Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Quieter family camping awaits at Glastonbury
ACAMPING experience that is somewhat more relaxing than that usually on offer at the Glastonbury Festival goes on sale this morning.
In normal years with nearly 200,000 people packed onto Worthy Farm – most in full-on party mode – sleeping in a tent pitched on any free postage stamp of field you can find is not necessarily all that restful.
But this summer those who stay on the Somerset farm will be guaranteed that the neighbouring tents will be a good deal further away and the whole site will be a lot quieter. It might even be mud free.
Earlier this month Mendip District Council ruled that festival organisers were able to transform the site into a family-friendly camping spot over the school holidays.
And while it might not be quite as manic as the usual battle for a Glastonbury Festival ticket, those desperate for a taste of Worthy Farm this summer will be online this morning hoping to get a booking. However, organisers Michael and Emily Eavis warned the area will not be a “party venue” and both live music and sound systems will be banned.
The festival has been forced to cancel two consecutive events due to the pandemic, but is planning a livestreamed concert from locations around the Somerset site in May.
It will now open to campers through the summer, with the fields featuring local food traders, a bar and village store selling local produce and freshly baked bread.
The Pyramid field, usually home to the festival’s main stage, will be open for picnics and bike rides, while two installations aimed at children, The Kidz’ Field Pink Castle and Green Kids Cadmus Ship, will also be open for use.
A statement on the Glastonbury website said: “With no Festival taking
place on Worthy Farm for a second consecutive year in 2021, Michael and Emily Eavis are pleased to invite campers, for one year only, to experience the farm in a way you have never been able to before.”
It said Worthy Farm will become “a tranquil, family-friendly campsite which will welcome guests to get back to basics in nature”.
However, it added: “Please note that Worthy Pastures is not a party venue: there will not be any live
music, soundsystems will not be allowed and a noise curfew will be in place after 11pm.
“Instead, come for nature, fresh air, calm and tranquillity.”
Glastonbury is set to receive £900,000 as part of the Culture Recovery Fund.
The sum was announced in early April within £400 million in Government grants and loans for the arts.
Bookings for short breaks will open at 10am today.