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The Green & Away Village

Apart from the main marquee and the various break-out spaces that we build for the events and conferences (which participants meet and work in), the Green & Away village has a host of other features. These are innovative and eco-friendly, low-impact structures, designed to be temporary and used in such a way that when we leave the site at the end of summer, you would barely know we had been there.

Kitchen and Garden

The kitchen tent is at the heart of the Green & Away site. In all weathers and making use of the home-grown and local produce available, our chefs and their team of volunteers whip up the most extraordinary quantities of tasty, healthy food. There is solar lighting and power to operate small devices, but most of the work is done by hand. The vegetable peeling and chopping alone, sometimes for up to 200 people, is a sight to behold, but they never seem to be short of helping hands.

Months before we start building the Green & Away village, some of us come up to Worcestershire to plant up the vegetable patch, enriched with compost from the recycled kitchen waste. Last year we grew endless supplies of salad leaves, courgettes, and fresh herbs. Watering and weeding continue all through the summer events, so, if you know what you’re doing, please don’t hesitate to pull up a few weeds as you walk by the veg garden!

Washing Areas and Plumbing

The whole Green & Away site is temporarily plumbed into the water mains by Peter the Plumber, with a truly innovative pipe system. There are taps by every loo, hot showers, and a fully functional washing-up station with a solar- and wind-powered hot water system.

There are also facilities to wash and hang clothes - and our trusty old mangle to squeeze them dry! Get piping hot water from the wood-burning showers nearby.

Showers

Our wood-burning showers are a real delight – and the structure is a work of art as well as an ingenious piece of engineering!

Lit each morning before you’re even awake, and again in the late afternoon, they provide a wonderfully refreshing (and piping hot) experience in the great outdoors. Please try to bring environmentally sound soap and shampoo as the water run-off is filtered onto the land. Nearby are washing basins.

Compost Loos

We have compost loos, which convert human waste into compost for non-edible plants. The loos don’t flush, but they do have loo seats, loo roll, sawdust to cover the more alarming contents (!) and are regularly ash covered to reduce odour build-up. They are scrupulously cleaned several times a day!

Yurt Sitting Room

Yurts are low-impact dwellings of wood and felt, used by nomadic peoples in northern Europe. Our yurt has a hazel frame with a canvas outer layer to make it waterproof. Its central wood-burning stove and circular structure makes it a welcoming and sociable space – the ideal place for tea and talking.

Bar and Snug

Our licensed bar, the Rising Sunflower, is a real favourite with most people. Over the years it has taken various forms. At one stage it was lovingly built from scratch each year as an ever-changing structure of coppiced hazel tied up with string. More recently it has been based on a 'wood henge' structure - though still built with love! Whatever the design, there are always lots of blanket-covered straw bales for seating and a snug at the back with a wood-burning stove. Our barman, sells organic wine, local ale and cider and all manner of soft drinks and snacks.

Craft and Light-industrial Area

This is where we store all the tools needed to build and run the Green & Away site. It’s here, under cover of canvas, that Dina runs our craft workshops. There is usually something exciting being created or to learn here, so whenever you have some time to spare during the day you can come and try your hand at whatever crafts Dina has on offer – pewter casting, jewellery making, woodwork…

Childrens’ Tent

There is a specially designated children’s tent on site where there are toys and games available. Those participating in an event may often bring family members who are not involved in the event itself, and activities can be organised for them. We cannot offer a child-minding service, but please discuss your children’s requirements with us.

Power Dome - Solar and Wind Power

The Green & Away site has a power dome housing the solar electric system, and each year Jacob and his team install a low-voltage solar circuit, which supplies lighting around the village green and helps to power our kitchen. We also use a wind turbine and this, with the power from our solar panels, heats the water for our washing-up area.

Healing Dome

We build a healing dome, a quiet, contemplative space, which is available for use. If you would like to organise having a healer on site for treatments during your event, please make arrangements for them to visit at a convenient time for your scheduling. The dome could also be used for individuals or small groups wanting a quiet meditation space.

Celtic Sauna

Weather and staff permitting, Helen is happy to fire up the Celtic Sauna for a contemplative, yet invigorating, healing sauna experience.

Transport and Car Parking

The site is accessible by public transport and there are buses from Worcester, to a bus stop a few hundred yards from the site. Two weeks before the event we will send you detailed travel directions including bus times, maps and descriptions of the route for cyclists, motorists and hitch-hikers.

We also have a small car park and we ask that you not to drive vehicles onto the Green & Away fields. We also run a lift exchange service for those attending – please do fill in this part of the booking form if you want to find a lift or can offer a space in your car to others.