Muddy start to Wickham Festival sees thousands put on their wellies

Wickham Festival began yesterday (August 3) afternoon, with campers even having to be towed onto sites to get out the thick mud.

Organisers spent tens of thousands of pounds ready for wet the weather, buying extra tractors and straw to improve the walkways.

Festival organiser Peter Chegwyn believes all events will have to better prepare for more extreme weathers amid the climate crisis.

READ MORE: Live updates from Wickham Festival as thousands brave the mud

The day parking area (Image: Adele Bouchard)

He said: “I’ve been running festivals for 30 years and the worst weather has been in the last six. All event organisers will need to consider how they address the climate crisis, it’s becoming a bigger issue.

“We had worse than this in 2021 but you end up getting the best of British spirits. We will never cancel, the show must go on. It’s a serious problem for everyone but most people have been really tolerant.

“We’re used to dealing with it. We got the entrance flooring down early but wherever the roadway stops, that’s where the problem is.

“Last night was great and once you’re through the mud we have plenty of covered areas, it’s not like Glastonbury where you’d definitely be getting wet. The comments have been far more positive than I was expecting, you can see the festival spirit.”

Penny Andrews (centre left) and her campmates (Image: Adele Bouchard)

Penny Andrews, from Havant, is there for her first Wickham Festival. She said: “It’s the first festival I’ve had to be towed into. There’s usually plastic grating. It has been challenging to set up to say the least.

“But the music was great and the food was superb. The organisers are doing a good job in such challenging conditions but it has been forecast for weeks so they should have been expecting it.”

The first few arrivals braving the mud for day two of @festivalwickham this morning. Wellies at the ready everyone! pic.twitter.com/cpKdXvGEct

— Adele Bouchard (@adele_bouchard) August 4, 2023

Morris dancers Michelle Denyer and Louise Brookesmith are making their Wickham debut, performing with their group T’Owd Man Border Morris from Derbyshire every day.

Louise said: “We’re marvellously excited. As we’re from up north we’re used to the mud. It’s lovely to be invited here and spread the true joy of Morris dancing – it’s more than just waving hankies.”

Michelle and Louise (Image: Adele Bouchard)

Michelle said: “We had to be towed onto the site and I think my clutch is burnt out but we’re still very excited to be here. The weather is all part of the festival experience, you don’t expect it to be prim and proper.”

SEE ALSO: The Proclaimers pull-out of Wickham Music Festival due to illness

Rachel Jordan, from Axminster, is there with her husband, who has limited mobility, for the whole weekend. Although the weather hasn’t put a dampener on their spirits, Mrs Jordan was disappointed in the lack of accessibility.

“The minibus only runs 9am-5pm so what are we supposed to do after the late night events? I’ve left my other half on the road because he can’t walk.

“The poor volunteers are doing an amazing job but there just needs to be better team of people who plan it properly. The weather is fine, it’s just the access.”

With the news of the Saturday headliners The Proclaimers having to pull out due to illness, Mrs Jordan plans to write to the rock duo to invite them to her hometown.

Saturday ticket holders have been offered free tickets to either Friday or Sunday as compensation for the last-minute programme change.

Organiser Mr Chegwyn said: “People are obviously very disappointed but they seem to be pleased with our offer. We’ve sold more than 1,200 tickets for Saturday and only two people have requested a refund.

“We know that The Proclaimers wouldn’t cancel without good reason.”

For more information go to wickhamfestival.co.uk/.