Ex-Beatle bidding to make festival greenest ever (From Daily Echo)

Sir Paul McCartney backs bid to make Isle of Wight festival the most eco-friendly ever

7:20pm Wednesday 9th June 2010 in News By Melanie Adams, Health Reporter

LET IT be green.

That is the plea from pop legend Sir Paul McCartney as thousands of music lovers prepare to descend on the Isle of Wight for the first major festival of the year.

While for many the highest priority is nailing the festival chic look, organisers are keen to ensure going green is the biggest trend this season.

Having already secured their superiority on the festival circuit when it comes to their eco credentials, promoters are determined to turn the Isle we call Wight, a deeper shade of green.

From boosting the dwindling bee population, to encouraging revellers to leave their cars at home and promoting pedal power, green ambitions are set to rock and roll.

And who better to rally the troops in the battle against climate change than this year’s headline act?

Sir Paul said: “It’s really great that the Isle of Wight Festival has initiated such a change over the last few years in making the event as green as possible.

“I'm glad that winning the Greener Festival Award last year has helped to encourage them to take further action in 2010.

“It’s fantastic for artists like myself to see festival organisers investing in ways to reduce their CO2 emissions and taking responsibility for the environment.

“Not only will this approach encourage others in the music industry to look at best practice but it will also highlight to audiences that times are changing and we all have to do out bit at events such as these as well as at home.”

This year the festival’s Good Things programme aims to leave a positive legacy for islanders and cement their commitment to tackle global warming.

In conjunction with its charity partners, Gift of Nature, the festival launches the Let It Bee campaign in tribute to Sir Paul.

Previously the Give Bees a Chance initiative, it was started three years ago by organisers to build awareness of the fall in bee populations.

Cash raised by the sale of T-shirts funds a long-term protection plan for a bee habitat in the middle of the island, called the Field of Hope.

Along with this, Good Things continues with the reintroduction of black poplar trees to the island, building a path through the millennium wood and a wildflower meadow in the arboretum.

John Giddings, festival promoter, said: “It has always been a priority for us to give something back to the island.

I hope these sorts of initiatives, as well as what we achieve on site to reduce our environmental impact, sends a message of our ongoing commitment and leadership within the industry”. A three-pronged attack has also been launched on reducing emissions, focusing on travel, energy and waste. With more than 50,000 expected to make their way to the Island this week, there is a real drive to get fewer cars brought to the island.

Priority parking is being offered to those who arrive on the island via FestivalBudi, a website dedicated to connecting drivers with passengers from across the country.

Pedal power is also being promoted, with secure bike racks and the chance to explore the Island on two wheels with the Big Festival Bike Ride on Saturday and Sunday morning.

Combine this with solar powered stages in the Arboretum field, a litter groundforce team and ethically sourced bio-diesel, going green will be just as important as the music this year.