DEFENDER TEAMS UP WITH GLASTONBURY,
LEADING THE WAY FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS FESTIVALS
- Purposeful partnership: Defender will be the official vehicle partner of Glastonbury Festival in 2024 for a second year, supporting artists, fans and volunteers at the iconic event
- Plug‑in power: Electric hybrid Defenders will support the festival’s sustainability strategy, with the aim of having more of the festival production powered by renewable energy and fuels
- Inspiring adventure: Defender has been at the heart of the live music extravaganza for over five decades, with Land Rovers used by the festival site owners and organisers, the Eavis Family, since the very first Glastonbury Festival in the summer of 1970
- Festival transport fleet: 25 Defender 110 plug‑in electric hybrids will chauffeur artists to their stages, producing zero tailpipe emissions when driven in EV mode and mild hybridelectricvehicles on Glastonbury’s working fleet will allow staff and first responders to navigate the 900‑acre Worthy Farm site, whatever the weather
- Volunteer’s road to Glastonbury: Defender will support charity organisations and community groups with transport at this year’s festival as part of a pilot Volunteer Scheme
A fleet of Defender electric‑hybrids will embrace the energy of the world’s greatest live music event at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, as the brand celebrates a second year as the Festival’s Official Vehicle Partner.
The electric plug‑in hybrid vehicles at the iconic event, which by day will be charged using only solar energy from the onsite photovoltaic array, will enable them to predominantly operate in zero tailpipe emissions EV mode for the duration of Glastonbury 2024, as part of its drive to deliver a sustainable festival.
Defender will be super‑sizing its fleet for 2024, with a total of 25 Defender 110 P400e plug‑in electric hybrids making sure the headline acts get to the legendary Pyramid Stage ‑ and the 100+ stages across the site ‑ on time. An additional 10 Defender 110 mild‑hybrids will support Glastonbury’s operations team, enabling Festival staff and first responders to reach all corners of the 900‑acre site no matter what the conditions.
Defender supports new Volunteer Scheme pilot
Defender will also support volunteering activities at Glastonbury Festival 2024 in its role as Official Vehicle Partner, the latest in a long legacy of supporting humanitarian projects and charities around the world.
The brand will help to transport volunteers as part of a new pilot scheme by Glastonbury Festival organisers, designed to make it easier for those facing social, cultural and financial barriers to experience the benefits of volunteering.
The new fully funded Volunteer Scheme will cover all costs associated with volunteering at the event, working with 10 charitable and community organisations including Refugee Council and Plan International UK ‑ to provide individuals with work experience and training opportunities, many of whom will take on stewarding, waterpoint and catering roles and even stand to work towards professional qualifications in food hygiene and outdoor work as part of the scheme.
Defender will support the pilot operation, which aims to provide individuals from a range of backgrounds and life experiences – many from vulnerable communities – with dedicated transport using its fleet of Defender 110 P400e plug‑in electric hybrids to ensure they can navigate easily from nearby train and bus stations to their campsites. Up to 100 volunteers will volunteer their time, with the scheme supported by other event partners who provide clothing, food, materials and equipment.
"We are excited to take part in this new scheme at Glastonbury Festival. It gives our refugee clients the opportunity to not only learn and practise useful skills in a unique work environment, but also allows them to experience the wide range of music and poetry being performed, taste the diverse array of food being offered across the festival, and engage with a new community of people. We are so grateful that all the essentials are being provided so that being a part of the festival, as both a volunteer and as an attendee, is accessible and we get to contribute to such an inclusive space.
Our clients are eager to be a part of the success of this year’s festival by learning amongst and working alongside the rest of the volunteer team and staff. This collaboration is a great example of how community building across organisations and events can make opportunities accessible to more people."
ZOE SHADAN
PROJECT WORKER, REFUGEE COUNCIL
"I first became involved with Plan International UK when I was selected for its Youth Advisory Panel which helps shape the charity's work, campaigns for change and demands young people are heard across society.
One of the campaigns I’m now involved in is supporting Glastonbury’s new Period Dignity initiative. This is a really positive step towards showing that girls should not miss out on opportunities – including listening to great live music ‑ just because they’re having their period. I feel really inspired to be giving out practical help to other people who are managing their period during the festival weekend, and to be championing period equality.
Volunteering as a young person is a great thing to do – you get to meet and learn from so many different people, grow your confidence, and really feel like you’re making a difference. Arriving in the Defender electric‑hybrids was a particularly cool way to start our Glastonbury experience!"
MEERA
YOUTH ACTIVIST, PLAN INTERNATIONAL UK
Defender and Glastonbury
Defender’s renowned capability and go‑anywhere expertise makes it perfect for Worthy Farm’s rural landscape. The Eavis family, who own the site and have been organising the Festival for over 50 years, have used Land Rovers both on their farm and at the event. Photos from the very first Glastonbury Festival in 1970 show a Land Rover Series IIA in attendance, and Michael Eavis regularly uses his iconic bright red anniversary edition Defender 90, earning him the nickname: ‘The Landy Man of Glastonbury’.
Today Defender is proud to be playing its part in the Festival’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The unstoppable P400e plug‑in electric hybrid 4x4 is capable of a real‑world range of 32 miles and zero tailpipe emissions when driven in EV‑mode*.
Whilst the onsite fleet will be primarily powered by Glastonbury’s own solar panels; JLR, the home of the Defender brand, has also collaborated with energy storage start‑up Allye Energy to develop an innovative new portable Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) using second‑life PHEV batteries. This versatile system weighs less than 3.5 tonnes, allowing it to be fully portable and provide energy storage for the Glastonbury Defender fleet when parked within the nearby Defender Camp. Each BESS can store 270kWh of energy at full capacity, enough to power the average UK household for nearly a month.
"Our partnership with Glastonbury is built on an authentic heritage. Defender is part of the Festival’s DNA ‑ inspiring adventure through music and the shared values of making a positive difference to communities. This year we’re not only proud to be updating Glastonbury’s Defender fleet to Electric Hybrid power, but also in supporting its pilot Volunteer Scheme which aims to help young people and those that stand to benefit from employability training, to take on a variety of different roles throughout the festival. Working with various charity organisations and community groups can have a healthy boost to their self‑confidence and self‑esteem, and we hope that the Defenders will make for a great addition and even more memorable start to their overall volunteering experience."
MARK CAMERON
MANAGING DIRECTOR, DEFENDER