We want you to have the best time imaginable on the farm and we believe that staying happy and staying safe go hand in hand. Whether it’s you or your belongings you are worried about, below are a few things to consider, so nothing will spoil your fun!
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Drugs are just as illegal at Nozstock as they are everywhere else. Don’t miss out on all the fun by attempting to bring them on site. We also do not tolerate so called ‘legal highs’ including Nitrous Oxide. Festivals are busy and can be overwhelming. They are not a good place to experiment. We strongly advise that you do not mix substances, including alcohol. This is incredibly dangerous. However if you have taken something and you are feeling unwell it is important you speak up. The friendly crew at Marches Ambulance Services in the campsite can help with some much needed TLC. Their staff will see you right and you’ll be back on your feet and raring to go again in no time.
There is a whole load of information and friendly confidential drugs advice available through FRANK. If you are a student or young person struggling with alcohol or drug addiction then Rehab Recovery offers free telephone assistance and useful resources on their website.
Festivals are great fun, but do keep in mind that drinking to excess can leave you vulnerable and feeling unwell. Set yourself a limit, drink slowly, eat snacks and make every other drink a water.
We are proud to partner with DrinkSafe anti-spiking drinks covers. According to DrinkSafe, being aware of the symptoms of drink spiking is key so that you can recognise it for yourself or friends. The symptoms may vary depending on the substance, but generally include:
If in any case, you think you or a friend has been spiked it’s important to stay with them and accompany them to medical. DrinkSafe recommends a 4-step process to follow if you believe you or someone else has been spiked:
Like in most instances, prevention is the best avenue to take, and knowing the symptoms and what to do next should be last measures. Despite the fault being entirely with the individual who spikes someone, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of being spiked:
Phone signal isn’t always reliable on site, so do arrange a meeting point with your friends in case you get separated. If you feel a bit tipsy and are worried about finding your way anywhere then ask our staff to escort you. Don’t go off with people you don’t know or allow your friends to either. Stay together and if you meet someone new invite them to join your group rather than going off alone. Take photos on your phone of any new friends you make and text them to your mates , so they have a picture even if you lose your phone. If someone objects to a photo being taken, ask yourself why. Don’t be tempted to go to a stranger’s tent or to a secluded area and don’t be afraid to walk away, shout out or speak to our staff if you find yourself in a situation you are not comfortable with or someone is making you uncomfortable for any reason. Our staff are there to help. Nozstock supports the Association of Independent Festival’s Safer Spaces at Festivals campaign, to raise awareness of sexual assault at festivals and abide by their charter of best practice.
Remember, as well as looking after yourself it is just as important to look out for others. Be an active bystander. If you see anyone who looks like they may be unsafe or need medical attention please find a steward and let them know. Our security team patrol the campsite 24 hours a day so if you see anything amiss , including abusive attitudes or actions , don’t keep it to yourself, let someone know.
Measles is circulating in England. Before the event, #stopthespread by checking with your GP you have had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine and follow the UKHSA handwashing guidance.
The Hidden Valley is a very friendly place, however inevitably some criminals do try and spoil it for others. Tent theft can be really distressing and seriously put a downer on your weekend. Nozstock has experienced security and stewarding teams patrolling 24 hours a day, targeted lighting and barriers to deter thieves. Our crew keep their eyes open. However there is plenty you can do as well. If you think you have been the victim of crime or have lost any property then please report this to our Wristband Exchange staff straight away. Be aware of these safety tips to make everything as secure as possible…
Don’t leave anything in your car, leaving anything visible will encourage thieves to take a chance and smash a window. Take everything out of your glove compartment and leave it empty and open. And of course don’t forget to double check your car is locked as well!
Only bring the essentials with you to Nozstock, any valuables that you don’t need are best left at home. There are a few things you can do to make you and your possessions less of a target to thieves, for example simply marking your property and tent with your name and postcode will significantly reduce the risk of things being stolen. Before you leave home also take a few minutes to register your gadgets with the UK National Property Register Immobilise. This service is free and well worth the time it takes as it will help the police return your items to you if things go astray. Carry valuables securely on your person, ideally in a zipped pocket, bum bag or similar so they cannot easily be pinched. Never leave bags unattended. Stick your phone number onto your keys so if you lose them we can reunite you.
Be messy! Inside your tent that is. Spread your stuff around, it is much harder for thieves to grab obvious bags and valuables from a messy tent. Keep your belongings away from the door so they are not so easy to get hold of. Don’t put a padlock on your tent. This will suggest to thieves that you’ve got something worth taking and attract their attention. When sleeping in your tent store your valuables well in separate stashes. The safest place to stow your most valuable items whilst you sleep is at the bottom of your sleeping bag alongside your stinky feet. Make friends with your fellow campers. Watch out for each other and keep an eye on each other’s tents. You will be able to spot if there is a strange character lurking about who shouldn’t be there. Be friendly but do keep in mind your newfound pals are strangers too so don’t leave any of your valuables with them. Once on site, never challenge thieves, but immediately report to campsite stewards any unknown person entering your tent, this includes someone ‘accidentally’ entering the wrong tent or looking for a friend. If your tent zips both ways then zip up instead of down. Zipping up means an opportunist cannot reach inside so easily and has to remain standing so are more easily noticed. Remember you are also the eyes and ears of the festival so let a steward or security personnel know if you see anything suspicious.
Bring only the cash cards you need, leave all non-essentials at home. Write down important phone numbers such as your bank’s emergency number to call if your card is lost or stolen. Don’t just save them on your phone in case, heaven forbid, you lose this as well. Don’t leave any valuables, cash or cards in your tent when you are not in it and split cash and cards between your pockets. Don’t have a wallet sticking out.
If you are bringing your smartphone with you, there are many apps available on the market that can protect your phone so download one of these before you arrive on site. Even better, if you can do without a snazzy mobile phone for a weekend and there is an old phone knocking around at home that you can dust off and use, bring it along instead , if the idea of being temporarily parted from your smartphone fills you with horror then it is probably too precious to risk bringing to a festival anyway, so it’s best to leave it at home safe and sound if you can. An ancient looking phone is less likely to be a target for thieves and the battery life on the more basic phones often lasts longer than the all singing all dancing smartphones. Make a note of the IMEI number for your mobile which you can find by keying *#06# into your phone. This will enable your network provider to cancel your phone, making it useless to anyone else if it is lost or stolen. Listing some contacts on your phone as I.C.E (In Case of Emergency) or under your emergency info section so that we are able to contact family can also help us to get your mobile back to its rightful owner. Save the contact details of a mate at the festival with you on the lock screen or put a sticker on back of your phone with details of someone we could contact.
Report any lost or stolen items to Wristband Exchange next to the main arena gate. If you find something that does not belong to you, don’t just keep it, do the right thing and hand it in to our staff so it can be returned to its rightful owner. 100s of items are handed in every year. If you think something has been lost or stolen then please fill in a form at Wristband Exchange. It will help us match up any recovered items after the event. List any distinguishing features to your property including your password if you have lost your phone so we can find key contact numbers! Save key numbers we can use to reunite you with your phone, such as a friend at the festival and stick your phone number onto your house keys. If you discover you have lost anything once you have returned home please contact [email protected] giving as much info as possible. Lost property handed in over the weekend will be kept for 1 month and then either handed in to the Police or given to charity as appropriate.
