The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment CABE are producing a new event in Birmingham which they are billing as the "worlds first climate change festival". Their motives are excellent but lets hope for a name change before too long.
BGG OPINIONS ON CLIMATE CHANGE
The beeb sought the views of festival goers on climate change - see it here. You might also be interested in Brig's blog.
SAD DEATH OF ARABELLA CHUCHILL (20/12/07)
Sadly we announce the death of Arabella Churchill who died today 20th December. She has been a major organiser of Glastonbury Festival for 37 years and responsible for the Theatre and Circus fields. She also founded a charity Children's World which has brought performance to many with special needs.
GALBRAITH "SAVIOUR" TO BIG GREEN GATHERING (10/12/07)
At the recent AGM of the Big Green Gathering the"mystery donor" Stuart Galbraith revealed he was the mystery donor prepared to loan a six-figure sum to help bail the Big Green out of its financial woes.
Never having had profit-making as its main motivation has proved a severe handicap in 2007 as Police insisted on a stringent interpretation of licensing conditions.
If current negotiations result in a satisfactory deal Galbraith will bring in a team of his own to verify where savings can be made. The music industry that is suddenly waking up to their responsibilities under climate change. Maybe a partnership of green campaigners and main stream organisers will provide the impetus to help reshape the industry.
UPDATE ON OLYMPICS v ALLOTMENTS (26/4/07)
The government have responded to the petition to retain Manor Gardens allotments within the London Olympic site. There has been no change in the official view that the allotments will disappear during the Olympics and be somehow reinstated afterwards.
REPAIR, REDISTRIBUTE, RE-PLAY (10/4/07)
The new Re-Play festival took place over the Easter Bank Holiday at a number of venues in Merton. This was an excellent fund-raiser for the Surrey Strings Charity, which puts neglected musical instuments back into use and supplies them to various worthy causes.
DAISY CHAIN UNCHAINED (3/4/2007)
At the GFF office we were looking forward to revisiting the Daisy Chain Live, that excellent event started last year by Paul and Sanna Evetts. They worked so hard to set it up, its a shame it wasn't more supported. If you are looking for people to run an international showcase including business, government and community I believe a certain Daisy Chain could help. That is Paul and Sanna's vision and their slogan is "better events naturally" which says it all.
TWO THOUSAND TREES ANNOUNCED (3/4/2007)
Six passionate music fans have got together to launch a new event as an answer to expensive, commercialised events and to see the bands they love. Upcote Farm is a beautiful site and and over 50 acts will perform there over the three days. Even better the six festie organisers are committed to planting trees, 2000 of them, and promise a plethora of green ideas from car sharing to charity support. They are trumpeting the idea of reducing Britains carbon elephant; so sound them out in July if you are in the Cheltenham area.
ALLOTMENTS AND OLYMPICS(31/3/2007)
There is a petition to sign to save Manor Gardens Allotments, which happen to be in the way of a pathway within the Olympic Site. Representing cultural diversity, sustainability and biodiversity in one package this little gem stands in the way of the developer's plans. The allotment holders and supporters have pointed out that with a bit of imagination the allotments will make a superb added feature to the plans for a Green Games.
HERNE BAY HERE WE COME (29/3/2007)
Will there be a brand new Green event in Herne Bay next year. Well as they say "Watch this Space". Yes sometimes news of these events comes at you from all directions. The wind also comes from all directions at Herne Bay , which is good because the Kentish Flats wind farm is currently the country's largest ...get your windcheater ready say I.
DATE OF NORTHERN GREEN GATHERING ANNOUNCED (29/3/2007)
The Northern Green is returning to Pontefract this August and the organisers have just announced their dates and prices. So for those hankering after those delicious pontefract cakes washed down with organic apple juice get it oop north!
COMPOST LOOS GAINING GROUND? (13/3/2007)
Composting toilets are coming out of the woodwork with two new courses and a competition announced this week. Greener festivals will no doubt support these ecological solutions as a no brainer one day. Currently they are far too novel a solution for many in the "mainstream". But one day mass produced eco friendly composting porta potties will be available.
LATEST
Thursday 26th April, Swillington Farm near Leeds -
Theory & Practice of compost toilets, with construction of a simple
two-chamber model. The course will possibly run over into Friday and also
contain a tour of Swillington's Walled Gardens and Forest Garden
AND ALSO :Low Luckens Farm near Carlisle is running a course
28 May to 3rd June for around £150. See http://www.lowluckensfarm.co.uk/
Download the competition entry details here.
Competition sponsored by Sunrise Celebration.
RECYCLING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS (2/3/07)
A vibrant new concept enters the event scene "Replay" a music festival that raises funds for a musical instrument recycling project. Over 100 live acts are supporting this initiative and playing venues in the Wimbledon and Colliers Wood area. Sounds like Easter in this part of London is going to be rather eggsiting this year!
Organised by the enterprising Surrey Strings to benefit a wide range of charities and community projects that will use the repaired and reconditioned musical instruments. More event details from here.
STRUGGLING STUDENTS (23/2/07)
A "festival for families" in Poole Park, Bournemouth, needs help. The students are putting on a contemporary production of a Midsummer Nights Dream. And also workshops and storytelling which will be educating children on recycling and the environment. Being students they have no budget would welcome offers of help with the funding of this initiative. The date of the production is 19 May 2007.
Contact Francesca
DRIFFIELD GOING GREEN (2/2/07)
The Driffield Festival is held every year in the park in the market town of Driffield ("The Capitol of the Wolds") in the East Riding of Yorkshire. This year it is on the 21st July 2007. There will be a tea dance in the afternoon and local bands in the evening with stalls throughout the day. This year it is on a "Green" theme so the stalls, information booths and exhibits will be all about environmental matters, climate change, renewable energy, fair trade, organic food, energy efficiency and recycling etc. They are looking for stalls, renewable energy displays and green information so if you can help please contact Mike Jackson.
CLEAN UP YOUR ACT (30/1/07)
With a few notable exceptions few suppliers to the events industry seem have noticed the trend to environmental awareness. Even if the customers at events are increasingly discerning in these matters the high consumption, high waste, plasticised stuff is churned out for mass consumption as if climate change was a dreary dream.
We took our banner to the Events Show where these suppliers market their goods to event organisers.We hope a few people decide to join us at next years show if this ostrich like attitude continues.
An idea promoted by the online democratic think-tank the Global Ideas Bank, Internet-Free Day is a day to log off, get out and enjoy the real world. So our site is officially closed. Stop reading immediately!
ALL ABOARD FOR GLASTONBURY (20/1/07)
Michael Eavis has announced a huge increase in the provision of coach travel for Glastonbury festival-goers this summer. A comprehensive travel plan has to be submitted to the licensing authority Mendip District Council every year.
Coach travel is acknowledged to be among the least-polluting ways of travelling. Besides ensuring less congestion on the roads it will free up space formerly used for parking cars as camping space. Another win-win solution!
RAGLEY GREEN EXPERIENCE (7/1/07)
Green Futures Festivals team up with Ragley Hall, Warwickshire to host the first Green Experience eco-extravaganza. For three days in May covering Bank Holiday 5th, 6th and 7th this beautiful and historic setting will be used to explore all aspects about being (and going) green.
Features include a fantastic Green Fair, with a festival-style Kidszone, pedal powered stage, talks, green cars, cafes, adventure playground, acres of historic gardens and fair trade market. Open from 10am til 6pm daily. Download a Trader information Pack (Word doc) Download a Trader information Pack (P.D.F. file) Download Ticket prices/ attractions (Word Doc)
GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY GREENING THEIR EVENTS (1/1/07)
The GLA have hosted a seminar at which Green Futures Festivals presented ways in which future London events could ensure they meet strict green criteria. This was the first seminar of its kind and GFF is now making it available to other event organisers, tailored to their needs.
The GLA events team, who are responsible for a wide range of London events, are very focussed on the effects of climate change. The seminar acknowledged the many difficulties faced by event organisers who want to "go Green" but are unsure of the standards. One of the best suggestions which came from seminar attendees was to make an action shortlist of five things to do at their next event.
THE OLYMPICS V MANOR GARDENS ALLOTMENTS (4/12/06)
The dilemma between preserving bio diversity and staging an event is neatly summed up.
Is any compromise possible between these two very worthy causes? Click on our picture.
.
SUSTAINABLE STANDARD CONSULTATION (4/12)
The stakeholder consultation phase for the new British Standard in Sustainable Event Mananagement Systems (BS8901) has now concluded. The consultants are preparing a final draft bearing in mind all the comments they have received so far.
A public consultation on the final draft will begin in March and conclude in May 2007.
THE WORKHOUSE (2/12)
Festival organisers for The Workhouse festival in Llanfyllin, mid Wales are desperately trying to buy the old workhouse and its grounds. Currently due to be sold to developers in Spring 2007 you can check on progress on www.the-workhouse.com
Festival organiser Mark Burnett says "The show will go on regardless".
BIG GREEN - MOONLIGHTING (27/11)
Shareholders of the Big Green Gathering at the annual general meeting in November voted to set the event dates by the full moon for the next five years. The enlightened motion was proposed by Jim Adams who lives in a Tipi all the year round and was designed to cut out the need for extra illumination and make it easier and safer for festival goers to get around at night.
The actual dates are still being debated, so don't note it in your diary just yet, though.
In other news - the directors chosen to run the show for 2007 were Brig Oubridge, Mike Hannis, Jos Colover, Penny Kemp, Alex Leppingwell, Roger Stoker and Steve Muggeridge. Wishing them all the best and good luck with her new job to retiring director Zora.
MORE HELP IS AT HAND (27/11)
A website with plentiful practical advice about greening your event has now appeared. A Greener Festival looks like it will be a wonderful resource for the industry, along with ours of course. Great work folks !
NEW CARPET COLOUR IS -- GREEN (27/11)
At conferences, exhibitions and concerts across the country for too long and too often huge skips are filled with carpeting "waste". Often after minimal usage. Now Britain’s leading events carpeting contractor, Reeds Carpeting, has announced a " giant step towards a landfill-free future".
The Coventry-based company has launched the UK’s first-ever specialised carpet recycling plant.
Clare Reed, Development Director in charge of the new company, Reeds Carpet Recycling Ltd, said: “At the outset we will be taking the waste carpet we create as the largest independent carpet contractor in the UK. That’s about 2 million sq m a year – some 850 tonnes.
Our events diary now includes a festival review so if you would like a taste of the event click where you see a red apple. And if you would like to submit a review for inclusion on our pages please get in touch, we would love to hear from you!
THE
RUMOUR MILL
Reducing landfill, reducing our carbon footprint, by magically turning festival waste into a usable product? Are we mad or are Green Futures Festivals and other green event organisers about to grab a golden opportunity, with imagination, ethics and a satisfactory bottom line.
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment CABE are producing a new event in Birmingham which they are billing as the 
At the recent AGM of the Big Green Gathering the"mystery donor" 
The government have 
At the GFF office we were looking forward to revisiting the 
There is a 
Will there be a brand new Green event in Herne Bay next year. Well as they say "Watch this Space". Yes sometimes news of these events comes at you from all directions. The wind also comes from all directions at Herne Bay , which is good because the 
The 
Composting toilets are coming out of the woodwork with two new courses and a competition announced this week. Greener festivals will no doubt support these ecological solutions as a no brainer one day. Currently they are far too novel a solution for many in the "mainstream". But one day mass produced eco friendly composting porta potties will be available. 
A vibrant new concept enters the event scene "Replay" a music festival that raises funds for a musical instrument recycling project. Over 100 live acts are supporting this initiative and playing venues in the Wimbledon and Colliers Wood area. Sounds like Easter in this part of London is going to be rather eggsiting this year! 
A "festival for families" in Poole Park, Bournemouth, needs help. The students are putting on a contemporary production of a Midsummer Nights Dream. And also workshops and storytelling which will be educating children on recycling and the environment. Being students they have no budget would welcome offers of help with the funding of this initiative. The date of the production is 19 May 2007.
The 
With a few notable exceptions few suppliers to the events industry seem have noticed the trend to environmental awareness. Even if the customers at events are increasingly discerning in these matters the high consumption, high waste, plasticised stuff is churned out for mass consumption as if climate change was a dreary dream. 
Sunday January 29th is International 
The GLA have hosted a seminar at which Green Futures Festivals presented ways in which future London events could ensure they meet strict green criteria. This was the first seminar of its kind and GFF is now making it 
Festival organisers for The Workhouse festival in Llanfyllin, mid Wales are desperately trying to buy the old workhouse and its grounds. Currently due to be sold to developers in Spring 2007 you can check on progress on 
Shareholders of the Big Green Gathering at the annual general meeting in November voted to set the event dates by the full moon for the next five years. The enlightened motion was proposed by Jim Adams who lives in a Tipi all the year round and was designed to cut out the need for extra illumination and make it easier and safer for festival goers to get around at night. 
A website with plentiful practical advice about greening your event has now appeared. 
At conferences, exhibitions and concerts across the country for too long and too often huge skips are filled with carpeting "waste". Often after minimal usage. Now Britain’s leading events carpeting contractor, Reeds Carpeting, has announced a " giant step towards a landfill-free future".
