Local
Community
On This Page:
Feel free to reach out and chat to our local community officer, Katie, by contacting local_community@boomtownfair.co.uk, but the best way to stay up to date with everything we are up to in the local community is to sign up to our Local Community Mailing list.
When you sign up, we’ll automatically send you the important information you’ll need during the show.
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Important info for the local community
South Down National Park
Boomtown isn’t just a festival, it’s a guest in one of the UK’s most beautiful and ecologically rich areas: the South Downs National Park. As a temporary resident of this stunning national park, we have both a duty and a passion for preserving its special character.
We’re surrounded by rare plants, protected species, ancient landscapes and a vibrant community of people that deserve care and respect. Here’s how we honour that, all year round.
What Makes the South Downs Special
The Park’s unique qualities are the heartbeat of the land:
🌿 Diverse, inspirational landscapes and breath-taking views
🦉 Rich wildlife and internationally important habitats
🛤️ Tranquil and unspoilt places
🚜 A working landscape shaped by centuries of farming
🏞️ Outstanding opportunities for recreation and learning
🏰 Historic features and cultural heritage
🏡 Proud local communities and distinctive villages
🌌 International Dark Sky Reserve status
We’re committed to the South Downs National Park’s two founding purposes:
- Conserving and enhancing nature, heritage, and wildlife
- Helping people understand and enjoy all that the Park has to offer
We work year-round with ecologists and environmental experts to minimise our impact, not just during the festival, but before we arrive and after we leave. Our approach is rooted in science, shaped by evidence, and delivered with care.
Tap the buttons below to dive into different areas of environment and ecology:
Wildlife Protection Zones
Across the site, you’ll see zones clearly marked and fenced off - these are Wildlife Protection Zones. They exist to protect habitats for species like bats, barn owls, slow worms, badgers, and ground-nesting birds.
These areas are strictly off-limits to people and vehicles throughout the festival build, show and break. Please treat every boundary as a line of respect.
Ecological Mapping & Monitoring
Every year, we employ independent ecologists to survey the land and track how wildlife is using the site. This includes:
- Bat activity and roosts
- Ground-nesting birds and reptiles
- Species-rich grasslands
- Protected zones like Cheesefoot Head SSSI
The data informs every part of our plan - from where we build, to how we light, to what areas stay untouched.
We’re also legally bound by a Biodiversity Net Gain and Landscape Ecology Management Plan (BLEMMP), ensuring compliance with national ecological standards.
Sound & Light Management
Boomtown has developed a detailed lighting strategy to reduce impact on nocturnal species and protect the Park’s International Dark Sky Reserve status.
Lighting has been designed in collaboration with ecologists and reviewed annually.
Stage Lighting in the Bowl
Many main stages are positioned inside natural amphitheatres or tree-lined areas to help contain light within the site. For example, stages like Grand Central, The Lions Gate and The Wrong Side of the Tracks are set over 50m below the landscape rim, surrounded by vegetation that helps block outward light.
Sensitive Timing & Direction
Lighting is switched off in inactive areas and is never used where it’s not needed. Some areas are only lit during operational hours or for essential safety.
We also limit use of dynamic moving lights near ecologically sensitive boundaries - and when used, beams are directed downwards or shielded to minimise skyward impact.
Species-Specific Protections
Some of the species we share this land with are especially vulnerable. We go further for them:
- Bats: We avoid high-UV light, and install screens or barriers near known roosting trees
- Ground-nesting birds: Habitats are kept unsuitable pre-event via tailored grass cutting; monitored by ecologists
- Reptiles & badgers: Protected zones are fenced with permeable edges to allow safe passage
- Barn owls: We install owl boxes away from the main site and check them annually
These protections are backed by a full suite of ecological surveys and agreed mitigation measures with the SDNPA.
Visit the South Downs Year-Round
The South Downs is free to explore year-round. Whether it’s for walking, biking or just taking a break in nature, it’s here for you.
Tips for exploring the South Downs:
Boomtown
Our Commitment To Our Local Community
We support our charity partners not just with funding, but with platforms, storytelling, volunteering, and year-round collaboration.
Thank you to everyone who makes this possible by attending, donating, volunteering or spreading the word.
These are the local organisations we work with and support throughout the year.
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Care for Local Families
We support our charity partners not just with funding, but with platforms, storytelling, volunteering, and year-round collaboration.
Thank you to everyone who makes this possible by attending, donating, volunteering or spreading the word.
These are the local organisations we work with and support throughout the year.
Care for Local Parish Councils
Annually £20,000 is shared between our eight neighbouring parish councils to fund projects that matter most to local communities from education to infrastructure to wellbeing.
Care for Local Schools
£17,500 allocated to support local schools to improve their early years facilities.
- £6,000 to Cheriton Primary for early years classroom improvements
- £6,000 to Ropley Primary for early years classroom improvement
- £3,000 to Cherry Tree Nursery in Cheriton for outdoor play improvements
- £2,500 to Ichen Valley Montessori for early years support
Care for Local Youth
£5,000 awarded to Breakout Youth - a local organisation that supports LGBTQ+ young people aged 11-25 across Hampshire and IOW.
Our Climate Commitments
Cutting Carbon Across the Festival and Balancing What’s Left
Since committing to become a Net Zero and circular festival by 2026, Boomtown has re-engineered how we power, build, feed and travel and we’ve already cut our direct emissions by over 90%.
What We’ve Achieved:
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Travel
Audience, crew and artist transport now account for nearly 60% of Boomtown’s total carbon footprint — and that’s where our focus is now.
With OnBoard Earth, we’re taking action:
- Measuring every journey to and from site
- Offsetting emissions through investments in renewable energy and reforestation
- Incentivising change with Public Transport tickets and car share schemes
- Educating citizens and crew to choose lower-impact options
In 2023, we offset 51% of artist travel emissions and helped balance over 13 million fossil fuel travel miles.
What’s Next
We know there’s more to do - especially in Scope 3 areas like travel, supply chains, and materials. So we’re:
- Designing better food systems (starting with coffee & meat)
- Expanding reuse and recycled material policies
- Investing in water and waste innovation
- Continuing to share our data, progress, and challenges
What You Can Do
- Choose train, coach or our Green Transport ticket
- Take your tent home and leave no trace
- Try a veggie meal or two, or three, or four… you get the picture.
- Offset your travel at ecolibrium.earth
Wider commitments
Our fundraising doesn’t stop at our local community; we also partner with organisations that have an impact further afield in the UK and internationally.
Oxfam
Providing festival stewarding services with global impact. Our partnership supports Oxfam’s vital work around water access, hunger relief, gender justice, and climate resilience.
My Cause UK
Volunteer-powered donations. Festival-goers give their time — and My Cause donates to a charity of their choice. In 2025, we expect over 1,500 micro-donations to causes ranging from youth mental health to humanitarian aid.
War Child (via Festivals Unite)
Our audience fundraising helps protect and empower children affected by war. This year so far we have raised over £7,000.
Onboard Earth
Onboard Earth is a movement uniting the live events industry to take meaningful climate action. In 2025, Boomtown continues to contribute through:
- Measuring and reducing travel emissions from artists, crew and audiences
- Funding regenerative climate projects that restore balance to our planet
- Supporting climate literacy, behaviour change, and collective responsibility
With Onboard Earth, we’ve already helped balance over 13 million fossil-fuel miles — and we’re just getting started.
Safer Spaces Now CIC
Safer Spaces Now is the next step to creating equality and safety for all at festivals and events through education, training and providing vital, immediate and specialist support.
They work to prevent and address harassment, discrimination, and violence by providing trained staff and volunteers who promote respectful behaviour using the five D’s of active bystanders. Safer Spaces Now offers support and resources for anyone who feels unsafe or violated during the event. We are passionate about their important work.
