Planet Purbeck Festival is going ahead this week thanks to an £18,000 donation from Talbot Village Trust.

Running until 26 September, the free-to-attend event taking place across the Purbeck area aims to increase awareness and encourage people to make more planet-conscious choices.

The grant has allowed Planet Purbeck to hire The Mowlem Theatre in Swanage as a main hub to host the festival, offering a plethora of free events and activities.

The donation has also provided funding for speakers and workers, promotional materials, equipment, expenses, and other essential resources. This has enabled Planet Purbeck to deliver its core mission of engaging the local community in taking action to protect the natural world around them.

Rob Waitt, main coordinator and co-founder of Planet Purbeck Festival, said: “I would like to thank Talbot Village Trust for making this festival happen. They have helped us fulfil our mission of engaging the whole community in protecting and enhancing our local environment and doing our bit to tackle climate change.”

Various activities for children and adults include workshops, talks, music and other activities to educate people on the planet’s natural beauty and how to combat climate change in the local area and beyond.

Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, 12th Earl of Shaftesbury and chairman of Talbot Village Trust, said: “We are avid supporters of the team at Planet Purbeck and what they are doing to help tackle the climate crisis. It’s crucial to make these educational resources accessible to everyone so we can all do our best to protect the planet, and that is exactly what this festival has achieved. I anticipate many great things to come in the future from the whole team.”

Planet Purbeck Festival is a free event, with no need for prior booking. For a full schedule of what’s on, please visit: www.planetpurbeck.org/festival-timetable

To apply for funding from the Talbot Village trust, visit www.talbotvillagetrust.org to submit an online application.