Recharging phones by pedal power. Picture by Robin Crossley.
THE TOMORROW'S World field at Bestival was very green: this field was all about an inspired, sustainable, green and fun future.
The bandstand was powered by the sun for four days, 12 hours a day. The Wonderland Inn sold local Bestivale, along with food from local sources, and the Women’s Institute tea tent served fantastic tea and locally home-made cakes.
In the Science Tent, robots and a tardis demonstrated science of the future. Other displays included flood exhibits and interactive demonstrations of sea levels, new future materials and inventions and environmental initiatives for the future. An electronics craft workshop gave people a chance to build audio-visual interfaces and electronic circuits.
Scrap artist Giles Walker installed an animated jukebox. There was a science timeline and a cathode ray tube to hear the remains of the big bang. Other amazing exhibits were presented by Southampton University, Newcastle Uni Culture Lab, Vestas and the Solent Forum.
The Farmers’ Market supplied tasty local treats for the locavour lifestyle. These included Calbourne Classics ice cream and the Tomato Stall’s soups and quiches.
Corrie’s Cabin’s stall, Ginger Mullet, offered local mackerel in a roll and a five-a-day fruit bag from Ginger’s veg shop. Also available were Ben Brown’s sweetcorn, hand-made burgers, strawberries and cream, fudge, chips, Dr Bean’s coffee.
Tomorrow’s World generators were fuelled by re-cycled bio-fuel in the form of used cooking oil.
Local companies and charities joined in. Quay Arts’ brought its art-for-all tent, while renewable-energy companies offered solar phone charging and 10:10 provided pedal-powered phone charging.
The Footprint Trust ran its popular Poo in the Pan game to raise awareness of water issues, while scouts provided giant games. Isle of Pink breast cancer campaign returned to the Bestival and Ventnor’s St Catherine’s School, where Rob da Bank is a patron, provided the ever popular Tuck Shop.