News

Dates announced for Westonbirt’s signature summer event

Tickets for Treefest are now on sale

23 – 25 August 2014

Tickets have gone on sale for Treefest (23 – 25 August 2014) at the Forestry Commission’s National Arboretum at Westonbirt, Gloucestershire.

Treefest, Westonbirt’s signature summer event, attracts around 20,000 visitors each year. The event takes place across the August Bank Holiday weekend and celebrates nature, trees, woodcraft and family fun with activities, exhibitors and live music.

This year the festival will celebrate its 20^th anniversary, having been developed from the original ‘Sculptree’ tree carving event in the early 1990s.

2014’s Treefest will celebrate this heritage as well as introduce new entertainment and displays to the packed three day schedule. Activities such as falconry displays and archery will return to the festival this year and the newly named Westonbirt at Work exhibitor’s area will be expanded to illustrate the journey of wood to visitors, including guided walks around the area.

Big carving has always been a highlight of the festival programme and this year the carver’s will focus on creating benches inspired by wildlife.

Children activities include Treefrog climbing, zip wires and, new this year, den building, where children can learn why we need shelters, what materials to use and build their own dens in the trees.

In 2013, Treefest introduced a new Food Hall to offer visitors tasty delights, this year the team have joined forces with Love Food Festival to expand the offer and showcase treats from 30 local producers.

New and more diverse catering outlets will also join the festival, with vegetarian world cuisine by Café Chameleon, strawberries and creams teas from The Strawberry Chariot, local organic burgers, sausages and bacon from Peradon Farm, Stroud Brewery and Winstones Ice Cream.

Adult tickets are £15 per person, concessions at £12 and children under 18 go free. Members of the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum receive a 50 per cent discount with adult tickets priced at £7.50 per person and concessions at £6.

More details are available from www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt-treefest.