Thanks to everyone who has already got in touch about 2020 memberships. Please remember that you have until 17th May (this Sunday!) to let us know what you’d like to do with your 2020 membership - any Nestlings missing this deadline, will have their memberships rolled over until next Nest. Please check your details carefully when completing this form - log in to your Quicket account to make sure you are using the same email address as your registration, and include your parking pass, if you opted for one.
We have already refunded some of our 2020 memberships, but we aim to have the rest completed by 31st May. If you have any questions or issues filling in the form, please get in touch.
We still have a few Nestlings who haven't contacted us about their memberships - let everyone who might miss this email know that time is running out! Some figures for you:
We also wanted to thank everyone who has left a comment or note when contacting us about 2020 memberships - we've received so many messages of love and support, it reminds us just what an awesome community we have. We love you all 💖
Hello, our gorgeous, lovely, and hopefully healthy Nestlings!
If there's one thing we've learned since the pandemic crisis started in the last few months, it's that nothing seems to dampen the creative and caring spirit of our little community. Since we had to make the heartbreaking announcement that we could not hold our usual celebration this year, we've received messages of support, love and empathy with our difficult position. It's a shared sadness - we look forward to meeting up with our friends every year so much!
Just because we're indoors for the time being though, doesn't mean we can't still have fun. It's with this in mind that we're holding Nest Online - a way of connecting with each other, holding our workshops, dance parties and communal activities, using the magic of video conferencing!
We can't do it without YOU though! Do you have an idea for a workshop, or a burning desire to dance like no-one's watching? Or would you like to support people in making their dreams come true - maybe you're a technical whizz, or can help co-create something from afar?
If so, follow the link above to our Facebook event, where you can register your event (we've got to make sure we don't have too many scheduling clashes!) and see what's going on.
This decision was not taken lightly and with the principle of Civic Responsibility in mind and in light of the unfolding coronavirus situation, we have taken the pre-emptive step and incredibly tough decision to hold off running our event in 2020.
We have our community’s best interests at heart and feel it is our duty of care to protect our Nestlings from large scale gatherings. While the UK government has not yet officially curtailed these events, we believe it is only a matter of time before they follow suit.
I've bought a membership and want a refund - what do I do?
Although our terms and conditions state that memberships are non-refundable we will be doing everything in our power to return as much as possible back to you. Given the complexities of an event this size and the fact we’re a community and volunteer organisation, please be patient whilst we navigate the best way to deal with this unprecedented situation. We will be releasing further information about this in the next week or so.
I have applied for a grant for an art project or theme camp to bring to Nest - what do I do?
Rest assured that if you have already spent grant money on an art piece, we will be reimbursing your costs as normal. We wish we could have seen all your art and hope that you can still create it for 2021.
We want to assure you that all your amazing work, time and investment whether it be physical, emotional or financial will not be going to waste. We will be back in 2021 and we hope that coming through this difficult time as a community will just serve to make us stronger and bring us closer together.
Burning Nest is a beautiful experiment in community and we will continue as one. There are many things more important than a Burn, namely everyone’s health, and safety (in spite of what we may often repeat) comes first.
This could be a wonderful time to reflect and think about other important things in your life, where else to invest the energies we'd have exerted in preparation and during the Burn. We might want to invest them in ourselves, loved ones, friends, charities, local projects or getting things done that you've been putting off for ages. Even learning a new skill or reading the book you've been meaning to for ages. Please remember to be kind and compassionate to yourselves and fellow humans as we need it more than ever right now.
Great communities thrive whilst coming together during times of crisis and I know that our wonderful Nestlings will do just that.
Thank you all for understanding - we are really sad to have to make this decision.
We will be releasing more information in the next week or so, but in the meantime, if you have any questions, please email us or contact us on any of our social media networks.
We've been keeping an eye on the latest developments regarding COVID-19, or Coronavirus. Today, the UK government has announced that they are moving into the "Delay" phase of containment, to protect the public.
What does this mean for Burning Nest?
Based on advice from Public Health England, Nest will be going ahead as planned. Obviously this is an evolving public health situation and we will be regularly reassessing and updating the community. We will be continuing to sell memberships (our next wave will be available on Sunday 15th March at 11am) and plan for the event we all love. We will be monitoring the news for any announcements regarding large gatherings, and we will keep you updated of any developments via our usual channels of Carrier Pigeon email, Facebook and Twitter.
What extra measures will be taken at the event to keep us safe?
We will be providing extra hand-washing and sanitisation stations, to help all of us keep on top of cleanliness. Radical Self-Reliance is still one of our core principles, but we will also do everything we can to keep everyone safe. Our on-site paramedics have received Coronavirus-specific training as well, to help us identify and handle any issues that masy arise at the event itself.
What happens if Nest is cancelled?
If UK-wide measures are taken that mean we are unable to hold Burning Nest in 2020 and must cancel, we will be issuing partial refunds to all members, as our funds allow. Nest is not run for profit - all the membership sales go towards producing the event itself, and some non-refundable payments (such as the site deposit and insurance) have already been paid. However we will endeavour to refund as much as possible back to our members - after all, everyone running Nest, also bought their own ticket!
Is there anything I can do now?
Keep yourselves safe and healthy! There is plenty of information online, regarding ways to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Please follow this advice, and avoid risks where possible.
Finally - remember your own communities, at a time when people may be scared or worried about the future. Check on your neighbours, and try not to hoard supplies if you can really help it. With a bit of communal effort and a lot of common sense, we'll see each other back in the Glade in no time.
If you have any questions at all, please reply to this email or get in touch with us on any of our social networks. We will reply as soon as we are able - please remember that all of us are volunteers with full-time jobs too!
The Build and Strike teams are the handy-dandy do-it-yourself stars of each Burning Nest. They arrive before everyone else and help create our paradise, and leave after everyone has finished partying, taking the decorations down and turning the lights off.
There's something special about these teams, and the sense of camaraderie shared by everyone is palpable. Are you good with a saw, a drill or planning decor in a large space? Do you yearn to express your inner artist through the medium of string lighting? Or do you want to provide for people who have been grafting all day, by feeding and watering them lovingly?
Our last Community Meeting was a great success, with many newbies and old...bies? (ahem) meeting up and discussing their ideas for the future of Burning Nest.
Want to get involved? Our next Community Meeting is going to be held on 28th March, at 26 King's Mews, London, WC1N 2JB (map link here).
Please plan to arrive for mingling at 2.30pm, with the meeting starting just before 3pm. We hope to be all wrapped up and out by 4.30pm (although there are plenty of nice pubs close by, if you want to continue the fun).
Bring snacks to share, drinks (hot and cold) and get comfy with your fellow Nestlings!
Communal Effort is one of our 11 Principles here at Burning Nest. This can take many forms (and let's be honest, our event wouldn't exist without it), but one of our favourites is the way our community bands together to solve a common goal.
This year, one of our stars, Iona, has volunteered to co-ordinate a communal fruit and veg order from Riverford Farm, a veg box company located near our site in Exeter.
This will mean a lot less driving on and off site, as we will be getting a delivery at the beginning of the week and one in the middle.
If you'd like to join in on this community-organised initiative, please do the following:
Put your name at the top of a new column. If you are requesting two deliveries, create two columns and name them appropriately
Specify the quantity in KGs or Grams or Units, of the item you'd like, in the correct box in the column
When you have selected everything you'd like, use the Unit Prices for each item to calculate your total cost, and enter it at the bottom of the column in the "Total Cost Of Your Order" row
Please transfer via Paypal, the total amount to Iona at Iona.steen@googlemail.com. Remember to select "Friends and Family" so that Iona does not get charged extra for providing this service!If you'd prefer to send your payment as a "Payment For Goods and Services", please add on 3.4% + 20p, so that your total amount does not fall short.
Last orders are Monday 11th May - so get started nice and early!
If you have any questions about the service at all, please contact Iona directly!
We're sure you'll have realised by now: we love to burn things, here at Nest. It's in our nature. It's in our name! But what are the Temple and Effigy burns, and how are they different?
2019's Temple Burn
The first Burning Man event was a group of just 36 people, on a San Francisco beach. Larry Harvey called his friend Jerry James, and told him he wanted to burn a man on the summer solstice. So they constructed a man from wood, doused it in gasoline, and set it alight. The Burning Man event has grown from 36 to 70,000 participants each year, but the central event remains the same.
At Burning Nest, we traditionally have two burns, usually held on the Saturday and Sunday at the end of the event.
2017's Temple Burn
Effigy Burn
The Effigy Burn is a celebration of life - a party, usually accompanied by dancing, performance, music and excitement. Past Effigies have consisted of pyramids, rockets and, of course, a man. It's usually held on a Saturday evening, just as it's getting dark - and is usually followed by our last big night of partying!
Temple Burn
The Temple Burn is a time for reflection, and quiet contemplation. We use the Temple Burn as a chance to look back on everything we've learned and experienced this year, and to prepare for our trip back to the default world. That's not to say it's sad - this time can be very spiritual and healing - people often write messages and wishes on the Temple, to be burned away.
We need your help!
If all of this has sparked a fire of inspiration inside you, then we need your help! We need help creating and realising both burns this year - could this be you? Get in touch with art@burningnest.co.uk if so, or fill in this handy application form (we really do love a form) x
You may have heard your fellow nestlings talking about the Edge of Chaos team. But what is it, and what do they do?
Edge of Chaos (or EOC) are the Nestlings who ensure that our great plans, for structures, activities or workshops, are safe and comply with local rules. While the Burn is a great opportunity to do new and exciting things, we still have to operate in the default world - and as such, EOC ensure we're kept safe and sound.
If this sounds like something you might like to join in with, lucky for you! The EOC are currently looking for new volunteers! Check out this document for more in-depth details, and email vols@burningnest.co.uk to sign up, or for more information!
Are you planning a theme camp or art installation? Not been to Burning Nest before, but want to see the lay of the land?
Why not join us at our site visit on 22nd February, where we have a wander around the Nest site? Meet fellow Nestlings ahead of time, share some lunch, maybe a few pints, all in the Exeter countryside!
We will be meeting at the Nest site (precise directions will be emailed to all interested parties) at 12 noon on Saturday 22nd February. We'd recommend getting to Newton Abbot in Exeter for 11.30am - more details of where to meet will be sent out.
How to get involved with this fantabulous site visit? Just email vols@burningnest.co.uk to be added to our list!
