The Green Gathering festival was inspired by the Green Fields area at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England. And in their turn, the Green Fields had evolved from a series of Green Gatherings held in Somerset between the late 1970s and 1983. The first Big Green Gathering took place in 1994 in the village of Watchfield near Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The festival had moved several times in the following years before finding a permanent home in Chepstow in 2011.
According to the organizers, the Green Gathering is an event for people who care about the environment, sustainability, health and future of their children. It is a non-profit event run by a community of people who are passionate about environment and social justice, and want to share their passions with the festival-goers. The festival attracts thousands of activists, campaigners, environmentalists, musicians, artists, gardeners, health workers, and other people who share its core values. It is supported by many social justice and environmental groups such as Camp for Climate Action and Greenpeace.
The festival site is divided into several distinct areas dedicated to different themes and activities. They include the Craft Community, Campaigns Field, Permaculture Zone, Healing Circle, Earth Energies, Tipi Circle, Hill Village, Green Market, Kids & Teens Zone, and a variety of performance venues, bars, cafes and stalls. The festival program features an impressive array of activities for people of all ages, including discussions, seminars, concerts, exhibitions, art & craft fairs, workshops, carnivals, and more.
Although the Green Gathering isn’t exactly a music festival, it offers an extensive music program. Musicians perform live on several small stages and in a variety of venues across the festival grounds. Past performers at the Green Gathering have included Seize the Day, Radical Dance Faction, Martha Tilston, Nik Turner, Banco de Gaia, and 3 Daft Monkeys. The festival welcomes all kinds of performers, including emerging artists, established performers, protest bands, politically conscious singers-songwriters, and others.
Photo: Keef Gibson
