The Show Must Go On!

Ecological Support for the BBC at Radio 1’s Big Weekend by nichecology

At nichecology, we believe ecology and events can work together, with the right knowledge and understanding, to help nature find its place. So when the BBC needed urgent ecological input to help deliver one of the UK’s biggest live music festivals, we mobilised without hesitation. This is the story of how a late Friday phone call turned into a fully authorised, ecologically sound solution by Monday, just in time for Radio 1’s Big Weekend to go live.

A Friday Night Call, A Fast-Track Challenge

The BBC was in the final stages of preparing the site when a design change became unavoidable. Any delays or missteps could have threatened the tight build schedule.

We got the call on Friday evening. By the time most people were winding down for the weekend, we were gearing up to deliver.

Action by the Morning

Thanks to our years of experience in festival operations and ecology, we knew exactly what was needed. By Saturday morning, we attended a project team meeting and by Sunday morning, one of our ecologists was on-site, carrying out a survey to check for any signs of nesting birds and assess the ecological sensitivity of the area.

Working with speed and accuracy, we completed the assessment and began preparing a report with our findings, mitigation recommendations, and a safe, practical solution: a temporary pontoon that would avoid disturbing vegetation and wildlife while providing the access the build crew needed.

Signed Off and Installed in 72 Hours

The report was submitted to the Local Planning Authority (LPA) by Sunday evening, and by Monday morning, it had been reviewed and signed off. With approval in hand, our recommendations were implemented by the site team. By Monday afternoon, the pontoon was in place, ready for the arrival of kit, crew, and everything else needed to make the live show a success.

From first call to final install, the whole process took less than four days and was fully compliant with wildlife legislation.

Combined Event and Ecology Know-How

This kind of rapid response is only possible because of the deep-rooted experience nichecology has in both ecological consultancy and the festival industry.

Since 2014, our founder and core team have worked across major UK festivals - not only delivering ecological support, but also managing logistics, including crew manager roles. We’ve led teams in the industry before, during and after major UK events. We understand the pressures and timelines involved in large-scale event delivery, and we know how to integrate ecological requirements without disrupting the flow.

This dual perspective makes us uniquely placed to support clients like the BBC, Festival Republic, GMC Events, Loud Sound, and many others. We don’t just know where the risks are - we know how to work with them.

Powered by People and Partnerships

A huge thank you to our reliable subcontractors, who dropped everything to get the job done with care, speed, and professionalism. We only work with people we trust, and they continue to prove exactly why. Also, the quick work of the LPA must be recognised, as without them, none of the work would have been possible.

This success wasn’t about luck, it was about a well-organised, experienced team that can think fast, act responsibly, and still put nature first.

Enabling Events While Helping Nature Find Its Place

At nichecology, we pride ourselves on delivering ecological support that’s as practical as it is robust. We help our clients meet legislative requirements, keep timelines on track, and deliver their events with confidence that wildlife and habitats are being respected.

So whether you’re organising a small gathering in a wild setting, or a national broadcast event on a complex site, we’re here to help. With proven experience, deep industry knowledge, and a track record of being calm under pressure, we’ll make sure the show really can go on!