Beloved Oscar-winner and respected local resident Sir Mark Rylance has thrown his influential voice behind a growing campaign to stop large-scale music festivals from transforming Brockwell Park into what he described as a “prison camp”.
The acclaimed actor, renowned for his roles in Wolf Hall and Bridge of Spies, has passionately condemned the dramatic transformation of the leafy South London park every summer during the Brockwell Live festival season, calling for Lambeth Council to urgently reconsider its continued support of the events.
Sir Mark didn’t hold back as he described the extensive damage inflicted on Brockwell Park by the sprawling summer festivals, which include Cross the Tracks and Mighty Hoopla. These wildly popular events, though culturally significant, are causing what residents claim is irreversible environmental and community harm.
Brockwell Park is a place for people and nature. It is essential to many people’s mental health, to our joy, our healing grief… It turns it into a prison camp… Enough is enough. Stop the walls.
His emotional plea echoes mounting frustrations among campaigners, who argue that the festival infrastructure, particularly the imposing steel walls and the heavy equipment, gravely impacts the park’s delicate ecosystem.
The campaign group Protect Brockwell Park has now launched legal proceedings against Lambeth Council, challenging the local authority’s decision to grant permission for commercial events to be held in the park without formal planning consent.
In a fiery open letter, the group stated the park is being “damaged beyond repair”, citing issues such as:
- Severely compacted soil
- Damaged and uprooted trees
- Disrupted wildlife habitats
- Long-term degradation of green space
They argue that the repetitive cycle of setting up, hosting, and repairing festival areas is exhausting both the park and the community.
Spanning a vast 125 acres, Brockwell Park isn’t just any park—it’s a treasured slice of natural tranquillity in the bustling borough of Lambeth. Complete with a lido, walled garden, and the historic Grade II-listed Brockwell Hall, the space has become a vital sanctuary for thousands of residents.
More than 285,000 attendees flood into the park over nine days of festivities, but campaigners say the setup and teardown stretch over 37 days, taking a serious toll on the park’s landscape.
Actress Adjoa Andoh, of Bridgerton fame, also added her voice, posting a stark photograph on Instagram showing muddy, litter-strewn grounds after one of the festivals. “Shame on Lambeth Council for not protecting it better!” she exclaimed.
Council Defends Festival Programme
Despite the backlash, Lambeth Council insists the benefits of hosting Brockwell Live are substantial. In a strongly worded defence, they pointed to the economic boost and cultural enrichment the festivals bring:
- £500,000 invested annually in park maintenance
- £150,000 redirected into community and park projects
- £700,000 savings enabling the Lambeth Country Show to remain free
- £20,000 invested in diversity initiatives across the park
A spokesperson said: “Events in Brockwell Park generate significant cultural opportunities and entertainment… They also support small businesses and provide jobs for local residents.”
They reassured the public that ecological damage is being managed, claiming that the used area has been independently classified as having low ecological sensitivity.
Measures Introduced to Minimise Impact
In an effort to soothe tensions, the council has implemented several mitigation strategies:
- 24-hour community helpline during events
- On-site staff patrols
- Moved festival dates earlier in the year to protect summer access
- Regular community consultations
Still, for many locals and conservationists, these efforts feel far too little and certainly far too late.
The battle over Brockwell Park has become emblematic of a broader issue facing many of London’s green spaces—how to balance cultural vibrancy with environmental integrity.
With Sir Mark Rylance and Adjoa Andoh now vocally in the fray, the debate has reached a fever pitch. As legal proceedings unfold, the future of festivals in this cherished park hangs in the balance, with residents demanding that joy and nature be preserved side by side, not at each other’s expense.
