The 2011 Greenbelt Festival took place at Cheltenham Racecourse this weekend, with performers as diverse as Billy Bragg, Rob Bell, Mavis Staples, and Mark Thomas entertaining the 20,000-strong crowd.

With 1,040 hours worth of programming over the four-day weekend, the crowds enjoyed talks on theology, politics and economics, music of all flavours, comedy, literature and a new offering for families.

Chair of trustees Andy Turner said, “So many festivalgoers – young and old, regulars and first-timers – have stopped me to share what a provoking, inspring and fun time they’ve had at this year’s festival. It’s been a potent combination of faith, creative art and social justice; bringing the best and brightest minds to our temporary Gloucestershire home.”

Paul Northup, Greenbelt's head of content, and also the director of Greenbelt 2012 said, “Our programme has been rich with highlights, delights and surprises. Our new approach for children has resulted in an amazing family feel to this year's Greenbelt, and artists like Billy Bragg, Don Letts, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly have seen the potential of the Greenbelt audience to change their communities and wider society.” Northup continued, “From a personal point of view, Mark Thomas imploring his 3,000-strong audience to be the catalyst for peace in the Middle East was a moment of real power, and a memory to savour on the journey home.”

This year’s communion service, which took place on Sunday morning raised over £46,000 for Trust Greenbelt, which funds arts, faith and justice projects throughout the UK.

The festival was closed last night by gospel legend Mavis Staples, the Unthanks, Ron Sexsmith and Kate Rusby on Mainstage, a lineup described by Northup as “the strongest Greenbelt mainstage bill for years”.