People, sun, rain, wind and rainbows all piled in last month for Hullabaloo, the most colourful and something-for-everyone of celebrations held in Sandown Bay, Isle of Wight.
Whatever
the weather, Hullabaloo was there to give spirits, brains, hearts and
imaginations a whopping boost. And whatever you came for, everyone
was all in it together – for carnival arts, music and makers,
cardboard and community connections, insights into the Bay’s
natural world from fossils to future, and storytellers and experts
from around the Island Biosphere and beyond.
Hullabaloo was lucky to host some amazing experts presenting on world-changing initiatives in this year’s Talk Tent.
Speakers included Reniera O’Donnell, Food Initiative Lead from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation discussing the Foundation’s promotion and development of regenerative agriculture as part of the global transition to a circular economy,
In Discovery Bay, you could be in our mini-museum, zooming in on the micro-world busy in a tray of doorstep moss, or understanding wave motion and its impact on our seafront with the Environment Agency… while science busking with Winchester Science Centre; and you could be learning about the unsung conservation efforts to support the rarest of UK wildlife here in the Biosphere with the help of local experts like Zoologica and the Squirrel Trust.
Next door, the Resilience tent was your one-stop-shop to the Island’s community organisations from youth to older age.
Meanwhile over the fence in the Wacky Makers World… Big Top Mania transformed your average municipal roundabout into Brands Hatch for Kids on Bikes and Wacky Races transformed a car park into cardboard carnage.
Hundreds of upcycled pumpkins got stitched by the Stitch Department, alongside Teen Zines and Teen DJs on the green, next to Spinning Yarns and Mud Kitchens. And when it all got too much you could have a lie down and a listen to the Clouds, visit the Browns Pavilion or make Willow Crowns.
Whittaker: Can’t wait for the next one
Visitor and contributor, Matt Whittaker at new Island business, Keert, summed it all up,
“The event was so full of energy and life – with all attendees and participants so positive and welcoming.
“I had an absolute blast. Can’t wait for the next one!”
Hullabaloo was helped this year with funding from Interreg EU as part of the UNESCO Sites Across the Channel programme.
Hullabaloo, created by Shademakers and co-hosted and funded with The Common Space, was the grand finale in a programme of three diverse events run by The Common Space for USAC and the IW AONB, including the inaugural Branstone Day and the revival of Fort Vic Foray at Fort Victoria. A specially curated Biosphere exhibition is next on the list.
Grogan: We hope it will inspire more people
Richard Grogan, Isle of Wight AONB said,
“Hullabaloo was a culmination of a series of events and projects where we hoped to celebrate all that is good about the Isle of Wight’s natural and cultural environment and the people who care for it.
“What we hope it will do is to inspire more people, young and old, rich or poor, resident or visitor to be like those behind the tables and not just learn more but care more.
“The more these events happen the more people will be reached and making all this relevant to everyone’s daily lives will produce the change we need to see the Island thrive.”
Save the date
Claire Hector at Arc and The Common Space added on behalf of the Hullabaloo crew,
“Thanks to everyone who volunteered, contributed and joined in at Hullabaloo! If you couldn’t make it this year, never fear, Hullabaloo organisers are already planning, something bigger and even brighter for next Spring… Save the dates… Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th May!”
News shared by Claire on behalf of Arc and The Common Space. Ed
