Weymouth Annual Beach Kite Festival 2012 Latest Updates
16th February 2012
Frequently asked questions...
What is the guest list so far? (updated 14th Feb)
How do I get car parking tickets this year?
Who are the Sponsors of the event ?
What is the Height Clearance?
How do I contact the organisers?
What is the guest list so far? (updated 14th Feb)
How do I get car parking tickets this year?
Who are the Sponsors of the event ?
What is the Height Clearance?
How do I contact the organisers?
Weymouth Kite festival
Kite Display Team
Coming soon...
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News of more guests
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Competitions and trophies -
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Timetable
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Bring your Bird kites and/or a red coloured kite.
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2011 Photos -
Turn up the sound!
2011 Video
Contact the team here.
The following teams and individual flyers have accepted their invitation to attend.
Avon Kite Flyers (AKF) - One of the biggest kite clubs in the country with a seemingly endless collection of kites in all shapes and sizes
Look out for some crazy line laundry.
Air-4-ce - All the way from Holland. This team of four line kite flyers are very well known and extremely popular on the European circuit.
We are pleased to have them visit Weymouth for the first time http://www.air-4-ce.nl/
The Airheads -Grads featuring Vee and Keith Griffiths.
This extremely popular team demonstrate excellent individual or pairs demonstrations and stunning team performances that fill the sky with colour expertly choreographed to music.
Web site - http://www.airheads.org.uk/
Chase the Breeze - A husband and wife team adding a wow factor to any event with giant inflatables such as a 90 ft Manta ray a 60 ft dog a 50 ft penguin an much more!
Web site - http://chasethebreeze.com/
Chris Goff and Piero Serra - Internationally acclaimed as among the top five sport/stunt/trick flyers in the world.
These guys have got it nailed - they are not to be missed!!!
Piera will be demonstrating his trick skills along with Chris who will also be thrilling the crowds with his quad line routines and showing off his newly designed and marketed kite.
Chris Goff is a member of British team “Scratch Bunnies” - the current World Team Champions.
Close Encounters - Husband and wife pairs team with a long history of British Championships to their name.
Great demonstrations of precision flying, choreographed ballets with 100 ft tails and always a section on “How do they do that” - interactive commentary explaining how to get the best out of a kite and how to make patterns in the sky to order.
Avon Kite Flyers (AKF) -
Air-
We are pleased to have them visit Weymouth for the first time http://www.air-
The Airheads -
Web site -
Chase the Breeze -
Web site -
Chris Goff and Piero Serra -
These guys have got it nailed -
Chris Goff is a member of British team “Scratch Bunnies” -
Close Encounters -
Great demonstrations of precision flying, choreographed ballets with 100 ft tails and always a section on “How do they do that” -
Cyber-Stitch Kites - Dave and Sheila Mitchell have one of the largest individual collections of inflatable kites on the South coast. Heavily in to all things kite, Dave is the founder of the on-line kite forum - “Kite Weekenders” - and will be bringing some most unusual creations with him.
Web site - www.cyber-stitch.co.uk
You’ll probably also notice Dave’s LED kites lighting up the sky as darkness falls.
The Decorators - The most well know and longest running quad team in the universe!
We are privileged to have the world’s premier, four line team in the display arena on Sunday and Monday.
Force Nine - Michael and Lynda Howard from “Kiteworld” have traded at Weymouth for many years just itching to get out on the beach.
This year they are doing just that - no selling just flying and having fun with their incredible collection of giant inflatables and single line kites.
Web-site - www.Kiteworld.co.uk
George Webster -
Over the years George has been a guest a kite festivals in many far off and exotic lands. He brings volumes of knowledge and anecdotes to keep us all informed and entertained.
Karl Longbottom - Kite maker and flyer extraordinare.
Famous for his Pterodactyls, Bees, Underwear kites, Sled kites and kites for aerial photography (KAP) among many others. Stylish kites flown with style! www.longbottom.org.uk
Kites Up - Roy and Hayley take a break from printing kites and banners and just turn up to meet people and have fun. Roy is a kite maker and appreciates the finite intricacies involved. He has some unusual pieces in his collection and some the best of them will be on display!
You may well also see Hayley taking advantage of the trip by experiencing the excellent shopping in Weymouth.
Web site - http://www.kitesup.co.uk/
Paul Thody - Do you know how easily a Flexifoil kite can pull you off your feet?
Amazingly this guy flies TWENTY FIVE in a stack and choreographed to music!
Paul is easily the most photographed kite flyer at any event.
Tony Cartwright - Few people have Tony’s experience of field directing. He works tirelessly behind the scenes to make the programme work.
Someone once said that getting kite flyers in the right place at the right time is a bit like herding cats but this guy is one of the few that can do it well.
All the invited flyers have been invited to stay at the Fairhaven Hotel.
Why not book in too and join them for breakfast?
The Decorators -
Force Nine -
This year they are doing just that -
George Webster -
Over the years George has been a guest a kite festivals in many far off and exotic lands. He brings volumes of knowledge and anecdotes to keep us all informed and entertained.
Karl Longbottom -
Famous for his Pterodactyls, Bees, Underwear kites, Sled kites and kites for aerial photography (KAP) among many others. Stylish kites flown with style! www.longbottom.org.uk
Kites Up -
Web site -
Paul Thody -
Amazingly this guy flies TWENTY FIVE in a stack and choreographed to music!
Paul is easily the most photographed kite flyer at any event.
Tony Cartwright -
Someone once said that getting kite flyers in the right place at the right time is a bit like herding cats but this guy is one of the few that can do it well.
All the invited flyers have been invited to stay at the Fairhaven Hotel.
Why not book in too and join them for breakfast?
Or by post...
Kite Festival Events Team, WPBC, North Quay, Weymouth DT4 8TA
Kite Festival Events Team, WPBC, North Quay, Weymouth DT4 8TA
The Fairhaven Hotel for all your accommodation requirements is ideally situated on the Esplanade overlooking Weymouth Bay and has uninterrupted views of the magnificent Jurassic Coastline. The hotel is located close to Weymouth’s historic fishing harbour and Pavilion Theatre. The town centre, with its variety of shops, cafes and amenities, is just a few moments level walk away.
Special offer for Kite Festival fliers and family £40.00 per person per night, bed and breakfast.
Fairhaven Hotel, 37 The Esplanade, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8DH.
Tel: 01305 760200
Web: www.kingshotels.co.uk
Special offer for Kite Festival fliers and family £40.00 per person per night, bed and breakfast.
Fairhaven Hotel, 37 The Esplanade, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8DH.
Tel: 01305 760200
Web: www.kingshotels.co.uk
Kite Flyers Car Parking.
A limited number of car park tickets will be available for the Kite Festival weekend (Sat 5th Sunday 6th and Monday 7th May).
These will be available on a first come first serve basis and preference will be given to but not limited to, members of kite clubs, societies and affiliations, so please include your membership details along with your request and a stamped addressed envelope and send to: Kite Festival Events Team, WPBC, North Quay, Weymouth DT4 8TA.
A limited number of car park tickets will be available for the Kite Festival weekend (Sat 5th Sunday 6th and Monday 7th May).
These will be available on a first come first serve basis and preference will be given to but not limited to, members of kite clubs, societies and affiliations, so please include your membership details along with your request and a stamped addressed envelope and send to: Kite Festival Events Team, WPBC, North Quay, Weymouth DT4 8TA.
Preservation of the Red Kite
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds the RSPB is a UK charity working to secure a healthy environment for bird
s and other wildlife, helping to create a better world for us all.
The red kite is subject to the longest continuous conservation project in the world. The first Kite Committee was formed in 1903 by concerned individuals appalled at the continuing destruction of kites, who initiated the first nest protection schemes. The RSPB is thought to have been involved continuously since 1905.
The rarity of the red kite made it a prime target for egg collectors and bounty hunters, who robbed up to a quarter of nests each year. More sophisticated nest protection initiatives during the 1950’s and 1960’s succeeded in reducing the proportion of nests robbed, and this is no longer regarded as a serious problem for red kites.
In 1980s the red kite was one of only three globally threatened species in the UK, and so it was a high priority for conservation efforts.
It became apparent that due to the low rate of chick production by the Welsh kites, largely caused by the marginal habitat the birds live in, combined with the activities of egg collectors and illegal poisoning, the birds would be unlikely to be able to spread out of Wales.
In recognition of this, the RSPB and NCC (now Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage), got together in 1986 to discuss the feasibility of reintroducing the red kite to England and Scotland.
Reintroduction would only be considered if the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) criteria were met in full:
s and other wildlife, helping to create a better world for us all.The red kite is subject to the longest continuous conservation project in the world. The first Kite Committee was formed in 1903 by concerned individuals appalled at the continuing destruction of kites, who initiated the first nest protection schemes. The RSPB is thought to have been involved continuously since 1905.
The rarity of the red kite made it a prime target for egg collectors and bounty hunters, who robbed up to a quarter of nests each year. More sophisticated nest protection initiatives during the 1950’s and 1960’s succeeded in reducing the proportion of nests robbed, and this is no longer regarded as a serious problem for red kites.
In 1980s the red kite was one of only three globally threatened species in the UK, and so it was a high priority for conservation efforts.
It became apparent that due to the low rate of chick production by the Welsh kites, largely caused by the marginal habitat the birds live in, combined with the activities of egg collectors and illegal poisoning, the birds would be unlikely to be able to spread out of Wales.
In recognition of this, the RSPB and NCC (now Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage), got together in 1986 to discuss the feasibility of reintroducing the red kite to England and Scotland.
Reintroduction would only be considered if the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) criteria were met in full:
Existence of good historical evidence of former natural occurrence.
A clear understanding of why the species disappeared. Only if the disappearance was due to human action and the species was unlikely to recolonise naturally, would it be considered.
The factors causing extinction have been rectified.
Suitable habitat is still present to support a viable population.
Birds intended for release are genetically as close as possible to the former indigenous population.
The removal of birds for the project does not jeopardise the survival of the population from which the birds are taken.
The red kite is one of few bird species in Britain that fulfils all the criteria.
Until now, the red kites have enjoyed the goodwill of local people, and it is important for the long term survival of the birds that this continues. Although kites were traditionally associated with low-intensity agriculture, the re-introduced kites seem to be doing well even in the more intensively farmed southern England.
The main threats they face are illegal poisoning by bait left out for foxes and crows, secondary poisoning by rodenticides, and collisions with power cables. These problems are continually being addressed to reduce their impact on the kites.
All the birds released as a part of the reintroduction programme and a proportion of the wild-fledged young have been fitted with coloured wing tags, each with a number/letter combination that allows for individual recognition. Please report any sightings of tagged red kites to the BTO web-site. This will help with monitoring the whereabouts and movements of the tagged individuals and the spread of the kite population as a whole.
Until now, the red kites have enjoyed the goodwill of local people, and it is important for the long term survival of the birds that this continues. Although kites were traditionally associated with low-
All the birds released as a part of the reintroduction programme and a proportion of the wild-
WEYMOUTH KITE VENUE READY FOR OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN
Latest news from Dorset’s Big Kite Festival……
Weymouth’s annual Beach Kite festival is looking forward to an amazing 2012 festival with all the buzz and excitement of being an official Olympic Venue.
The town and the area have been very busy preparing to host the LONDON 2012 Sailing and Paralympic Sailing events with millions of pounds of investment into its road system, seafront development and maritime facilities.
The 2012 Weymouth Kite Festival will take place over the May Bank holiday (5th, 6th, 7th May) and will embrace all the fun of kite flying on Weymouth’s Central Beach and its enchanting, Great British seaside fun.
Weymouth’s kite organising team have been delighted to hear from many of the kite flyers and traders who have supported this event over the past twenty years and this year they will be joined by even more new teams and personalities.
If you are coming back to Weymouth or would like to make 2012 your first visit, return to this page often to check for all the latest updates.
Information such as accommodation, parking, confirmed invited guests, timetables and what else to find in Weymouth will all be here soon.
Tell your friends and come and share some time in one of Britain’s proudest Olympic venues!!
Best regards
Weymouth’s kite mad organising team
(Or should that be Weymouth’s mad, kite organising team?)
As a warm up to the main event and to show what the event is about, there will be a mini “Trick-out” competition on Sunday.
On the Monday it gets serious when a trophy will be up for grabs!
Entries will be taken on the day - your chance to take on the pros!
Do you have a kite or kites you would like to fly in the main arena?
Or - See us on the day at short notice and we will do our best to fit you in.