The countryside is a wonderful place, and it can be a peaceful place where cows graze in green fields, tractors trundle along country lanes and people in flat caps nod in greeting as they pass in the village. But this is just some of the time.
In many rural spots there is loads going on, and plenty of events. Events from horse trials to music festivals take place regularly in the countryside, bringing usually quiet spots to life and bringing in scores of people.
Events are run by sports clubs, charities, corporations and organisations of all kinds, but there are some things you need to know and tips to consider if you are considering planning a rural happening of some sort.
So (to get to the point), here are some top tips for planning a rural event:
Set a date
Planning any event requires some discipline and the best way to force you and your team to get things moving is to set a date. Be realistic but set it in stone and announce it publicly so that there is no temptation to procrastinate.
Choose an event committee
Whether you are part of a business events team or a local sports club it is important to choose a committee. Give people clear responsibilities and a timeline of when things need to be done by. Try not to make the committee too big and if possible select people who get on and work together well.
Set out your goals
Set out milestones but more importantly your main goals for running the event. Goals can differ widely from raising money for charity to giving marketing exposure to a business or hosting a sporting contest.
Collect funds/sell tickets
Don’t forget to get the money coming in! As early as is justifiable start collecting money and funds or selling tickets, because running a great event in the country will inevitably cost a few quid.
Consider the lay of your land
The problem with an event site in the countryside is that the ground can be, well, a bit wonky. Your site may be beautiful, with rolling hills, woods and lakes, but if you have hundreds of thousands of people roaming around you will have to do something to make life easier for them. This might require things like the temporary bridges that Groundforce make, and walkways which come in very handy if it rains – which in the UK countryside is pretty likely.
This is an essential guide to get things moving, so start thinking about the details, goals and layout of your countryside event, and good luck!
Photo credit: David Catchall / Flickr
