A volunteer has shared footage of the shocking state Bramham Park was left in by Leeds Festival-goers - despite organisers repeatedly encouraging people to respect the festival site.
The video shared on Twitter this afternoon, and now seen by more than three million people, shows field after field dotted with abandoned tents.
The footage also shows litter strewn all over the grass - often within the same frame as large bins left by festival organisers for people to use.
Of course, it's not out of the ordinary for festival sites to look a little worse-for-wear after so much activity (and Leeds Festival was a hive of live music over the bank holiday weekend). But volunteer Jack Lowe described it as 'littering on the grandest scale we’ve ever witnessed'.
He was there as part of a team from a charity who salvage camping equipment that's still in good condition, which is used to provide emergency shelter to refugees in France.
Jack posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: "It's going to take us a while to digest what we saw when we went to help salvage tents and equipment for a refugee charity at the end of Leeds Festival yesterday.
"This is just a fraction of it — littering on the grandest scale we’ve ever witnessed.
He added that there were 'thousands and thousands of tents and related equipment' left at Leeds Festival.
People have been blasting those who so carelessly and thoughtlessly left their possessions behind, despite the efforts of festival organisers to prevent scenes like those seen this week.
Leeds Festival installed recycling points and issued advice ahead of the festival (which was repeatedly pushed through the app to those on site). They said: "Did you know that the amount of plastic in a single tent is the equivalent of 8,750 plastic straws, or 250 pint cups? Say no to single use, take your tent home!
"Buy a durable tent that you can use again each year, it will save you money in the long run."
Jack also added: "It’s hard to convey the sheer scale of this. There are thousands of tents and associated paraphernalia.
A video shared by a volunteer shows the volume of tents and litter left behind at Leeds Festival. Credit: Twitter/X, Jack Lowe
"I’d say the volunteers manage to dismantle less than 1% of them.
"Many are damaged (some purposefully). Most will be scraped up and put into landfill."
Speaking at Leeds Festival on Saturday, Melvin Benn of Festival Republic told ITV News: "The message to festival goers all of the time is to try and look after the environment really.
"We work really hard on making sure that people recycle and take their belongings home with them.
"Most people do, some people don't. Some people are untidy and we have to tidy up after them."
Slam Dunk Festival is back with another belting lineup.
Slam Dunk, the UK's biggest independent rock festival, has unveiled its first wave of artists - and its a lineup to get very excited about.
Hot on the heels of a milestone 20th anniversary this summer, the festival kicks off with Bowling For Soup, Simple Plan, Killswitch Engage, Beartooth, Sleeping With Sirens, The Used and The Front Bottoms topping the bill.
This time, Slam Dunk is doing things a little bit differently, landing here in Leeds first at Temple Newsam on Saturday 29 May before closing the weekend at Hatfield Park on Sunday 30 May 2027.
Leading the festival are two of pop punk’s biggest festival favourites. Bowling For Soup return following a memorable 2023 appearance, whilst Simple Plan will be rotating headliners, returning to Slam Dunk after 8 years and whose debut album No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls also turns 25.
Elsewhere, ska-punk favourites Reel Big Fish return to Slam Dunk for an exclusive UK reunion show, Less Than Jake are also back on the bill, bringing more than three decades of anthems with them, while The Interrupters join a formidable ska-punk showing and Isle of Wight punks Grade 2 bring a dose of old-school punk to the bill.
And it doesn't stop there, with even more names still to be announced to the already star-studded lineup.
Pre-sale tickets are available via the Slam Dunk app for up to 48 hours (subject to availability) from 10am, Friday 2 October, with remaining tickets on sale from 10am on Monday 5 October through all other outlets. Get yours here.
BBC Introducing announces massive Leeds takeover celebrating the UK’s best emerging artists
Clementine Hall
BBC Introducing and Leeds promoter Futuresound have announced a city-wide takeover this November as part of their ‘Introducing Live’ event.
Taking place in ten towns and cities across the UK, Introducing Live will hit Leeds on Saturday 28 November and showcase some of the best emerging artists in the UK today.
Not only that, but it will be held in some of the city's most iconic independent music venues including The Wardrobe, Belgrave Music Hall and Oporto.
The 450-capacity venue The Wardrobe will be home to an 'Introducing on Radio 1' showcase featuring a packed programme including the Egyptian born, Manchester based alt-pop artist Nxdia, Lincolnshire indie-pop quintet Cherryholt, dark pop artist Precious Pepala, Scunthorpe singer-songwriter Will Parker and many more.
Meanwhile, over at Belgrave Music Hall, Emily Pilbeam from Introducing's Mixtape on 6 Music will showcase black country duo GANS, the local 7-piece project Group A.D., underground group holybones and more.
Oporto, famous for hosting some of the biggest names in music during the start of their careers, will host a dedicated 'Introducing Rock' takeover with Radio 1’s Alyx Holcombe, with a line-up featuring Nottingham-formed rock duo Alt Blk Era, goth-grunge alt group Venus Grrrls, indie-pop BRIT School alumna jo from school, post-hardcore band Hollow Bloom, and Sheffield-based electro-metalcore band DUSTHOUSE.
Joe Hubbard, promoter at Futuresound Group, said: “We’re really excited to be working with BBC Introducing to bring this event to Leeds, for the first time! It feels a very fitting partnership after our partnership on Live at Leeds together over the years.
"Between headliners Nxdia, Alt Blk Era, Gans and Jaguar, I feel there’s something for everyone. I’m also really proud of the local offering we’ve got, with strong representation from BBC Introducing Leeds & Sheffield across the bill. There’s been months of work behind the scenes to make it happen, so it’s a great feeling to finally release the line-up to the world. See you in November!”
Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10am and you can get yours here.
Daisy Jackson -
29th August 2023 
