FEATURE Tolpuddle 2023


n By Keith Hatch


Tolpuddle 2023


dispatches from the deluge


Storms, high winds, swirling tents – and some very soggy Unite team members


Heading to Tolpuddle on a bright and breezy Wednesday morning it was hard to imagine that this year's festival would have to be cancelled due to extreme weather.


Yes, weather reports weren't amazing, but most people felt the predictions would improve as the event got closer - though plans were already being developed to prepare for the worst.


However, as the gate crew were getting ready to open up on Friday,


the rain was already steadily falling, and the forecast for Saturday’s gales on were getting worse.


The Unite South West region advance party of Stevyn Nethercott and Martyn Ahmet had arrived the day before, and I’d been helping them set up the newly expanded Unite Marquee. It was going to be packed full of resources, recruitment packs and freebies along with some very snazzy new backdrops and


space for the fantastic programme of Landworker workshops.


However a stroll over to the front gate Friday afternoon showed the conditions the festival's volunteers were having to deal with. Hours of torrential rain had turned the entrance into a river and tonnes of rubble was being put down to allow access.


Despite their best efforts, rising water meant that the gates had to close to new vehicles. The entrance to the field opposite the main festival site was then opened for parking – but this soon fell foul of the deluge.


10 uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2023


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