activists' tents Photograph: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP

A climate activist dressed as a sunflower takes a cigarette break Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Activists set up an impromptu casino by the European Climate Exchange in Bishopsgate, central London, with the message that carbon trading is a no-win gamble for the planet Photograph: Amy Scaife/PA

Protesters camp out on their first night of the Climate Camp protest Photograph: Sang Tan/AP

A climate change protester points to a blackboard map of the camp Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

A campaigner covers her face as opening speeches are made at Climate Camp Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

Climate Camp protesters erect a tent on Blackheath in south-east London Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Campiagners relax on a sofa after arriving at the Blackheath site Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Climate Camp activists set up their tents on Blackheath Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

A climate change protester plays his guitar en route to Blackheath Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty

An activist with an original haircut at the camp Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Climate change protesters arrive at Blackheath, south-east London after it is revealed as the site of this year's event Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Climate Camp activists set up their protest site, with the towers of Canary Wharf in the background Photograph: Luke Macgregor/Reuters

A steady stream of activists arrives at the site Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Activists use metal tripods to help them erect banners Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Critics have levelled many charges at Climate Camp whenever it has appeared over the last few years accusing activists of sloganeering that combines anti-capitalism with a global-warming message and actions that invite confrontation with the police Photograph: Carl Court/PA

Activists on a train use a map to work out the exact location of Blackheath Climate Camp Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Climate Camp protesters leave the South Bank for Blackheath. Activists gathered at half a dozen locations across central London to wait for their final destination to be revealed Photograph: Carl Court/PA

A child plays with an inflatable globe as Climate Camp activists gather in St James's park Photograph: Jonathan Hordle/Rex Features

Activists wait in Trafalgar Square to be told of their final destination Photograph: Katie Collins/PA

Police officers near the Bank of England during the first day of Climate Camp Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Legal advisers give information to Climate Camp protesters outside the Bank of England. Police have been accused of using powers originally created to tackle terrorism to gain information about protesters. A third of the public believe filming campaigners is an invasion of privacy, according to a recent YouGov poll Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features

Climate change campaigners gather outside the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square Photograph: Jonathan Hordle/Rex Features

Campaigners sit outside the Bank of England in the City of London Photograph: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP