Wickham Festival 2010

We had a most enjoyable festival and the following in no way takes away from the enjoyment but…

We arrived at 1010 on Thursday morning and joined a queue of about 40 campervans and caravans in the stubble field over the lane from the main entrance, our friends were the second in line. While waiting we had a look and decided that a site against the fence line would be good and since we were there early there seemed no problem with getting such a space.

About 11 we were allowed on, as we entered the main field our friends were already unpacking their vehicle against the fence and we started driving towards a spot on the fence nearby, at that point we were told by a steward that there was to be no camping along the fence line and we all had to find a place in the middle of the field those vehicles already against the fence were being turfed off and made to re pack their stuff, we eventually came to a stop in the middle of the field  joined by the other early arrivals, we were at that point told that the fire brakes must be respected and kept clear which we all did.

If this had been the case for the rest of the weekend we would have accepted it no problem, but from about 1145 onwards we saw later arrivals driving on and setting up camp against the fence line, no stewards were controlling the parking by then at all, by about 1 all the fence line was lined with camped caravans and campervans, as you can imagine those of us forced into the middle of the field were more than a little exasperated. Then the fire brakes started to fill up so that by the late afternoon caravans awnings and campervans completely choked the fire brakes to our side and back that we had sternly been told we must keep clear and also hemming us in,  with vehicles parked almost on our laps.

I am not blaming the stewards who I understand were all volunteers and were, in those first 45-60 minutes carrying out their instructions and who when we met them over the weekend on an individual basis were very pleasant and helpful, but they obviously lost control. Next year I would suggest that if you do not want the fence line used by campervans and caravans you make sure stewards are there to stop late arrivals setting up camp or, more fairly, you allow those people who are there at the stated opening time have first pick at the camping spots and that if you do have firebrakes, which I thought would be a requirement of your licence, you again make sure stewards are there to stop people parking and erecting their awnings on them.

This is just a little moan and does not detract from the pleasure we got from the weekend.