A NEW Forest dog festival is aiming to become of the country's most sustainable festivals.
Dogstival, which this year will take place on June 1 and 2 at Burley Park, Burley, wants to cut its CO2 emissions in half.
It says it will employ a host of "carbon pawprint reducing practices", such as a single-use plastics ban on site – and for the first time ever, they are enlisting renewable technology to partially-power the event.
It will also use renewable technology including a mix of solar and wind energy to charge large scale battery packs for a number of the arenas and stages, with the aim of protecting the New Forest National Park in mind.
Back up generators will still be on site, but these will run on biofuel, which further reduce emissions by around 74 per cent, according to the festival.
It all adds to Dogstival’s targets to recycle 70 per cent of all waste, making this year’s event their most eco-friendly to date.
Dogstival 2024 leads the pack as having the most ‘have a go’ activities than any other doggy festival in the UK.
From flyball, agility, a Scurry Village, Barkour and scent work, through to diving and splash pools, Dogstival will be bursting with all manner of dog sports for both newbies and seasoned veterans.
Spectators will also be treated to displays of top canine tricks and games, as well as the ultimate challenge of scent work and agility from working dogs from the police, search and rescue, who will battle it out to be top dog.
Dogstival Co-Founder Richard Nowell said: “With Dogstival held in the heart of the New Forest National Park and as residents, we are aware how important it is to deliver the festival as sustainably as possible.
"The events industry has been guilty of generating a lot of waste and inviting 10,000 people to a large field requires a lot of temporary power.
"So, we’ve put in place a range of initiatives to cut our carbon emissions and a robust process of recycling all waste, which goes through three layers of ‘sorting’ before any final non-recyclable waste goes to a ‘waste to energy’ plant. I believe this puts Dogstival towards the top bracket of the sustainable festivals in the UK.”
While the visiting dogs are the VIPs of the weekend, Dogstival also ensures that all the fun is paid-forward too, by helping showcase the work and raise funds for charities such as Pets As Therapy and Dogs Trust, who will have their Rehoming Village at the event.
Tickets are priced from £18 adults, and from £10 for ages 6-16years, under fives go free. Weekend tickets also available. For more information and tickets, go to Dogstival.co.uk.
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