Natural England

This Saturday (30th August) the Great Western Community Forest is holding its 10th annual Forest Festival in the beautiful, historic setting of the Lawn in Old Town, Swindon.

The successful annual event celebrates trees and woodland products, provides information about the Forest project, as well as promoting a greener lifestyle - even the PA system is wind and solar powered. As usual, there will be a great mix of free family entertainment, stalls, education, traditional skills and crafts, children’s workshops, live music, theatre, and displays.

Huw Thomas Community Liaison Executive for Thames Water said “ This is the third year that Thames Water have supported Forest Festival at the Lawn and we have seen the festival grow from strength to strength to become a successful community event. We are pleased to have the Woodland Games project on board this year and look forward to a great day out for everyone.”

The Forest Festival Stage will have a packed programme of entertainment including live music from Izzy and the Peculiars, Theo Altieri and promising to send the festival out with a bang, The White Room.

Visitors will also be able to take part in a range of activities such as the Woodland Olympic Games, belly dancing workshops, or turn their hand to making music instruments out of junk.

Forest Festival organiser, Heather Lilley, says “It’s fantastic that Forest Festival is celebrating 10 years – I never imagined how successful an event it would become! The Community Forest team are really pleased to have support from Thames Water again this year and to join hands with the new Woodland Games initiative funded by Natural England is a great opportunity. The Festival has become a wonderful fixture in local people’s diaries - as well as many familiar activities, workshops and stalls we work hard to have new, fresh ideas each year so that people can return and still have a new experience”.

The festival will run from 10am to 5pm at the Lawn in Old Town, Swindon and entry is free.

For more details and photographs contact:
Heather Lilley, Community Education Officer, Great Western Community Forest 01793 466317 or 07786 020960
www.forestweb.org.uk

Notes to editors:

1. The Great Western Community Forest is one of 12 Community Forests in England and the project is all about:

• Improving the local environment together
• Planting 15 million trees
• Creating new homes for wildlife
• Providing new ways to learn about the environment
• Creating a greener place to work, live and play
• Providing better access to the countryside

2. The Great Western Community Forest covers an area of 168 square miles stretching from Wootton Bassett to Faringdon and the North Wesssex Downs to the Thames.



3. Natural England has given a grant of £90,000 over 3 years towards the costs of the 3 Generation Woodland Games project. The aim of the project '3G Woodland Games' is to improve the physical and mental well being of residents within the Great Western Community Forest through targeted programmes of forest sports and games using local woodlands.



4. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.