There are many things that distinguish a Green party conference - opening today in the picturesque city of Lancaster - from the run-of-the-mill get-togethers of the big three parties.
It is not just the pagan worship meetings (with them being held at dawn, this correspondent has yet to make it to one), the recycling bins (it is embarrassing to consider how many forests must perish to provide journalists with printouts of speeches - most of which go straight in the bin - at the other three) or the number of small children happily galivanting around the conference floor as the looming environmental Armageddon is discussed from the podium (the Greens seem to be particularly fertile, as well as child-friendly).
What takes a little time to sink in, at least for the seasoned political anorak such as your correspondent, is what isn't here.
There simply isn't any commercial or corporate sponsorship of the event.
When the big three roll into Brighton, Blackpool or Bournemouth, delegates can barely get to the conference hall for the plethora of stalls operated by the likes of British Nuclear Fuels, and charity lobby organisations such as the Countryside Alliance. Many, if not most, of the fringe events are also sponsored by companies with not a little pressing interest in the outcome. Even the Lib Dems are not purer than the driven snow, having had one of their recent conferences sponsored by McDonald's, much to the disgust of some delegates.
But here, way beyond the reaches of any real political power, the multinationals simply don't bother. And probably just as well, as the anti-corporate mindset of the average Greenie means they would be about as welcome as Jeremy Clarkson at a sustainable transport seminar.
And on that note, I must head off to the "Green Spirit meditation session" ...
