June 2010

At last, some good news for traders – we have arranged with Green Phoenix festival a “buy one get to use a BGG one free” principle for non-food traders.  It works as follows:

3m x 3m pitch: £100 – includes one Green Phoenix ticket and use one BGG ticket
4m x 4m pitch : £200 - includes two Green Phoenix ticket and use two BGG tickets
5m x 5m pitch: £250 - includes two Green Phoenix ticket and use two BGG tickets

See the Green Phoenix website for more details about this event 19 –22 August.  It’s organised by 2 BGG “family” – the lovely Zora who programmes our Entertainments and Jim who senior in the stewards organisation.  They have secured a National Trust site so it sounds great.  There are limited spaces for stalls and preference will be given to those living in north-east England since it’s Newcastle-on-Tyne area.

Meanwhile, we have set the dates for BGG 2011 – where all of the 2009 traders get half price stalls and preference on booking in: 27th –31st July 2011. 

Hope to see some of at Glastonbury.

Cheers  Jennifer

April 2010

Well the AGM turned out to be a lot more positive than I anticipated.  We now have 5 new directors on board and just 2 of last years making a total of 7 people to take BGG back into business.

There is activity even though we have no money to play with.  We are looking at some partnership events (I have asked the directors to negotiate some traders into the Green Phoenix deal although that has not been confirmed yet),  There are 2 further negotiations in the pipeline although the Welsh one has stalled due to the organiser having his own troubles.  

I believe the directors are looking for a venue for an end of season event for 2009 BGG people.

I have stated that all traders should get half price pitch deals at any BGG associated event until their money is paid back.   Hopefully we’ll get money from Mendip by the end of this season – although the wheels of justice grind exceedingly slow.

We do have a great new 6 minute promo DVD of Big Green which you can watch on You Tube (the Live Love Learn clip) which I was proud to be a small part of.

We were also given a free stand at the green UK Aware exhibition at Olympia recently which was great for publicity – just a pity we didn’t have any dates to announce!

Hope to see you all in a sunny field soon.

Jennifer

February 2010


The AGM is this Sunday.  If you’re a shareholder you will have had the voting papers.  My own feeling is that it’s not a satisfactory agenda – holding fire until the Court Case against Mendip has a result is not the only way forward, but maybe other motions will come out of the meeting.  There are a lot of trader shareholders out there and, while not advising any extra expense, if you’re within the Salisbury area then do go along and make your voice heard.

I have put a proposal of my own together as a way forward with an event this summer where you BGG traders can start to be paid back what you are owed.  However I can’t do it on my own, and unless there is support from other experienced BBG people it won’t get on the agenda this weekend.  I have been trying to progress things which is why I have left it so late to update you. 

So the only thing that seems to be on offer at the AGM is that we go into a liquidation which does not become finalised until after the Court Case – if we get the settlement from Mendip and our top notch legal eagles who are doing it on a “no-win no fee”  basis feel we certainly will – then we can get unliquidated and carry on, you all get your money back eventually and we get to do a future event when everyone has been repaid.

It’s not enough of a solution as far as I’m concerned.  I am probably not going to be there myself – I have a commitment in Devon this weekend which has been arranged for the past 6 months and unless things change within the next few days and I feel I can make a real difference to the outcome of the AGM I am not going to cancel my reunion with 20 people I haven’t seen for some years.  However, Raphaelle, my deputy Market Manager, who most of you know, will be there and she will be very happy to welcome any of you who do attend. 

You can always talk to me on the phone or e-mail me (my details are on your BGG paperwork).

What I am personally able to offer, as a gesture of goodwill, is heavily discounted pitches at the Healing Field Gathering near Shepton Mallet – 5th-9th August this year.  This is a small event (500 maximum) and totally unconnected with Big Green, but it’s an event where I do have the discretion to help.  Only a few of you took up the offer last year but those of you who did all had a good time and went home with some money in their pocket.  

I expect there will be a directors report on the AGM on the home page of this website after the event.   I look forward to reconnecting with you at the various festivals over the summer and I very much hope I will be able to facilitate a profitable gathering for you at some time in the future.

All best wishes
Jennifer     

 

BGG 2009 - the Market's Diary of the Disaster:

 

Tuesday 25th August

Thanks to the few stalls that came to Healing Field Gathering, glad you had a good time.  Sunrise Offgrid was also a lovely event - surprised not more of you contacted me about that one.

Latest news just in is that Out of the Ordinary Festival are offering BGG stallholders 50% discount at their event 18th -20th September.  Hope this helps.

We are still waiting for the outcome of the meeting with the QC which will take place this week.  I believe a statement from our directors is appearing on the home page immently which will tell you more of the story.

 

Monday, 3rd August 2009

Caterers, please contact Ncass with details of your losses. Had a long chat with them and they want to be pro-active in this matter.

Big Chill seems to be strictly 'for fun' and they won't take our traders, so just exchange your wristbands for the extra £20 and have fun!

Waveform might well help, details to be confirmed...

 

Friday, 31st July 2009

Thank you for the wonderful offers of support, empathy and wellwishing that have been pouring in.

Refunds may well depend on us taking legal action and proving the evidence of malfeasance on the part of certain authorities. You can help to compile the extent of the damages we must claim  to fully recompense each of us for the loss of this Gathering.

If you are a member of the National Market Traders' Federation, please contact them with details of the financial hardships you have incurred by the blockage of the Big Green Gathering event.

Other Festivals offering help:

One Love - Reggae/Dub  Ashford, Kent 21-23 August - have offered a free pitch to traders with only two people

Stokes Bay - on this weekend, no stalls but you can have a half price holdiay with a BGG wristband & documentation.

Healing Field Gathering - Shepton Mallet, 12-16 August (500 people max) - free pitch, free vehicle pass, people £10 (instead of £50) + 15% of what you take; contact me if you want to come

Big Chill - Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire, 6-9 August - £20 entry with BGG wristband, yet to negotiate with Markets manager (have left message on their info line) If you know their phone number please tell me!

Endorsit in Dorset - again it seems impossible to contact them by telephone and the e-mail bounced back.

Offgrid - Shepton Mallet 20-23 August. (500 people max)  6 traders are going to be lucky here - certain stall types only, so e-mail me if you want to be considered

Bimble Bandada nr Yeovil 4 -6 September -  (1,000 people max) very helpful as they were also going to trade at BGG with their bar - some of our cafe traders can be considered for this too, again contact me if you want to do this weekend as they haven't had a meeting about what deal to offer yet.  A green event

Portadawe - 20-23 August near Swansea - folk festival, have offered help up to 20 traders but they have to meet among themselves to decide on what basis.

More news as it happens....

 

Sunday, 26th July 2009  3:30pm

Okay, you have read the reasons why the event has been stopped at such short notice. We have all been fighting it up until this Sunday morning. It is with a heavy heart that I have accepted the fact the authorities have closed us down.
Apologies to all of you who have been trying to phone me. There is only one place on site where I can get intermittent signal, so long as I don't move more than half an inch to the left or right, but at this point I have only got one more cel left. If you need tips and help with other events to replace your lost trade, please text me. If you do, please put your stall name on the text to help me identify the sender.
I'm totally happy to talk to all of you and to answer any questions about how all this happened, but realistically it will be when I'm back home on landline. Keep watching this space and I hope to make contact with all of you over the next month.

With deep regret and much love, Jennifer

 

And we've left the old news below just to make us all weep for what should have happened but didn't

Welcome all to the Markets Page

MARKETS APPLICATIONS

Markets is now taking booking for the 2009 event. Please use our application form to apply for a pitch.

View our Ethical Trading Policy.

FLYPITCHERS
Oh dear, if you’re too late to have a stall at Big Green this year, never fear, you still have a chance to trade if your stock is easily portable and you can sell from a blanket on the ground.  Note that no structures, or tables are allowed in flypitches.

Our designated flypitch zones – which this year will be marked by white picket fencing (or something similar!) permit trading with a licence obtainable on the spot from our patrolling flypitch teams.  Costs are reasonable, the team will assess the price you need to pay.

If you’re a child trader selling your handmade beaded bracelets, then you will only pay a few quid, we like to encourage young entrepreneurs.  An adult flypitcher can expect to pay around £30 though it must be stressed that the team will assess how much you are likely to make and prices can range from £5 -£50.

The licence covers you for the duration of the event.  Please keep it with you when trading to prove you have paid the fee.  The same rules apply to your stock as to other traders on site.  We expect it to be fairly traded and eco-friendly.

As well as the picket fencing for pitches, the valley in front of the Small World  stage  is the flypitchers open market area, a chance to sit in the sun and listen to good music while people look at your wares. 

Fly pitching will not be tolerated outside the delineated zones.  It caused problems last year with people pitching along the metal trackway (a health and safety hazard) and a dedicated steward team will be moving people along who pitch in the wrong place.  But you’re not going to do that are you!

So when you fancy an afternoon’s trading simply find an appropriate spot in the flypitch zone, set out your goodies and our flypitch team will  find you. 

And lo, the Markets Team themselves.  Here are some photos from 2005 including our hardworking horsedrawn essential deliveries, the fly pitching team and the fabulous Jennifer Sundance.

 

 

 

 

We look forward to seeing you at The Gathering!