At first glance, the overgrown piece of land looks like hundreds of other building sites across the capital.

The banner flying above its metal fence, declaring that “Freedom Lies Within”, is the first indication that this is derelict land with a difference.

A makeshift sign — appealing for compost, seeds, firewood and musicians — at the entrance leaves no one in any doubt. Within, on a valuable piece of land close to Kew Gardens, a group of eco-warriors are busy carrying out their bold plan: to create a completely ecologically sustainable community, albeit on the land of a private developer.

Up to 30 squatters have taken over the site, which has been unoccupied for about 20 years, although there are plans to turn it into flats. In just a fortnight, after plotting their takeover on the internet, the group had cleared much of the overgrown land, putting up tents and constructing semipermanent communal areas.

They have built a kitchen and stocked it with vegetables and tinned food from “skip runs” — trips to supermarket skips, under cover of darkness, to gather food thrown away. They have planted rows of beans, courgettes, peas and tomatoes.

The group have a compost toilet and a shower, and are digging a well. They plan to develop an irrigation system, using water from the Thames, to grow their plants.

According to Simon, one of the founders, the key issue is sustainability. “Everything is donated — we’ve got compost from the locals and we found wood to put up the shelters. It’s about showing that you can live a simple life and be happy.”

In a modern touch, they are advertising their wish list, for items such as compost, on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook.

There are only two rules: no drugs or alcohol, and everyone on the site must “muck in” and help. They have a meeting every day to decide what needs to be done in the construction of the village, and they plan to hold open days for the community with workshops on art, music and botany.

Apart from a few shouts of “soap dodgers” and “tree huggers” from nearby Kew Bridge, most locals have been supportive. Liz Rough, the landlady at the Express Inn across the road, said that the group was “doing no harm”. Even the local council seems happy. Paul Lynch, the Mayor of Hounslow, said: “Everyone who has been to visit says that they are neat and tidy and eco-friendly. It’s essentially between them and the landowner unless we get into any planning issues — if they start putting up permanent structures then it becomes a matter for us.”

The developer, St George, was less impressed. It said in a statement: “St George West London, the landowners of the Kew Bridge Road site, are aware that the site has recently been illegally occupied by a group of squatters. We are currently considering what action to take.”

St George has applied to build 164 flats, along with shops, offices and restaurants, on the site. Its previous application for a 10-storey building including 238 flats was refused. The developer added: “If planning permission is granted later this year, St George will be looking to start this regeneration project as soon as possible.”

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