At Basingstoke Festival, we’re committed to celebrating creativity while being mindful of our environmental impact. Sustainability is a journey, and we’re taking meaningful steps to improve how we run our festival, both now and into the future. 

In 2025, we’re focusing on better tracking and understanding our fuel use, exploring ways to reduce travel-related emissions, and developing a practical sustainability action plan. We’re also actively working on ideas and solutions to enhance our recycling systems and waste management, recognising there’s still work to do. 

This year, we’re proud to launch a new Eco-Zone, inviting environmental charities and partners to share their knowledge, spark conversation, and inspire action through engaging, informative experiences. 

We’ll continue to support artists whose work explores environmental themes and remain transparent about the steps we’re taking. Together, we hope to build a more sustainable future, one festival at a time. 

What we’re doing to reduce our environmental impact

We’re making thoughtful choices across Basingstoke Festival to help lower our environmental footprint, balancing the magic of the festival with a more mindful approach to how we plan and deliver it. 

Here’s how we’re working towards a more sustainable event: 

• �de86 Greener travel options: We’re encouraging our performers to choose public transport, like trains where possible, helping to reduce emissions from travel. 

• ⚡ Renewable energy: All our performance spaces are powered by green generators that run on renewable energy sources. 

• �dfec Making use of what’s already here: Instead of building new infrastructure, we’re breathing life into empty retail spaces across the town, keeping things local and low-impact. 

• �df0d Sustainability in the spotlight: Our programme includes performances and workshops that explore and promote sustainability, sparking conversation and inspiring change. 

• �dfad Creative reuse: Costumes in our festival parade are made using recycled materials, proving that sustainability and creativity can go hand in hand. 

We know there’s always more to learn and improve, but every step counts as we work towards a greener festival future.

How you can help make a difference

Everyone has a part to play in creating a greener Basingstoke Festival. Here are a few simple ways you can join us in reducing our environmental impact while still soaking up the fun: 

�deb6‍♀️�deb2 Choose greener ways to get here
Transport is the UK’s biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, so how you travel matters. Whenever you can, walk, cycle, scoot, or hop on public transport to get to the festival.

Choosing the bus is one of the easiest ways to cut your carbon footprint and it helps reduce congestion in town too. With regular routes into Basingstoke and stops near all the action, you can relax, skip the parking hassle, and head straight to the fun! Check your local routes and timetables on the Stagecoach website or your preferred travel app before you set off.

Don’t forget, under 16s and students may be eligible for discounted fares year-round! 

There’s plenty of free cycle parking around the town centre (including by some colourful Kev Munday artwork �dc40).

If you’re travelling by electric vehicle, charging points can be found via the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council website. 

♻️ Reduce, Refill, Reuse
That takeaway coffee cup might only last 15 minutes but it can take hundreds of years to break down. Bring your reusable cup or water bottle and make use of the free hydration station inside Festival Place. It’s an easy way to ditch single-use plastics and stay refreshed throughout the day.

�df31 Visit the Festival Eco-Zone
Drop by our brand-new Eco-Zone, a space for inspiration, ideas, and local action. From climate-conscious performances to hands-on eco activities, you’ll discover how small changes like planting a tree, reducing waste, or raising your voice, can add up to a big difference. 

�df54 Eat local, eat kind
Support independent eateries offering plant-based and locally sourced options throughout the town centre. Choosing sustainable food doesn’t mean missing out, it means discovering delicious dishes that are good for you and the planet. 

�decd️ Shop local and support creatives
Every local purchase helps reduce carbon emissions and supports your community. Check out spots like All Our Own Crafts and Willows Coffee House, where you’ll find handmade jewellery, artwork, gifts, and tasty treats, all crafted with care by talented local makers. 

Together, these small actions help shape a more sustainable, connected, and creative future.

Thanks for being part of it. �dc9a 

Basingstoke Festival Eco-Zone

In 2019, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency, followed by the launch of the Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy, a roadmap to address the climate crisis locally. 

Across the borough, many brilliant organisations are also stepping up to inspire change and encourage more sustainable ways of living. 

This year, we’re teaming up with local creative Nick Ash to bring you the brand-new Festival Eco-Zone, a welcoming space packed with hands-on activities for all ages. Get creative, spark conversation, and explore how we can all take small steps to protect and preserve the world around us, locally and globally. 

The Eco-Zone will feature local legends Junk Jodie and Scratch Built Productions, as well as the Basingstoke Beekeepers, the Natural Environment Rangers, and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Green Team, with everything from interactive installations to eco-friendly crafts, bee-themed fun, nature activities, and sustainability demos, all designed to inform, inspire, and empower.  

�dcac Want to get involved?
If you’re a local group or organisation with a green message to share, we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch and help us grow the Festival Eco-Zone.