Wilderness Festival

Thu 8 Aug, 07:32

I sum up my experience of living in Charlbury for the past25 plus years by twisting that interminable saying of "Charlbury is a town not a village" to saying "Charlbury maybe designated a town but (if you know where to look) has a village atmosphere at its heart". And I was brought  up for the first 30 years of my life in a village of  some 30 houses in far SW Cornwall.

Wed 7 Aug, 16:40

I've said this several times over the past decade, I really dislike the fact all the snow and ice clearance is done the town centre side of dancers hill. It's as if the volunteers think there are no elderly people up there who might need to walk to the centre. Also, why is there no grit box at the top by the slade where the pavement is in shade and remains frozen for days if we have a cold spell. 

Yes, I do live up there, and I do walk down there despite knowing that if I fall congenital muscle issues mean I'll break my hip, so maybe it's something more able bodied people don't think about. 

Wed 7 Aug, 12:27

I remember moving to Charlbury from London and finding it disarming that people said hello as they walked past you!!

I love this now about living in Charlbury. Hello!

Today, unexpectedly I walked past someone with whom I did a skill swap.

They had left University and wanted a job post Covid.

I needed help to do some interior painting and dig our allotment, due to a sore ankle. 

They got a fab job!

Sometimes we don’t realise how lucky we are, do we?

More, more, more. 

Living in this incredible town. #notavillage

It is easy to complain and be grumpy.

What amazing things might happen if you used that same energy to make a difference?

People in our community pick up litter and clear leaves from the pavements so that parents can push their kids in pushchairs and mobility scooters can move through without worry.

Have you slept on the streets?

Have you been a refugee?

What would it be like not to have a home, country, safety?

Wed 7 Aug, 11:11

Taking 45 minutes to get from one end of Crawborough to the other because there are just so many lovely people to stop and talk to along the way. 

Wed 7 Aug, 09:22 (last edited on Wed 7 Aug, 09:23)

I keep on remembering people I haven't mentioned in that list - the football club, the scouts and guides, the beer festival, the people putting on the Charlbury Festival, the Nine Acres committee...........

Wed 7 Aug, 08:50 (last edited on Wed 7 Aug, 09:01)

There are literally hundreds of people in Charlbury doing good things every day, from the volunteers who run the community centre, to those who manage the Millennium Wood and the station gardens, to those who look after their neighbours through ATIC, to those who run the dementia cafe, to those who run the Cornerstone, to the people who look after the Deli, to the Museum team, to the Corner House committee, to the CRAG team, oh, I could go on and on and on.  They have all had ideas of how to make this town a great place to live and are actually doing something about it!

Tue 6 Aug, 20:47

3 fab things about Charlbury? 

3 not so good things about Charlbury? 

How can we make it better collectively?  Ideas?

What 1 thing could you do? 

Tue 6 Aug, 15:47

If it's "a staid and colourless community." I seriously wonder why you live here.

Tue 6 Aug, 15:39

What a wonderful Wilderness weekend.  I consider myself so very lucky to have this on my doorstep.  I was home by midnight, leaving the young folk to enjoy the music and late night.  I could definitely hear the sounds as it was so hot and the windows were open.  I also heard people going past on Church Street, full of excitement and forgetting to keep their voices down.  Sounds were completely muffled once I put my ear plugs in, though.  I dont begrudge our young people one second of their fun as they bring such vibrancy and energy to what might otherwise be a bit of a staid and colourless community.  That ,of course is my view.....and thats just it...Im expressing my view.  I shan't be at all put out if people dont agree with it...and I certainly shan't be rude or sarcastic if they dont.

Mon 5 Aug, 19:24 (last edited on Mon 5 Aug, 20:59)

That was a real blast Wilderness. The best of festivals. 

Michael Kiwanuka, Wilderness Orchestra, Ellie Harris, Jasmine Jethwa and the Riddle…wow. 

Thank you Wilderness, for such an amazing experience. 😁

Mon 5 Aug, 18:15 (last edited on Mon 5 Aug, 18:29)

Really agree. From Ed Conway of Sky News's talk about materials and their role in the modern economy (a transistor on a modern circuit board is smaller than a coronavirus), to Kate Raworth about a different model of economics and how we can balance welfare and environment.  

Tim Marshall talking about the future of Geography, and John Sweeny on the power elites in the Kremlin we both hugely illuminating.  Jess Philips warm, humane and quite funny. I heard from two philosophers - one of whom was the last person in the UK to be charged with blasphemy, and this year's Turner Prize winner - who discussed the role of art in society.

I was passing a stage and laughed out loud at the comic, only later realising it was Rory Bremner and remembered what a great mimic he is. I dropped in on a folk tent and heard a great blues band. I ambled around the boookshop (bought a signed paperback) and explored the tent with a collection of independent shops.

As in previous years I left enthused with new ideas bubbling around. I really loved that it was an opportunity for older and younger people to exchange ideas in a respectful way. 

Wilderness really is such an unusual gathering, I'm very glad it's on our doorstep. I'm sorry if people found shouting and waste. I didn't see any and was struck by the cheerful politeness of most people. 

I hope Wilderness are back next year, oh and yes I danced to some of the music too.

Mon 5 Aug, 07:54

100% 

best weekend ever. 

Mon 5 Aug, 06:52

What a fantastic event! My first time attending the festival and wow, what an impressive and diverse feast for the senses. We are so lucky to have such a top class cultural event within walking distance. Thank you to the organisers, looking forward to next year.