Sustainability is at the heart

Swanage Carnival provides free and low cost fun that all can enjoy – a much-needed resources for families trying to stretch limited budgets.

With activities and entertainment for all ages and abilities, Swanage Carnival aims to be inclusive to all, with groups of people coming together in the celebration of this volunteer-run community event.

In addition to providing fun for residents and visitors, Swanage Carnival also raises  funds for local charities.  In 2025, over £41,000 was donated to 20 different local charities.  Funding raised from carnival donations supports local charities of many types, including those helping disabled people, youth projects, and community support projects.  Distribution of funding from Swanage carnival has been a lifeline for many local groups whose continuation has been assisted thanks to the generous donations from carnival visitors.

The carnival uses a grassed area in Swanage town centre (Sandpit Field), accessible via public streets.  This setting specifically reduces potential damage to environmentally sensitive areas.  It does not disturb nesting, natural habitats, nor areas with special flora and fauna.  Visitors travel to events associated with the carnival via public streets and footpaths, that do not adversely impact on the environment.

Every year, thousands of visitors come to Swanage to enjoy Swanage Carnival’s events.  Money is spent in local hotels, campsites, guest houses, shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and pubs. thereby supporting and sustaining the local economy.  Many local businesses engage in sponsorship and advertising with Swanage Carnival, enabling us to keep events free-of-charge, or with only minimal entry fees.

Swanage Carnival further supports sustainability in the local community by sourcing materials as much as possible from local businesses, and selecting traders who use the carnival site in Sandpit Field from the Purbeck area.   Not only does this help the local economy, it also reduces our carbon footprint and improves efficiency within  carnival processes.

Swanage Carnival volunteers put environmental sustainability at the heart of all our activities.  Reusable cups have been used for bar drinks since 2019, saving 35,000 plastics disposals every year.  Water taps are provided on Sandpit Field for visitors, traders and volunteers to fill their own re-usable water bottles, which represents a further saving in plastics.

Trophies are re-used, with just the winners’ names being engraved each year.  Medals are made from wood.  Consumables for events are carefully packed away at the end of each carnival and re-used the following year.  Posters and event notices are fixed with reusable cable ties.

Events are designed to have a low environmental impact using available resources such as the sea, beach and local sports and recreation facilities.  Most activities are held daytime and outdoors, to minimise energy usage.

All waste is sorted for recycling into card/paper, metal, plastic and glass.  Only recyclable containers and packaging are used at the carnival bar and catering.  Residual waste is separated by volunteers for disposal.  In 2026 we will be trialing the use of Butt Boxes (to be supplied by Litter Free England) to reduce the impact of cigarette ends on the field.