Over the last 21 years, the Festival audience has grown from 1,000 people in Hay to 250,000 visitors on three continents every year. The organizers are increasingly aware of the impact we have on the environment.

Back in 2006 they started the Greenprint Project to audit, address and change their ecological sustainability and this year there are some 80 Greenprint events at the festival.

To show their commitment to a more sustainable festival they are providing a Bio-diesel tank on-site for use in the official vehicles and generators. All the guests and artists are being encouraged to travel as far as possible by public transport.

A message-board will be set-up to encourage car-share and public transport links. Also there will be a special Hay Train carriage from London to Hereford was booked for any member of the public wishing to come to Hay with other Hay visitors. Of Course there will be a secure bike parking provided on site for all those avid cyclists attending the festival.

There will be a shuttle-bus provided to move people around town and the site to minimise car use. Alongside the shuttle service to Hay town centre, the Hay 21 Bus will be running between the festival site and Hereford railway station to connect with rail services. Travel pages on their website give details of how to get to the Festival and the GreenPrint pages for the sustainability memorandum.

The festival is a vast coalition of people who come together to make this all happen, now they are demonstrating a true commitment to preserving and conserving all the precious resources that a necessary to make an event of this nature come together.

As ever at Hay there is a range of the very best refreshments that are organic and fairly traded. Cafe Direct is located at the heart of the Festival. The CafÈdirect CafÈ is the prime cabaret and broadcast venue running 100 events during the week. The cafÈ serves CafÈdirect’s premium quality 100% Fairtrade coffees, tea and drinking chocolate, along with a variety of other refreshments. Check out CafÈdirect’s variety of coffees, ranging from blends to unique single origin.

At the Tyrrells Bar there are the only small UK chip producer to grow their own potatoes and turn them into delicious chips on their home farm in Herefordshire. From April this year Tyrrells also produce potato vodka, ensuring total control from seed to chip and 100% traceability.

Experience Xtreme Organix for great local food and drink. They use organically farmed meat from Maes-y-Garn farm, only one and a half miles from Hay Festival, for breakfasts, homemade burgers, stir-fries and wraps, and chilled drinks from local producers. They will be open throughout the Festival.

Also there will be stalls from Burnt Sugar they say: ‘The best thing to go with a signed edition of Salman’s latest…Burnt Sugar make the world’s best fudge’ (so said The Observer Food Monthly), toffees, honeycomb and other lovely sweets: all made with Fairtrade sugar, and ready to join you in a big comfy chair.’

And at Eat Natural’ they make delicious fruit and nuts. They only use the best possible ingredients sourced from like-minded growers, who believe that real taste comes naturally. Keeping their recipes beautifully simple so you can really taste what’s in them they also make the bars in small batches too, so that every one is made with the same love and care. All bars are also gluten free and suitable for veggies. simple@​eatnatural.​co.​uk

For more information and ticket bookings please visit.

www​.hayfestival​.com