Professor P.Brain's blog: How Green Is Your Festival?

Friday, 22 July 2022

How Green Is Your Festival?

The Curlew (Numenius arquata) is a wading bird, with long legs and a longer beak. The species is currently at risk of extinction in Wales. A debate has broken out about the appropriateness of the Welsh government spending £4.25m of public money to buy a farm in Talybont-on-Usk, including one of the bird's 12 current breeding areas (https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jul/22/green-man-festival-owners-accused-endangering-protected-habitats-usk-valley-wales-). The Welsh government are donating the farm to the owners of the Green Man Festival to use as an expansion base. The Green Man Festival makes much of its environmental credentials. It does, however, attract some 25,000 people to its annual event. The farm would be used by the festival owners for smaller gatherings (up to 3000), along with brewing and 'environmental projects'. The Green Man Festival generates circa £10m per annum for the Welsh economy. The Welsh government is consequently keen to retain it, as a source of employment and as a cultural event. Some inhabitants of the Usk Valley are, however, not at all happy with this proposal for the Gilestone Farm. They argue that expansion of the festival's activities will have further deleterious effects on Curlews and Lesser horseshoe bats (also endangered), as well as themselves. Predictably, they have been accused of being nimbys (not in my back yard). It's clearly a difficult calculus but, even the 'greenist' of pop festivals, must have major impacts on the environments in which they operate. Thousands of visitors, transporting themselves to and from the event and residing, for a fixed time, in the area, must exert influences. Electronic music, with associated staging, including lighting, can also clearly not be without impact. Without fully knowing the details, however, it's a difficult one to call. At least both sides are talking about 'green' issues!

2 comments:

Talybont said...: I live there - I've asked the county recorders. They are very worried. The otters, kingfishers, light sensitive bats (lesser horseshoes particularly), wagtails herons and all manner of other birds and mammals, not to mention rare plants in the wetlands on the farm's western border. The river, Upper Usk, is an SSSI and SAC. Its already struggling from run off - imagine the run off from accommodating 3000 people. There are rare bird species on it here too sensitive to be named. The roads are very small, one is just about two cars wide, the other not in most places, the bridge is weak. The village and the last curlew nesting sites are either side of the farm. The river on one side, the canal on the other. Where they want to put their events is next to the curlews. THe valley is probably such a nature haven because the only public paths are the roads in the village and one permitted path through Gilestone farm itself.Its a small place with visitors that come for the wildlife and peace and a bit of mountain biking. Mostly in ones and twos or very small groups. Its in a national Park!! What more can I say, oh, there's been no consultation with the actual villagers. WG and GM "decline to comment", no assessment of the environmental concerns. The WG evidence document to the Public accounts committee says of GM business plan -
"The Plan aims to explore the aim of making the event the first carbon neutral event in the UK and with a focus on decarbonisation and encouraging the use of tree planting in association with the National Forest." They want to do a big new festival. They will trash a biodiverse rich site in the process. Nimbyism - well yes, in Nature's backyard. Sorry this is so long but I'm furious.; 25 July 2022 at 14:23
Talybont said...: I live there - I've asked the county recorders. They are very worried. The otters, kingfishers, light sensitive bats (lesser horseshoes particularly), wagtails herons and all manner of other birds and mammals, not to mention rare plants in the wetlands on the farm's western border. The river, Upper Usk, is a SSSI. Its already struggling from run off - imagine the run off from accommodating 3000 people. There are rare bird species on it here too sensitive to be named. The roads are very small, one is just about two cars wide, the other not in most places, the bridge is weak. The village and the last curlew nesting sites are either side of the farm. The river on one side, the canal on the other. Where they want to put their events is next to the curlews. Its probably such a nature haven because the only public paths are the roads in the village and one permitted path through Gilestone farm itself.Its a small place with visitors that come for the wildlife and peace and a bit of mountain biking. Mostly in ones and twos or very small groups. Its in a national Park!! What more can I say, oh, there's been no consultation with the actual villagers. WG and GM "decline to comment", no assessment of the environmental concerns. The WG evidence document to the Public accounts committee says
"The Plan aims to explore the aim of making the event the first carbon neutral event in the UK and with a focus on decarbonisation and encouraging the use of tree planting in association with the National Forest." They want to do a big new festival. They will trash a biodiverse rich site in the process. Nimbyism - well yes, in Nature's backyard.; 25 July 2022 at 14:24