Practical information

Accommodation

Accommodation on the site is camping only. So please bring a tent and any equipment you need to camp for the duration of your stay. Women (and men!) can set up their own camping spaces if they want to. There may be spaces in communal sleeping areas if you can't bring a tent - please contact us to confirm if you need this. There will also be an area designated for quiet camping.

There will be taps nearby for drinking water, and we will build some toilets. You may choose to cook for yourself, or you may buy meals in advance from the Anarchist Teapot - see the food section for more details.

If you are unable to camp due to disability or other reasons, you may wish to stay in local bed and breakfast accommodation. We've compiled a list of local B&Bs - Contact us if you need this.

If you are providing an essential service, or are disabled, and you need to bring a live-in vehicle, please let us know ASAP, to discuss the possibilities.

We are making the site as accessible as possible for disabled people - see the Access section for more information.

The site

On the site there will be a reception, a comfy library where you can read and relax, a quiet sleeping area, compost loos, running water, spaces for spontaneous workshops and discussions, a healing space and a stall selling books and pamphlets. We're trying to make the site and programme as accessible to disabled people as possible - see our access section.

Commercial stalls are not welcome but remember to bring any information that you have about your group campaign or forthcoming action - as well as some copies of any publications that you produce. It would be great if where possible you could also provide your material in alternative formats, especially in large print.

Cost

We will be asking for a contribution of £15 from everyone to cover the costs of the gathering (everyone pays no matter how much work they've done to make the gathering happen). If you can give more, that would be great as we are short of money.

You should pay on the gate and you don't need to buy tickets in advance. However, if you want to make a donation in advance that would be really helpful and lovely, please make cheques and postal orders payable to 'Earth First! Gathering', and send to us at the Gathering address.

Access

We aim to make the site and programme as accessible to all as we can.

The site will have as level access as possible (though do be aware it's in a field!). We will build disabled toilets, and this year we will provide a hoist for wheelchair users. There will be a power source for charging electric wheelchairs and space for storing them if necessary. (Untrained!) voluntary personal assistance will also be available, and we will provide as much written material as possible in alternative formats.

We really need a BSL interpreter but unfortunately can't afford to pay one. So if you need BSL interpretation, please contact us so we can find an interpreter. We do have an induction loop.

We will assist you with camping as much as you want/need, but if you don't want to camp then we can supply a list of local bed and breakfast accommodation.

We have to be very careful with how many live-in vehicles we can allow on the site, but if you really need to bring a live-in vehicle for disability-related reasons then let us know and we'll see what we can do. No promises with that though.

If you have any special needs, please contact us in advance, so we can plan how to meet them.

If you have any special skills, e.g. Sign Language, care assistant, Makaton etc., please also contact us!

Food

The Anarchist Teapot Action Kitchen will be cooking Vegan food. You can buy their meal tickets (approx. £3.50 per day) or you can cook your own.

This year we are running a special kids food kitchen.

Veggies will also be providing a provisions store selling a few basic supplies.

Kids

Children are welcome. Please let us know how many kids are coming and how old they are so we can plan for them better.

There will be a crèche and a programme of events for kids of different ages, but you are still responsible for the children you bring. These activities will be happening during workshop times. They will be run by volunteers who will be participating in the rest of the gathering. If you have any activities for children you wish to offer then please get in touch.

Kids food will be produced separately from the main Gathering food this year, to enable us to produce food that's more suitable for kids.

Site Crew

Site Crew is everyone who comes along.

In order for us to have the gathering, vegetables need to be chopped, young people need to be entertained, washing up needs to be done, the gate tent needs to be staffed and loos need to be maintained. Sometimes this is the best way to meet new people, have great conversations, and learn how to do new things.

Come prepared to volunteer - you don't need any qualifications. You can sign up for shifts when you get there.

Dogs

Don't bring them.

If you really must bring your dog, ie you really can't organise dog-sitting for 5 days, then contact us in advance and we may be able to make some arrangement, if not too many people have already asked for this. It goes without saying that we expect you to look after your dog properly and don't let it cause hassle for anybody.

Any dogs that turn up that haven't made arrangements with the organisers will be turned away.

Photos

This is an activist gathering not a press event, so if you are coming as a journalist then you are not welcome. Also please respect the wishes of those who don't wish to be photographed - always ask first.