Timber, the new outdoor arts festival celebrating the story of the National Forest, has won the highest accolade in the festival world, taking Best New Festival at the UK Festival Awards ceremony held in London last week.
It was chosen from a challenging field of national competition. This coveted award is just one of a clutch of accolades picked up by the festival recently. It also won Best PR campaign at the Outdoor Events Awards event in Bath last month, and at Leicestershire's Tourism and Hospitality Awards it was awarded Favourite Festival. The judges for the latter said: “The ambition and vision for this festival were exceptional … a unique and exciting event that embraced the spirit and ambition of its unique setting: the National Forest.”
John Everitt, Chief Executive for the National Forest Company, said: “We are thrilled with this array of awards for Timber in its first year. We wanted to make something truly exceptional that would engage people in the National Forest's unique story, and inspire people to reconnect with trees, woodlands and the natural world. All our supporters, partners, and the festival artists and performers, plus all the festival-goers themselves, helped us make Timber the success that it was, and we can't wait to present another amazing festival in 2019.”
The National Forest Company worked with award-winning festival producers Wild Rumpus to create the three-day camping festival, which took place in July this year at Feanedock Woods just outside Swadlincote. Through music, art, woodland activities and a lot of fun, it celebrated the transformative impact of forests.
John continued: “Feedback received from festival-goers this year spoke of a real connection with nature, and the amazing atmosphere. It was so chilled out and a contrast to other festivals with its imaginative use of extensive woodland spaces, and intimate music stages set within the woodland glades.”
