Tickets have gone on sale today for the UK’s first festival exploring the impact of forests, bringing together writers, artists, poets, scientists and philosophers for a three-day event in some of England’s finest woodlands.

Running from 6-8 July 2018, the festival, called Timber, will be held at Feanedock, a woodland site in the National Forest. The 200-square-mile National Forest, spread across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire, was the first forest to be created in England for over 1,000 years, planted over the course of the 1990s to regenerate a landscape that had been left scarred and derelict by the closure of the Midlands coalfields.

The festival will feature talks and discussions about the relationship between humans and nature, as well as immersive sound and art installations, torchlight processions and light projections.

There will also be a music programme, ranging from campfire performances to three live music stages and DJ sets: the full line-up will be announced early next year.

Timber is the result of a collaboration between the National Forest Company and Wild Rumpus, which focuses on creative events in outdoor spaces.

John Everitt, chief executive of the National Forest Company, said: “Timber is both a celebration and statement of intent: a celebration of how the National Forest has transformed 200 square miles of the English Midlands, and a statement of intent to create an international movement to champion forests. The festival will shine a spotlight on trees as a catalyst for change.”

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Sarah Bird and Rowan Hoban, directors of Wild Rumpus, said: “We hope [Timber] will fast become a solid addition to the UK festival scene.”

Timber follows a string of new festivals focused around the debate of specific subjects. In 2016, the first Bluedot festival was held at Jodrell Bank observatory, combining music with a celebration of science, art and technology. Others include Camp Wildfire, a two-day festival of bushcraft and outdoor adventure activities, and Brainchild Festival, which celebrates DIY culture and the creative work of young people.

Timber Festival, 6-8 July 2018 at Feanedock, early bird weekend camping tickets are £120 adult, £40 child, timberfestival.org.uk





