How One Family's Love For The Land Became An Iconic Festival | BBC Earth At Glastonbury

Summary

The speaker, a co-organizer of a festival with a rich family farming history, shares the evolution of the festival from a small, intimate gathering to a large-scale event spanning ten farms. Emphasis is placed on green initiatives, including a ban on single-use plastic bottles and the introduction of water in cans and refill stations. The festival's appeal as a family-friendly event is highlighted, with a focus on reducing waste and encouraging sustainable practices. The speaker expresses the joy of the festival's atmosphere, particularly the excitement of attendees' arrival, which creates a unique and fulfilling experience.

Takeaways

• 🌾 The speaker's family has been farming in Somerset for over 200 years, indicating a deep-rooted connection to the land and its traditions.
• 🏕 The festival, started by the speaker's father in 1970, has grown significantly from occupying two fields to expanding across ten farms.
• 🚗 The festival's evolution has seen changes in how attendees arrive and camp, with a shift from leaving cars next to tents to more organized parking and camping arrangements.
• 🌱 The festival organizers are committed to green initiatives, aiming to reduce waste and promote environmentally conscious practices among festival-goers.
• 🚫 This year, the festival has banned the sale of single-use plastic bottles, reflecting a strong stance against plastic pollution.
• 🥤 To combat plastic waste, the festival is selling water in cans and providing 60 refill points for attendees to refill their containers.
• 🔄 The transition to a more sustainable festival model is expected to take a few years to fully implement and perfect.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The festival is family-friendly, with children admitted for free, emphasizing an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere.
• 🧳 Organizers are encouraging attendees to pack light and minimize the use of disposable items, such as wet wipes, to reduce the environmental impact.
• 🎉 The speaker finds the best feeling in the world when the festival site transforms into a bustling city of celebration, highlighting the joy and excitement of the event.
• 🌟 The unique and special aspect of the festival is attributed to the positive attitude of the festival-goers and the collective atmosphere they create.

Q & A

How long has the Worthy Farm been in the family?

The Worthy Farm has been in the family for over 200 years.

When did the festival at Worthy Farm begin?

The festival at Worthy Farm began in 1970, started by the speaker's father, Michael.

What was the initial size of the festival when it started?

The festival initially occupied only two fields and was quite small.

How has the festival expanded over the years?

The festival has expanded to occupy ten farms and beyond, including car parks and additional facilities.

What are the green initiatives being implemented at the festival?

The festival is focusing on green initiatives such as banning the sale of single-use plastic bottles, incentivizing less waste, and encouraging conscious packing.

What changes are being made to the sale of water at the festival?

The festival is selling water in cans instead of single-use plastic bottles and has introduced 60 refill points.

What challenges did the organizers face when deciding to ban single-use plastic bottles?

The organizers faced the challenge of getting all the soft drink companies, traders, wholesalers, and everyone involved on board with the ban.

How is the festival making the transition to more sustainable practices?

The festival is making the transition by implementing changes gradually, learning from the first couple of years, and asking attendees to be conscious of their packing and use of disposable items.

What is the policy regarding children's admission to the festival?

Children are allowed to enter the festival for free.

What is the best feeling for the speaker about the festival?

The best feeling for the speaker is when people arrive on Wednesday, turning the festival site into a city of celebration with an amazing atmosphere.

What makes the festival special and unique according to the speaker?

The festival's uniqueness comes from the attitude of the festival-goers and the atmosphere they create every year.