Words//Dani Bursill
Twitter//@soultrxppin
Twitter//@soultrxppin
Never been to the Secret Garden Party before? Or you attended one year but had such an out-of-body experience that you've totally forgotten what you’ll need to bring? Even if you think you've visited enough festivals to be at one with the ‘essentials’, when it comes to SGP, you can think again. A weekend of twisted fantasises prides itself on its sense of unpredictability; because you never know just what’s through the adjacent portaloo. That’s why we compiled a guide of the top tips to bear in mind when calling the whirl of psychedelia your home for 4 days and 4 nights.
Glitter
If you don’t wear glitter, nobody can see you. Or so it seems, anyway. Be glutinous with the glitter. Be extortionate. Plaster yourself. Bathe in all its glory.
But remember: At least make sure you’ve got glitter, because if you’ve got glitter, you’ve got everything you need.
If you don’t wear glitter, nobody can see you. Or so it seems, anyway. Be glutinous with the glitter. Be extortionate. Plaster yourself. Bathe in all its glory.
But remember: At least make sure you’ve got glitter, because if you’ve got glitter, you’ve got everything you need.
The Brighter, the Better?
‘The brighter, the better’ it would appear is one of the clear thoughts running through the majority of the gardeners’ minds. Neon face paint? Smudge it on. Spandex wetsuit? Slip into it. Skin-tight leggings? It’d be rude not to.
‘The brighter, the better’ it would appear is one of the clear thoughts running through the majority of the gardeners’ minds. Neon face paint? Smudge it on. Spandex wetsuit? Slip into it. Skin-tight leggings? It’d be rude not to.
Everyone Takes Well to Fancy Dress
Spirits are at their highest on Saturday, when a strong 70% of people drape themselves in capes and stick on fairy wings in an attempt to feel at one with the Secret Garden Party theme, which happened to be ‘Childish Things’ this year. Take a trip through the arena and see just how many Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles you can spot. We dare you.
Spirits are at their highest on Saturday, when a strong 70% of people drape themselves in capes and stick on fairy wings in an attempt to feel at one with the Secret Garden Party theme, which happened to be ‘Childish Things’ this year. Take a trip through the arena and see just how many Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles you can spot. We dare you.
Clothes Aren’t Compulsory
You can free your inner-fairy and run around like the bare-bum sprite that you are. Nobody cares. Anything goes. Wear as much or as little as you like. There will be people parading around in giant penis outfits, so you may as well let your little friend flop freely.
You can free your inner-fairy and run around like the bare-bum sprite that you are. Nobody cares. Anything goes. Wear as much or as little as you like. There will be people parading around in giant penis outfits, so you may as well let your little friend flop freely.
Rainmacs
Whether you buy-out Poundland’s entire capacity of disposable rainmacs, or head to eBay for something a little more durable and in-theme with the festival, a waterproof is always 100% necessary. This may sound like a primary school newsletter, but you should ensure that you bring a waterproof and wear sensible footwear. Otherwise the festival will destroy you when the Cambridgeshire countryside sends Mother Nature to party in the garden.
Whether you buy-out Poundland’s entire capacity of disposable rainmacs, or head to eBay for something a little more durable and in-theme with the festival, a waterproof is always 100% necessary. This may sound like a primary school newsletter, but you should ensure that you bring a waterproof and wear sensible footwear. Otherwise the festival will destroy you when the Cambridgeshire countryside sends Mother Nature to party in the garden.
Sunscreen
The British weather may not always be blazing, but do you really want to risk the chance of getting burnt? A little bit of sun is all it takes to leave you wailing alone in your tent feeling sorry for yourself, gasping for water because you've drunk too much and you’re dehydrated. Don’t be that person.
The British weather may not always be blazing, but do you really want to risk the chance of getting burnt? A little bit of sun is all it takes to leave you wailing alone in your tent feeling sorry for yourself, gasping for water because you've drunk too much and you’re dehydrated. Don’t be that person.
Pampering
Head down to The Sanctuary and splash out in the spa. If Thursday night’s antics were a bit too much for your head to comprehend on the Friday morning, book yourself in for a beauty treatment that will make you glow, or maybe even get you hair temporarily dyed for the weekend. Sport a new do, go to new extremes.
Head down to The Sanctuary and splash out in the spa. If Thursday night’s antics were a bit too much for your head to comprehend on the Friday morning, book yourself in for a beauty treatment that will make you glow, or maybe even get you hair temporarily dyed for the weekend. Sport a new do, go to new extremes.
Plastic Bags and Cups? There’s Never Enough
Haven’t got the time or energy to traipse across the campsite to join a 40-minute queue for an overpriced shower? Plastic bags and cups can’t shower you, but they do come in handy for other things. Cups are great to use as a make-do sink and bags are great for shoving muddy clothes in. Use your imagination; the list is endless.
Haven’t got the time or energy to traipse across the campsite to join a 40-minute queue for an overpriced shower? Plastic bags and cups can’t shower you, but they do come in handy for other things. Cups are great to use as a make-do sink and bags are great for shoving muddy clothes in. Use your imagination; the list is endless.
Wellies
Don’t start the ‘but they don’t match of any of the outfits I’ve planned’ whine, because you’ll feel like a dickhead when the site becomes swamped under a foot of mud after it’s rained all day. Wellies will become your new found love; they’ll shelter your striders in a defence against trench foot, because yes, it does get that muddy when it pours for a whole day straight.
Don’t start the ‘but they don’t match of any of the outfits I’ve planned’ whine, because you’ll feel like a dickhead when the site becomes swamped under a foot of mud after it’s rained all day. Wellies will become your new found love; they’ll shelter your striders in a defence against trench foot, because yes, it does get that muddy when it pours for a whole day straight.
Extra Socks
This sounds like a tip your mum would give you, but if we’re honest, she’s right. Taking the socks:days ratio as an actual thing would be an incredibly stupid mistake to make. You’ll soon know once it rains and the site becomes a swamp. And yes, there will probably be someone dressed up as Shrek running around.
This sounds like a tip your mum would give you, but if we’re honest, she’s right. Taking the socks:days ratio as an actual thing would be an incredibly stupid mistake to make. You’ll soon know once it rains and the site becomes a swamp. And yes, there will probably be someone dressed up as Shrek running around.
Ditch the Phone for a Disposable Camera
Get off Instagram. All your followers know where you are; they saw your car selfies. Swap your IPhone for a Kodak, seeing as you’ll want to capture a few whacky moments the festival offers you. Plus, there is little signal around the site – there’s more chance of accidentally snorting cocaine than being able to make a call throughout the duration of the festival.
Get off Instagram. All your followers know where you are; they saw your car selfies. Swap your IPhone for a Kodak, seeing as you’ll want to capture a few whacky moments the festival offers you. Plus, there is little signal around the site – there’s more chance of accidentally snorting cocaine than being able to make a call throughout the duration of the festival.
Don’t Be Stingy with Days Off Work
You’ll need at least 24 hours to feel slightly human again, but you’ll probably need a good 2 days to scrub the glitter out of your eyebrows. Saying that, it’ll probably still be sat in your hairline for about a week after.
You’ll need at least 24 hours to feel slightly human again, but you’ll probably need a good 2 days to scrub the glitter out of your eyebrows. Saying that, it’ll probably still be sat in your hairline for about a week after.
Photos by Gemma Ross