Events at the Planet Purbeck Festival on the day of the Queen’s funeral have been cancelled – but most of what’s planned for the 10 day eco festival will still be going ahead.
Organisers say they hope the celebration of land, sea and community from Friday 16th September to Sunday 25th September 2022, will be the ideal way to honour Queen Elizabeth II.
Young children enjoy fun in the sunshine at last year’s festival
Minute’s silence
A minute’s silence will be held before events in Swanage and across Purbeck leading up to the day of the state funeral on Monday 19th September 2022.
It’s still hoped that up to 3,000 people from all corners of the ‘green spectrum’ will come along and support the event.
Planet Purbeck’s Rob Waitt on The Downs
A fitting way to honour the Queen’s love of nature
Planet Purbeck Festival spokesperson Rob Waitt hoped that the wide-ranging events, with an emphasis on protecting Purbeck’s natural environment and wildlife, would be a perfect opportunity to pay tribute to the late Queen.
Rob said:
“Her Majesty loved the countryside and nature; her final days were spent at a place she felt deeply at home.
“Planet Purbeck Festival’s celebration of land, sea and community feels like a fitting way to honour her lifetime’s passions and commitment to public service.
“We wish to offer the Royal Family our sincere condolences on the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
“Planet Purbeck will honour our late Queen by holding a minute’s silence at the beginning of each event until her funeral; we look forward to coming together as a community to honour her.”
Dorset Wildlife Trust will run its popular Snorkel Trail at Kimmeridge
Success way beyond expectations
Some 2,000 people took part the week-long inaugural festival in 2021, held when many public events were still being cancelled or postponed due to Covid – a success way beyond the expectations of organisers, who now want to raise the bar even higher, having extended it by three days.
But although the focus will still be to raise awareness of climate change and biodiversity loss, the aim is to get even more people to connect with nature in a fun way – the ‘muddy hands and smiling faces’ approach.
Tackling climate change can be fun, like this relaxing Dorset Forest Bathing experience
If we look after Purbeck, Purbeck will look after us
Rob Waitt said:
“We want to show that trying to do what we can to tackle climate change and boost sustainability doesn’t have to be all about doom and gloom; it can also be fun.
“We’re fully aware of the scary stuff – the very real and dramatic effects of climate change and biodiversity loss, so we’ve chosen to focus on solutions that make a positive difference.
“Planet Purbeck exists to help protect and enhance what we have – if we look after Purbeck, Purbeck will look after us.
“Just think about the benefits of a wild and windy walk for your general wellbeing if nothing else! Experiencing a connection with the natural world often triggers the desire to make a difference.
“That’s why we champion the kind of practical stuff that leaves us with muddy hands and smiling faces, like planting wildflower meadows, or cleaning beaches.
“We make no judgments about where you are on the ‘green spectrum’ – we simply seek to inspire you to get involved in a way that suits you, to make a positive and real difference.”
A warm welcome to last year’s Planet Purbeck Festival outside The Mowlem in Swanage
Launch event at Wareham Quay
Hosted by the Sustainable Wareham eco group, the launch event on Friday, 16th September 2022 will feature live music, local food and drink and there will be stalls at the Parish Hall and along the Quay.
Folk duo Flogan and Southern rock group Leverstock have been signed up to provide the music at the Wareham Quay launch.
Along with a display of Sustainable Wareham’s solar energy project, there will also be contributions from Dorset Wildlife Trust, the Families and Babies support group, Purbeck Youth and Community Trust, the Allotment Society, Dorset Climate Action Network, local Scouts and the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust.
Swimmers prepare to make a splash at Studland
Autumn equinox mass swim at Studland
Highlights of the festival include a relaxing Dorset forest bathing experience in glorious woodland at Langton’s Wilkswood Farm; a photographic competition at the Blue Pool, Wareham; an autumn equinox mass swim at Studland; and wildlife spotting trips on the River Frome.
Other delights include a paella feast with live band Feverstreet at Joe’s Café on South Beach; snorkel trails at Kimmeridge Bay; wildlife walks and reptile rambles at the Great Ovens Nature Reserve; a bumper arts and crafts day at Corfe Castle’s Sandy Hill Arts centre; and the debut of Planet Purbeck’s new marine and freshwater initiative.
Events in Swanage include an evening of award-winning wildlife films at The Mowlem; a guided walk across the Swanage Downs; art for fun with Andy Knill at his Swanage studio; Qigong fitness with Penny Youssef at The Mowlem; a Health of our Seas talk by Dorset Greenpeace at the Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall; an open day at the Greengage Community Garden, and much more!
Wildlife spotting on the river by boat
This will be brilliant, join us, we’re going places
Rob Waitt said:
“We are aiming to make this year’s festival bigger, better and broader than last year’s and will be presenting lots of great ways to celebrate and enhance our fabulous natural area.
“Planet Purbeck shares and amplifies positive experiences, knowledge and passion. Some might say there’s so much to do and so little time – but there’s loads of us here in Purbeck!
“So by coming together to do one extra thing, we’ll make an actual difference. And, because that one thing was fun, saved us a few quid or made us feel better, we’ll do another extra thing and then another. This will be brilliant, join us, we’re going places!”
Get involved with ten days of events right across Purbeck
Inspired to make positive lifestyle changes
The 2022 Planet Purbeck Festival has attracted backing from the Talbot Village Trust, the National Trust and Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
A survey at the end of last year’s event showed that 71 percent of festival goers had been inspired to make positive changes in their lifestyle, and 63 percent felt more connected to the community afterwards.
This year, organisers are hoping again to encourage local residents to get involved with local environmental groups, join in with litter-picking events, shop locally, use more seasonal products and look into using solar panels.
Doug Skinner (left), Emma Withers (centre) and Luke M Luke (right): Purbeck is stronger together
Positive, upbeat and full of youthful energy
Planet Purbeck core team member Luke M Luke said:
“Since last year’s successful festival, we have seen a spike in interest, both in followers of online groups and in an uptick in the number of volunteers and contributors to environmental groups.
“Our message is going further, and people are finding that connection with others and with the natural world around them which we all need.
“The environment is now at the forefront of everything – it is very much here and happening, and Planet Purbeck’s slant on it is positive, upbeat and full of youthful energy, concentrating on real solutions that real people can make.
“Now we have a seat at the table with large groups like the RSPCA, the RSPB and the AONB, which is an enormous benefit to us.
“We are all very blessed with what we have in Purbeck, and people have been so keen to reconnect with the community and with local groups.
“All these connections really are making Purbeck stronger together, and the little steps that everyone can take to help the environment add up – it’s a case where two and two can make five!”
Further information
- A full list of events, with details on how to sign up to them, is available on the Planet Purbeck website.
