Nestled near Worcester in the spectacular setting of the Malvern Hills, Green & Away is a charity-owned, outdoor space run entirely by volunteers. The idea is pretty simple: They provide the location – complete with a range of accommodation options, marquees, a bar, kitchen and communal spaces – and you provide the ideas. Whether it’s a mini-festival bash, an outdoor wedding, a corporate gathering or any other event, the Green & Away team will work with you to establish the perfect set up. From then on in it’s up to you to have a good time.
The site itself is composed of an ever changing mix of facilities, with extra tents added for different events and communal spaces varying depending on the occasion. But at its core the 150-capacity meadow has a few steady constants. In the centre a main marquee provides the largest space, where guests can meet and work, while various breakout areas are provided in eco-friendly, low-impact structures, designed to be temporary and leaving the meadow seemingly untouched when the summer ends. There’s a yurt with a canvas outer layer for waterproofing and a central wood-burning stove – the ideal place for tea and talking – and a licensed bar inside a home-made wooden structure, complete with a snug and another wood burner. There’s also a covered children’s area, a craft and workshop tent and the site’s own mini power station, where solar panels power the lighting of the ‘village green’ area and the public structures.
Camping-wise there really is something for everyone. You can bring your own tent, hire one of their own on-site, or pluck for one of the more glamorous options – classic canvas bell tents comfortably equipped with a rug, chairs, camp beds and bedding, or a wood-framed canvas yurt, fully equipped for your stay. All the bookings include breakfast, lunch and dinner expertly cooked with as much locally-sourced produce as they can find, vegetarian and almost always organic.
Overall, the place exudes a real sense of community. It’s green, eco-conscious and generally ‘world-friendly’ but without any sense of smugness or self-aggrandising. Whatever event it is you choose to organise you’re guaranteed a host of helpful, smiling faces and a band of volunteers committed to making your event even better than the last. And you can’t ask for much more than that now can you?
