Music Festival Aims To Help Pigs In The UK

Last weekend (31 July and 1 August), hundreds of music and pig lovers gathered at a festival in Huddersfield. 

The Orchard Pig Gig is the world's first music festival for pigs and people that supports the protection of abused and abandoned pigs in the UK. The festival, located in the middle of 10 acres of woodland, hosted live local music concerts with jazz, rap and classical performers and a vegan culinary show. 

The event was organised by the animal charity Pigs in the Woods in partnership with Orchard Pig, the 100% vegan cider brand. Pigs in the Woods is a non-profit vegan sanctuary that rescues and re-homes pigs, especially pigs that were bought as pets and later abandoned.

Unfortunately, there is no law protecting pigs as pets in the UK and, in general, a lack of education on pigs. A common misconception about the pigs leads hundreds of pigs to lose their lives every year. 

Pigs in the Woods group says there is no such breed as a ‘Mini’ or ‘Micro’ or ‘Teacup’. Still, hundreds of British get tricked every year buying a miniature exotic pig to keep in their household as a pet. Unfortunately, they abandon the animals when they grow to a normal, larger size. Many of these pigs end up in the slaughterhouse as it is almost impossible to find a new home for them.

A spokesman for the festival said: “Currently, there is no legislation that protects pigs as pets. Many are duped into buying ‘micro-pigs’ (a breed that doesn’t exist) to soon discover they are, in fact, piglets that are set to grow - and grow! This misleading con means more pigs end up in the slaughterhouse."

Pigs are one of the most intelligent animals. They are much smarter than any other domestic animal, and they are more trainable than dogs or cats. They have a fantastic ability to solve problems, and they are capable of playing video games. Pigs have a remarkable object-location memory and sense of direction. They can find their way home from long distances away. As sentient beings, they experience joy, happiness, loneliness, fear, and pain.

Last weekend, The Orchard Pig Gig aimed to raise funds to support the Pigs in the Woods sanctuary and drive more awareness around the growing number of mistreated pigs. 

Russell Haggata, Operations director and Chairman at Pigs in The Wood, said, “Our pigs are one of a kind and love to socialise and dance to music. They can’t wait for this year’s Orchard Pig Gig. Our sanctuary wouldn’t exist without the generosity of donations, and we’re aiming to raise over £50,000 to improve the facilities for our pigs, so that everyone can experience the joy these animals can bring.”

Emily Gray, brand manager at Orchard Pig said: “Our mantra is to go pig or go home and what better way to do that than to host the world’s first gig for pigs – putting on an amazing show while supporting the wonderful team at Pigs in the Woods."