Hailing its first festival as “a success way beyond our expectations”, the environment group Planet Purbeck says it’s already working hard on plans to deliver another festival next year.
With more than 200 events across Purbeck from Swanage to Wareham and all the villages in between, the inaugural Planet Purbeck Festival took place over six days in September 2021.
Back in 2022 with renewed energy
Despite the huge amount of effort that went into its coordination, the Planet Purbeck Festival looks set to be back in 2022 with renewed energy.
Organisers were boosted by the positive feedback received from festival goers in response to a questionnaire circulated by Planet Purbeck.
Positive feedback
The survey results revealed that after the festival:
- 71 percent feel inspired to make positive change
- 63 percent feel more connected to the local community
- 58 percent learned something new about protecting Purbeck’s environment
- 42 percent feel more connected to local nature
- 35 percent tried or discovered something new
In addition, 70 percent of respondents agreed with the statement:
“The festival inspired me to make a change to my own behaviour or lifestyle that will positively impact the planet.”
Changes that people wanted to make included linking up with environmental groups, becoming a volunteer, getting involved with community litter-picks, avoiding plastics, changing diet by shopping more locally, being more aware of seasonal produce, improving home insulation and exploring the use of solar panels.
“Address the climate emergency”
Joint Planet Purbeck Festival organiser Rob Waitt said:
“We are thrilled it seems to have made such an impact. To be honest it was a success way beyond our expectations.
“It was so heartening to see the way it brought the community together and made so many people think about what they can do to address the climate emergency while protecting and enhancing our amazing local area.
“We remain grateful to all the organisations, businesses and groups who staged events under the Planet Purbeck umbrella and we know many of them enjoyed the week as much as those who came along to their activities.
“It may have been the first Planet Purbeck Festival – but it certainly won’t be the last. We are already working hard on the next one.”
Backed by The Talbot Village Trust
The festival was backed by the East Dorset benefactor The Talbot Village Trust, which was keen to support an environmental cause, especially one battling climate change.
Rob said:
“We were so grateful to the trust and especially its chairman Nick Ashley-Cooper, who saw the potential of what we were doing and generously gave the funds to make it happen.”
