Access Statement for Summer Gathering 2025

Earth First! Access Statement Summer Gathering 2025

Intro

The Earth First! Summer Gathering 2025 will be held at Brithdir Mawr, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The closest train station is Fishguard Harbour or Fishguard and Goodwick.

This access statement is a work-in-progress. If you have any specific questions which are not covered in this document, or any access needs or requests, please don’t hesitate to email us. [earthfirstuk@riseup.net]

There will also be an drop-in session on Wednesday 6th where folks are invited to come along and chat to someone from the accessibility working group to ask any questions r.e access and site layout, and to work out how we can support each other during the gathering  Also, if you’d like to get involved in the accessibility working group, please come along to this session and make yourself known!

If you have any other questions or requests throughout the gathering, or are unable to make it to the drop-in, chat to the friendly folk on welcome desk.

This page is organised into 5 main sections:

  1. How it works has basic info about EF! and how gatherings are run.
  2. Before the gathering has important info about travelling to the gathering.
  3. Physical access describes the site and workshop spaces.
  4. During the gathering has various points of information about things like our arrangements for food and wellbeing, COVID, dogs, and other useful stuff.
  5. Kit list

We welcome feedback about how the gathering can be more accessible, equally if you have an offering to make the gathering more accessible, please get in touch.

How it works!

Earth First! Gatherings are a place for our movements and people to come together, meet one another, learn from one another, eat together, dance together, share ideas, knowledge and resources, and practice building the world we’d like to bring forth. They happen twice a year, although the Winter Moot tends to be calmer and smaller, allowing us to hunker down and reflect together.

We operate under an umbrella of shared values and understandings related to green anarchism. Largely, this means that we work to disrupt and overturn hierarchies of power, envisioning and building ways that we can exist together beyond hierarchical structures, and that we are committed to an ecological revolution. We are anti-capitalist, against all forms of oppression, and believe that the earth and all its beings exist in their own right, outside of their value to us as humans.

This year, the Animal Liberation Gathering will be happening alongside Earth First!, bringing anti-speciesism directly into conversations at EF!. We will share the site and learn together how to bring into practice a new world in which we are all free. 

Crucially, we are all human (if you’re reading this at least!) and none of us are ideologically pristine. Earth First! is a space of sharing knowledge and learning from one another. Respectful curiosity and discussion are welcome here; bigotry and dictatorship are not.

We are all crew!

Earth First! gatherings strive to operate under anarchist principles, and as a result we are all crew! 

What do we mean by this?

Earth First! and its gatherings belong to all those of us who feel aligned to its principles. No one is paid to be here; no one is ‘in charge’. All of the work which goes into the gatherings are done by people just like you! 

There are working groups who work together to put on the gathering, as well as a large number of people offering workshops, kitchen roles and wellbeing support across the few days. If you’d like to be involved in any of the above, talk to someone in the relevant group!

During the gathering itself, there are still many jobs to be done! Whether that’s helping out in the kitchen, cleaning or tidying the site or facilities, timekeeping, fixing something or just generally helping things run smoothly; everyone is needed to help the gatherings come together. If you see a job that needs doing, do it! If you’re not sure how, grab a friend or chat to someone who might know (such as someone on the Welcome Desk).

We are actively trying to move away from the idea of a ‘service economy’ – the notion that a small group are ‘putting on an event’ and a larger group are ‘attending the event’. At Earth First!, we are all putting on an event and we are all attending an event. We do this together, in whatever ways we are each able, and support one another to do what we can.

We are all crew!

Before the Gathering

There’s no need to pre-register or tell us that you’re coming – just show up!

Welcome Desk

Upon your arrival, please head to the welcome desk where you’ll be greeted by the lovely people who’ll give you key information like where to camp, where the toilets are, what time you’ll be fed and also answer any questions you might have. Importantly, it’s the welcome desk who count numbers for food, so if you don’t go via the welcome desk and let them know how long you’re staying, you won’t be counted into numbers for meals!

There will be printed programmes containing lots of the information in this document as well as other important things like the anti-oppression statement and a blank timetable. Because the schedule of workshops is subject to change, these will be written up on a board, so you can fill in your own schedule in your programme.

There will be a board with a list of tasks that need doing that you can sign up to at the welcome desk too. We know some folks find it easier to socialise and settle in if theres a task to do!

At the welcome desk you may want to mention if you have any access needs and whoever is at the desk will point you towards someone who can help you. There will be some folks available at the welcome desk who can show you around the site.

Costs

Earth First! runs on donations and we ask those who can to give towards running costs. We’d love to be living in a post-money society, but at the moment we rely on these donations to cover food at the gathering, and other costs such as buying and transporting kit.

Please bring cash! There will be a suggested donations guide at the Welcome Desk; this will be about £5 per day for food, plus a flat £10-50 for the site costs. If you are able to give more, please do (for example if you have regular disposable income or come from a financially comfortable background or are gonna inherit loads of dosh).

Equally, if you would struggle to pay the suggested donation price, do not feel pressure to do so; we firmly believe it is up to those who have more access to wealth to pay the way for those who do not.

Getting to the Gathering

The closest train station is Fishguard & Goodwick.

There will hopefully be shuttles from Fishguard to the EF! Site (assuming some car drivers offer to do this) or alternately you could get the bus part of the way then walk, or cycle. More travel information is available here

If you have a vehicle and are able to help us with shuttling, please get in touch. [earthfirstuk@riseup.net]

There is also a signal group chat for co-ordinating travel (e.g. lift-shares or public transport buddies) to and from the site. Please email us to join.

** Will there be parking on site??

Limited parking – please don’t bring a car unless you really need to, please don’t bring a car with empty seats or leave with empty seats!

**Biking?

The cycle from the train station to Brithdir Mawr is about an hour, or you can get a bus part of the way (to the Golden Lion Hotel in Newport) and then walk 40mins

** Will there be a wheelchair accessible shuttle this year?

Currently we don’t have this sorted, if you can offer this then please get in touch.

Site and Physical Access

Terrain

The gathering will be held across two large adjoining fields. Both fields are gently sloped, with some flatter ground towards one end. One of the fields is quite uneven / bumpy.

Key infrastructure (the workshop tents, toilets, water point, eating area) will be on the flatter part, and there will also be some camping space here for those who need it, although we expect most people will be camped further down the field. We will be asking people to self-allocate camping space depending on their own needs, please ask people if you’re unsure or need help finding a spot to camp.

We will also have access to some wooded area for hammocks.

We have 120m of rubberised track matting, which will be around the main area, connecting essential infrastructure.

Water

The site is usually spring-fed, and there are two taps on site. This spring is shared with neighbours so we will also be bringing our own IBC full of water, to ensure there will be enough water for us all throughout the gathering. Please be mindful how much water you’re using and don’t skimp on handwashing!!

If you are travelling by vehicle, you could also bring water to reduce the strain we will be putting on the spring.

Don’t forget to bring a water bottle!

Toilets, Sinks & Showers

We will be bring our own compost toilets which will have several steps.  We will also bring an accessible toilet of our own; this will be a chair with a toilet seat in a 3x3m gazebo, on a flat part of the site connected to the accessible trackway.

There are two plumbed-in sinks on the site, which are fed by the spring.

All facilities are gender neutral and we are all responsible for keeping them clean and tidy.

Workshop Spaces

The workshops will be held in large marquees on the field. There will be paths and track-matting between these. We will be able to open the sides of the marquees to allow for better ventilation, or to make more space for wheelchair users to get through.

During workshops, you are free to do what you need in order to be engaged and / or comfortable! Stimming, stretching, moving around, taking notes, fidget toys and whatever else are all welcome. You are also free to leave and come back as you wish.

Fires

Don’t start them! If you are travelling by vehicle please bring firewood if you can so we can have a communal fire in the evening.

Parking and Vehicles

There is a gravel road leading into the site, which leads into a gravel carpark and one of the fields. If you park in the field and get stuck it will be really annoying and time consuming to push you out!

Accommodation

We will be camping and you will need to bring a tent, sleeping bag, roll mat and whatever else you may need to be comfy.

If camping is a barrier to you coming, or you will be unable to bring the kit you need, get in touch with us and we will see if we can link you up with someone who could lend you kit/we can help you find alternative accomodation.

Kitchen

The kitchen will be a ‘camp kitchen’ set-up. It will be close to the workshops spaces, and connected by track matting.

Tell the welcome desk if you have any allergies. Allergens will be listed next to the food at mealtimes.

There will be plenty of opportunities to help in the kitchen, for example chopping veg or washing up, and this is a great way to get involved in the gathering if you’re not sure what other jobs to do! Sign-up for kitchen shifts will happen in the morning meeting.

You need to bring your own mug but not your own bowl/cuttlery/plate

Hygiene is really important when we are eating in big groups and hand washing is mandatory! Don’t be the person that gives us all dysentry xx

Food will be served three times a day, and all food at the gathering will be vegan (and therefore free of the major allergens crustaceans, milk, eggs, fish, and molluscs).

Because we won’t know how many people are attending the gathering, mealtimes might vary, but the aim is to serve breakfast between 8am and 9am (morning meeting will be at 9am), lunch between 1pm and 2pm, and dinner between 6pm and 8pm.

Food queues may be long – if you can’t stand for a long time then please push in the queue, or if you don’t feel comfortable doing tell someone at the welcome desk or in the kitchen and we will arrange someone to bring you food or for you to skip the queue.

There will be a vegan tuck shop run by Veggies and there will be teas and coffees available throughout the gathering. This will be set up under several gazebos. There will be pump-urns with hot water on 80cm high tables. You can volunteer to keep this area clean and tidy and keep the urns topped up during the gathering.

There will be alcoholic drinks available for cheap some evenings, and the money will go towards supporting the gathering. You are welcome to bring your own snacks, as long as they are vegan and don’t contain nuts. Please bring cash to pay for snacks and drinks!

During the Gathering

Quiet Space, Wellbeing and First Aid, and Caucus space

We will have a designated quiet tent on site, which everyone is welcome to use for quiet reflection, prayer or to take some time away from the parts of the gathering which can be loud or overwhelming. Please be aware of keeping the noise level low if you are near the quiet tent. There will also be ear plugs available from the wellbeing tent.

There will be a tent or marquee space held by the well-being collective. Anyone is welcome to use this space if they are feeling overwhelmed, struggling, or just need a quiet space to talk. The well-being collective will not have a constant presence in the well-being space, but will be roaming during the gathering incase you need – they will make themselves known at the morning meeting, or someone at the welcome desk can help you identify who they are!

The wellbeing team can help you if you are feeling unwell, struggling to make friends, or need someone to talk to but are not able to solve deep-seated and long-term conflicts between people. They can however support people to set boundaries or communicate needs to each other. If you would like to contact the wellbeing collective before the gathering then please email us on earthfirstuk@riseup.net to be put in touch.

We’ll also have a space set up for caucuses to use for sharing circles/caucus circles – these are spaces where people of shared identities can get together to discuss their experiences in the gathering, the wider movement, and the world. If an issue arises, it can be helpful to talk to people who have been through something similar. Anyone is welcome to organise a circle and put it onto the programme. The well-being group can help facilitate people forming sharing circles, so feel free to get in touch with them if you’d like some assistance. There’s some guidance about what they typically look like here: https://pad.riseup.net/p/ef!sharingcircles.

There will be first aiders on site and a first aid kit available at the welcome desk and at the wellbeing tent, and first aiders will be pointed out during the morning circle each day.

These spaces will be in the main field with the workshop spaces and will be signposted.

Kids’ Space

The kids’ space will be in a marquee, near to the other workshop spaces or in the woods. There will be activities for kids including fire starting, wide games, singing, crafts, (though young people are welcome at most other workshops!)

The kids’ space is not a creche and we encourage parents and caregivers to take responsibility for their kids and check in with them regularly. The kids space is facilitated by a mixed gender group and is run by teachers, parents and non-parents. If you want to hang out with kids at the gathering, please email us or go to the kids space to sign up on the rota.

COVID

EF! Recognises that COVID-19 presents an ongoing danger, particularly at large in-person gatherings. We are asking that everybody takes a covid test before arriving on-site, and does not attend if that test comes back positive. We will have masks available at the welcome desk too – because the gathering is outside the risk from COVID is reduced but we still encourage EF!ers to take precautions.

If you test positive while at the site then we will not just kick you out. We will try to find someone willing to drive you home and/or space to self isolate. If necessary, we will pay for transport and/or space to self isolate. We will make sure you are fed and hydrated!

Smoking & vaping

Please ask consent before smoking around other people at the gathering. Not everyone is comfortable to be around others who are smoking & vaping – for example some people have asthma or are trying to quit themselves. If you want to smoke/vape during a workshop you are attending, please step outside the marquee whilst you do so.

Dogs

Dogs are welcome at the gathering, please keep dogs on leads.

Wifi, Phones & Electricity

There is no wifi at the gathering, and we encourage everyone to leave their phone switched off and in their tent during workshops. This is both for security reasons and to enable us to connect more directly with others at the gathering.

We won’t have mains power and therefore will unfortunately not be able to offer charging facilities except for necessary devices (e.g. assistive technology, electric wheelchairs).

We are working on getting access to a fridge for storing medication that needs to be refrigerated. We will update this document when we have confirmed this. Please email us if you need access to a fridge

Wellbeing

In recognition that the gathering may not be an easy ride for everybody – whether that’s because of low mood or energy, conflict with other EF!ers, general rage at the cisheteropatriarchal colonial capitalist hellscape, or whatever else – the wellbeing collective are on hand to offer support. They are a small team of loving people, like you engaged in ecological resistance, who can lend an ear and a cuppa if you need someone to talk to or decompress with, be available if you have requests or concerns regarding the wellbeing of yourself or others, and help facilitate people in conflict to share space during the gathering.

On this, they are under no pretences that they can resolve long-standing conflict over the course of a weekend, nor is that their objective; their aim is to ensure that everybody (as far as is possible) feels comfortable at the gathering and is safe to attend. Please also reach out to us before the gathering if there is anything you’d like to raise in advance.

In their practices, they are informed by the principles of transformative justice, and reject a cancel culture which dehumanises us all. With this in mind, we request that people talk to someone from wellbeing if you are experiencing difficulty or discomfort with others at the gathering, so that they can support you through it without having to involve large numbers of other attendees.

We also encourage people to self-organise support where they feel it is necessary, or make suggestions to someone from wellbeing – for example, in the past, the well-being space has been used for independent trans circles, and BIPOC circles. Let the wellbeing collective know if you want to use the space for reasons such as this. They will make themselves known in the morning meetings.

Anti-Oppression Statement

Earth First! has an anti-oppression statement which we ask everyone coming to the gathering to read and follow. You can read the anti-oppression statement here: earthfirst.uk/solidarity-statement/

Have we missed something?

We know this statement might not have all of the information everyone needs. We know some folks may have access needs that clash or things that aren’t achievable when we have limited resources in a remote location. If we’ve missed something, or you have specific needs or questions, please get in touch.

Equally, if you have skills, ideas, or equipment to offer which might help make this gathering (or future EF! gatherings) more accessible, we’d love to hear from you too.

Contact us at earthfirstuk@riseup.net

What to bring with you

This list is incomplete, everyone’s needs and carrying capacity are different, hopefully it’s helpful…

  • Tent, sleeping bag, roll mat
  • A cup
  • Toiletries and medication
  • Eye mask and earplugs
  • Spare jumpers and blankets
  • Spare clothes
  • Waterproofs
  • Sun cream and insect repellant (e.g. cintronella essential oils)
  • Cash for snacks, donations, teas/coffees, food, booze, merch & zines
  • Charged battery pack
  • Firewood
  • Crafts
  • Musical instruments
  • Water bottle

See you soon!! <3