The Secret Garden Party reveal their The Gardeners Guide To The Galaxy theme

By Scott Williams | Published: Tue 3rd Nov 2015

around the festival site (paint fight)

Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th July 2016
Mill Hill Field, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE28 2PH, England MAP
£180 adult weekend (+booking fee)
Daily capacity: 32,000
Last updated: Wed 29th Jun 2016

The Arts & Expression theme for next year's The Secret Garden Party has been announced as "The Gardeners Guide To The Galaxy" for the event which happens from  Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th July 2016 at Mill Hill Field, Abbots Ripton, in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

Head Gardener, Fred Fellowes explains the thinking behind 2016's Arts & Expression theme saying, "Explore the world of Science Fiction and imagine a new garden out of the old.

Using the inspiration of Arthur C Clarke, Azimov, Philip K Dick and Douglas Adams we are going to grow our imaginations from childish roots up into something more.

But in selecting the protocols for this mission we looked back not forward.

In 1889 a convention of the ‘gentlemen of the road’ came up with, and ratified by vote, a version of the following, they called it the Hobo Code.

We’ve called it The Gardeners Guide To The Galaxy:

Decide your own life, don't let another person run or rule you.
Behave honourably at all times and respect the local law and officials.
Do not take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation.
Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for the treatment of other Gardeners.
Always respect nature, do not leave rubbish where you are playing.
You are in a community, pitch in and help.
Try to stay clean.
If you haven't come to learn, come to teach.
When traveling, take your trip respectfully, take no personal chances & cause no problems.
Do not allow other Gardeners to harm anyone, expose all abusers to authorities. People who intentionally cause harm to others are the worst people to infest any society.
Help all who are lost, and try to induce them to return home.
Look after your fellow Gardeners whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday.
Spread love.

This is a serious party."

To help those Gardeners, who prefer to spread the cost of their tickets, there are two types of instalment plans now available for adult tickets.There's also a coach deposit scheme - pay just £10 now to secure coach travel. Coaches operated from 19 locations direct to the Official coach park destination.

buy tickets now >

Tickets sell out each year and expect this year to be no exception.  Tickets are priced at £180. A teen ticket is priced at £135, children aged under 12 years can attend for free, a campervan pass is priced at £60, and dog passes (limited numbers) were also available. Prices do not include booking fees.

Since it's beginning in 2003, the Secret Garden Party has grown organically with an ethos of fun, friendliness, creativity and participation. Inspired by the original ethos of Glastonbury and Burning Man. The Secret Garden Party's, founder Head Gardener, aka Fred Fellowes, has succeeded in placing his own particular and idiosyncratic stamp on this event, making it quite unlike anywhere else in existence. His vision, commitment and enthusiasm conitnue to bring artistic communities together.




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