The Isle of Wight Festival is among the first of this year’s festivals to win the 2009 A Greener Festival Award and in doing so get’s a special mention from co-founder of the environmental group, Ben Challis for their inspiring eco initiatives.The award comes in the second year of the festivals Eco Action plan devised by the environmental consultancy Eco Action Partnership, who were employed by festival promoter John Giddings in 2008.

EAP have since focused on the three main negative impacts of any festival, which are Energy, Waste and Travel as well as launching their own environmental campaign Give Bees a Chance, in association with their local charity partner Gift to Nature, in the hope of providing a lasting positive impact for the island.

Juliet Ross-Kelly, Joint Director of Eco Action Partnership said: "To be recognised for our work in only the second year of the five year plan we are working towards for the Isle of Wight Festival is absolutely amazing and with the ongoing support of promoter John Giddings we will be able to improve on our achievements."

Festival Promoter, John Giddings adds: "We are proud the festival has been recognised in this way and would like to thank Eco Action Partnership for all their hard work in achieving this. Next year we intend to develop the programme even further."

A Greener Festival launched the award scheme 3 years ago to encourage festival organisers to do as much as they can to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. It is based on a 56-point checklist which covers green office policies, energy use and carbon reduction, travel and transport, support for green initiatives, waste management, recycling, water use and environmental protection and noise pollution. The award scheme has a team of environmental auditors who visit the festivals to assess environmental good practice and effective green policies.

Ben Challis, co-founder of A Greener Festival comments "our auditors have noticed that more and more festivals are starting to work with the audience to promote sustainable lifestyles – the team that came back from the Isle of Wight Festival raved about the really clever initiatives there"

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