After the music stops the clean-up begins

Graced by good weather, the festival ended the summer on a high, celebrating music, art and community.

Audiences from around the world tuned into the charity event through a live-stream, which was a first for the event.

Vale Earth Fair Collective member Jade Kershaw said: ‘Our live-stream was in two parts, so we’re not sure on numbers but saw 5,000 tuned in at one point. People watched from all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Tenerife and Paris. If Magic Moustache Records want to do the stage again we’d have them back – it gave a great dynamic and was really striking.’

The event itself sold out.

‘We hit capacity for tickets before 7pm, and at that point had to stop selling tickets on the door to honour our pre-sales.’

As one of the few festivals to go ahead in Europe without social distancing, the event attracted interest from national outlets, including the BBC and the NME online.

Volunteers have had early starts since Monday morning ensuring the castle is left cleaner than before the festival.

‘It’s been 12-hour days, starting before 9.30am for clean-up. We still need to do bits if anyone wants to help before Thursday. Our hands are the litter sorters, so we’re all stood by a huge bit of wood going into different bins.’

Usually there are more volunteers helping to set up than clean up.

‘Normally there’s 10 to 15 people at a time clearing up. It’s hard work on the Monday but we had a fair few people pitch in for an hour.’

Bins were emptied throughout the day and portable ashtrays were available.

‘This year has been better for litter than previous years. People are more conscious now, there has been a shift in social dynamics. I don’t know anyone who would feel comfortable putting something on the floor.

‘We can’t even estimate how much was left over, but the majority is recyclable tin and plastic, with no glass – which is why we do our bag checks.’

Total donations for Free Tibet, Burma Campaign and Safer Guernsey will be counted on Wednesday, and are expected to be high.

‘We sold out at the bars far too early. St James did a quick run to their stock rooms and brought an extra 25 crates of beer, which was a mission carrying them up the crowded hill. We sold an awful lot on the Collective’s bars, door and food tents, which all goes in the same pot for charity.’

Some stalls are not Collective-run.

‘The Collective are really thankful to everyone who attended, volunteered their time, and the bars, foods, and bands. A massive thank you to all involved – without you there would be no Earth Fair.

‘We are completely reliant on community spirit, as a not-for-profit, non-corporate, no sponsorship event. So it’s all down to people chipping in because they love the festival, and want to help out.’

Next up for VEF Collective members is the Rocquaine Regatta and Channel Islands Pride.

• If anybody would like to help clear up, visit Vale Castle on today or Thursday.