Wye Valley River Festival 2014
It is proposed that the Wye Valley AONB and partners organise a Wye Valley River Festival to run from Hay to Chepstow over one week in 2014
Provisional aims of the festival are:
· To promote the profile of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as a premier destination, encouraging visitors to visit more frequently, and stay longer on their visit .
· To develop a nationally recognised Bi Annual Festival to add to the regular diary of events for the Wye Valley.
· To provide a platform for local groups, clubs, charities and youth organisations
· To engage in village community activities along the River Wye and to raise the profile of each village or town.
· To promote the River Wye and the benefit it brings to both the local community
· and visitors from further afield and to recognise the special qualities of the River environs and all the activities that take place along its course.
· To work with local partners, local organisations and businesses to
promote the River Festival in preparation for the 2014 celebrations
· To put organisational procedures in place to ensure sustainability of the festival.
· To encourage local schools and colleges to take part in the River Festival.
· To encourage volunteer involvement in the event organization
· To encourage sponsorship and promotion of the event by local business
It is envisaged that the River Festival start up at the first weekend in Hay and Hereford then go down along the Wye with events going on throughout the week. Midweek the Festival would concentrate on Ross on Wye then continue on until the finishing event in Chepstow.
It is hoped that the annual events such as Raft Races could be incorporated within the event. To enable this to happen the dates must be carefully negotiated to avoid clashes with events already planned and would not be part of the River Festival
Proposed Partners
The River Wye Preservation Trust
Monmouthshire Disrtict Council
Herefordshire Council
Forest of Dean District Council
Parish Councils
Town Councils
Community Councils
Environment Agency
Wye and Usk Foundation
Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission Wales
Visit Herefordshire
Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Tourism Association
Wildlife Trusts
RSPB
Canoe Providers
Local Fisheries
Other Organizations and Groups
Arts Organisations
Primary and Secondary Schools
Colleges
Charitable Organisations
Lions Groups from each area
Rotary Clubs “ ”
Walking Groups “ “
There are many more groups who could be involved as the project expands.
Themes
It is proposed that a theme is used for the River Festival which would run through the events and give a relevant cohesion to the event.
Funding
It is proposed that a feasibility study be carried out to determine the costings and support for the event. The results evidence would then be used to apply for relevant grants.
Annual Events on the River
Monmouth Raft race – September
Monmouth Regatta - ~May
Monmouth Show – Last Thursday August
Hereford regatta – August
Ross Regatta – August
Hereford River festival – August Bank Holiday One Day festival
Bank and Public Holidays 2014
Good Friday April 18
Easter Monday April 21
Early May Bank HolidayMay 5
Spring Bank Holiday May 26
Summer Bank Holiday August 25
Please contact me to either get more information or to let me have your contact details if you feel your group or organisation would wish to be involved.
Initial contact: Nikki Moore, Wye Valley AONB, Hadnock Road, Monmouth, NP25 3NG Tel: 01600 710846 or email