1. Buying tickets
2. Free visit to the Forest
3. Travel Arrangements
4. About the venues
5. What can I bring?
6. Information for disabled concert-goers
7. Running Times
8. Accommodation
9. Environmental Impact
10. Contacts
1. Buying Tickets
How do I book tickets?
Tickets can be booked online, over the phone or in person with the Forestry Commission.
• Buy online at www.forestry.gov.uk/music
• Buy over the phone from the Box Office on 03000 680400 (open 9am - 5pm Mon to Fri plus 10am - 1pm Sat in peak periods)
• Buy in person at the venue
You can also buy tickets though our approved agents.
We do not advise purchasing from any other ticket agents (other than those listed on our approved agents page), secondary ticket agents, ticket brokers or online auction sites as sale on these sites is in breach of our terms and conditions. Please buy your tickets from the Forestry Commission or our official agents.
Ticket scams and fake tickets have occasionally been in circulation for some acts in the past - these have been detected at the arena entrance and purchasers of fake tickets have not been able to gain admittance to concerts.
Please note that email confirmations are not tickets and will not be accepted as tickets to access the arena.
Why do you charge a booking fee?
Most ticket agents charge a booking fee to cover administration costs which include staff, office costs, tickets, stationary and postage.
We do not incorporate these elements into the ticket price as we feel it is more open and transparent for the customer to see these costs separately.
The Forestry Commission charge a booking fee of 10% of the ticket price when tickets are bought over the phone or online. This is lower than the booking fee charged by most other ticket agents. We do not charge an additional postage or transaction fee in addition to the booking fee.
When will I receive my tickets?
Customers booking from inside the UK: Tickets purchased from the Forestry Commission will usually arrive within one month of the purchase taking place. If you have not received your tickets in this time please inform the Box Office.
If tickets are required as a present and need to be received by a certain date please inform Box Office as soon as possible who will try to assist.
Customers booking from outside the UK: Tickets purchased from the Forestry Commission are not posted outside the UK and you will need to collect the tickets from the venue box office on the evening of the event. Venue box offices are open from 5pm.
Bookings made close to the date of the gig: If you book tickets close to the time of the concert there may not be enough time to deliver them to you. In this case they will be held at the venue for you to collect on the evening of the concert. Ticket collections can be made at the box office at the venue from 5pm onwards.
Group bookings (over eight tickets):
We operate a group booking policy aimed at protecting potential customers from ticket touting, ticket scams and re-selling of tickets at an inflated price.
Purchases of up to eight tickets can be made on our internet sales pages. The purchase of over eight tickets constitutes a group booking (even if purchased in separate transactions). If you wish to book nine or more tickets, please contact the box office on 03000 680400 or e-mail boxoffice@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
As part of this policy, we ask customers booking nine or more tickets to sign a disclaimer regarding the use of their tickets. This is designed to prevent purchase by parties intending to re-sell the tickets for profit (prohibited in point 15 of our Terms and Conditions).
We reserve the right to contact any customer to discuss their purchase and ensure that our booking policy is adhered to. We also reserve the right to cancel tickets where we have evidence of a breach of point 15 in our Terms and Conditions regarding ticket re-sale for profit.
We are unable to offer any group discounts
2. Free visit to the Forest
Buy your concert tickets for Live Music 2012 from the Forestry Commission, on line, over the phone or in person at the venue and as a thank you we'll give you a voucher for a free visit to the Forest. The voucher can be used from 1 January to 31 July 2012, including concert days, at any of the seven forests which host Live Music concerts. If you plan to visit the forest on the day a concert is taking place we suggest you check opening times on the local forest web pages. The voucher gives free car parking for a day for one vehicle. At Westonbirt Arboretum the voucher gives free admission to one adult. One voucher will be issued per transaction and will be enclosed with your tickets. Terms and Condition apply, please see voucher.
3. Travel Arrangements
Can I park on site and is there car parking charge?
Sufficient car parking for visitors is provided at each venue and is free of charge. Vehicles should not be left overnight in the car parks.
Travelling by public transport
Unfortunately due to their rural nature our venues are difficult to reach by public transport.
Select your chosen venue from the Live Music homepage and download the information sheet which will detail any public transport options available.
Coach Travel
Don't worry about missing the last train, or getting stressed driving home as the Big Green Coach services depart after the gig has finished so you have time to finish your drink, get onboard one of their vehicles and relax until you get back home! Big Green Coach are running a coach service for the following events:
- The Wombats at Delamere Forest, Cheshire, on Sunday 8 July, offering return coach travel from Birkenhead, Chester, Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Stockport, Warrington and Wigan.
- Ed Sheeran at Thetford Forest, Suffolk on Thursday 12 July, offering return coach travel from Norwich, Cambridge, Ipswich, Bury St. Edmunds and London Victoria.
Travelling by taxi or being dropped off
If you are arriving by taxi or being dropped off, make sure you have made arrangements for your return journey in advance as forest sites do not have public telephones and most sites have poor mobile reception. Arrange to meet your taxi at the designated taxi pick up/drop off point which will be signed on site.
Travelling on foot
If you are walking to the venue along the public highway please be aware that it will be dark when you leave. For your safely you may like to consider bringing a torch and hi-viz vest for your journey home.
4. About the Venues
Where are the venues?
Links to local FC websites:
• Bedgebury Pinetum and Forest, Goudhurst, Kent, TN17 2SJ
• Cannock Chase Forest, Lady Hill, Birches Valley, Rugeley, Staffs, WS15 2UQ
• Dalby Forest, Adderstone Field, Nr Thornton Le Dale, Pickering, N.Yorks YO18 7LR
• Delamere Forest, Delamere, Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 2JD
• Sherwood Pines, Edwinstowe, Mansfield, Notts, NG21 9JL
• High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Santon Downham, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0AF
• Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QS
Is seating provided and do you reserve seats?
Seating is not provided or reserved. You are welcome to bring folding picnic chairs or rugs. If a standing area has been designated directly in front of the stage seating brought into the venue will not be allowed in this area.
Will the concert go ahead if it’s raining?
Concerts will go ahead regardless of weather, except in circumstances where the conditions at the venue are deemed unsafe or unfeasible to proceed with the event. We advise that you wear suitable clothing and footwear for an outdoor event. Unfortunately, we can not permit umbrellas to be taken into the arena so dress for the outdoors and bring a raincoat and suitable waterproof footwear.
Is food and drink available?
A full licensed bar and a variety of hot food and drink outlets are available at all venues. Please note bar and food outlets do not accept card payments and there are no cashpoints at the venues.
Can I bring my own food or picnic?
You are welcome to bring picnics, but please check the terms and conditions carefully as items including but not limited to glass, cans, tables, and non-plastic cutlery and crockery are not permitted in the arena. You are allowed to bring no more than 2 litres soft/ alcoholic drink per person.
Screens
The Forestry Commission does not generally use screens at the Live Music concerts. Unlike stadium venues, all our arenas are of a size where it is possible to see the stage clearly, and as our venues are unseated customers can move around freely to find their own preferred viewing position. In addition some artists specify a personal preference not to work with screens. We are committed to keeping ticket prices as low as possible and hire of the screen, associated cameras and staff significantly increase the cost of putting on the event which would be reflected in the ticket price.
However, occasionally we are required to provide a screen to fulfil our contractual arrangement with the artist. Concerts with screens will be listed below as known.
We do not have any concerts with screens confirmed so far for 2012.
5. What can I bring?
Which items cannot be brought into the arena?
Certain items are not allowed in the arena for both the audience and the artist’s safety and comfort. It is essential that you check the Terms and Conditions for the complete list of prohibited items.
Prohibited items include umbrellas, tables, glass of any kind including bottles and jars, cans, china or crockery plates, serving dishes or other containers and metal cutlery.
What about cameras?
Photographic equipment with detachable lenses, tripods and audio visual or video equipment are not permitted in the arena.
What will happen if I try to bring in a prohibited item?
At the entrance to the arena all bags will be searched by our security team. You will be asked to take any prohibited item(s) back to your car or allow them to be disposed of. We no longer have facilities to decant drinks from glass bottles or cans into paper cups as this unfairly increases the waiting time of other customers queuing to enter the arena.
What should I bring?
Dress for the outdoors - bring something warm for later in the evening and bring a waterproof as we do not permit umbrellas in the arena.
Bring cash if you would like to buy food, drinks or merchandise - we aren’t able to accept credit or debit cards.
Bring a fold up chair or rug if you would like to have a seat.
Consider bringing a torch and/or high viz vest to wear if you are planning to walk home
Insect repellent may be useful
6. Information for Disabled Concert-goers
Do you have specific information and facilities for disabled concert-goers?
Yes, please see our Access Policy. If you have any queries regarding disabled access please contact us on 03000 680400 or email us at boxoffice@forestry.gsi.gov.ukand our Box Office team will happily try to assist.
7. Running Times
What time can I arrive?
Concert car parks open at 5pm, except at Bedgebury Pinetum and Delamere Forest where car parks open at 4pm.
How can I find out when the band will be on stage?
The concert arena opens at approx 6pm, with live music starting from about 7.30pm. These times are approximate, for the latest updates on running times please check the appropriate venue page on the website as the concert date approaches.
What time will the event end?
Concerts normally finish between 10.30pm and 10.45pm. Live music will not continue beyond 11pm.
8. Accommodation
Can I camp at the venue?
No camping will be allowed on site or in the car park area. Some venues have either Forestry Commission or privately run camping nearby. Select your chosen venue from the Live Music homepage and download the information sheet which will detail any local camping options.
Contact the nearest Tourist Information Centre for more details of local camp sites.
Where can I stay?
Contact the nearest Tourist Information Centre for full details of local accommodation.
9. Environmental Impact
Do the concerts affect the forests?
The Commission has some of the country's leading wildlife and habitat experts among its staff. All venues are carefully vetted to ensure that they will not have undue impact on the local flora and fauna. One of the many strengths of woodland, as a habitat, is its robustness, and its ability to "carry" people, and absorb sound and activity. The sizes of the sites we use ensure we can select an appropriate area for the concert which causes little or no damage to the wider site. After each concert litter teams clean and hand pick the site. It takes about 72 hours to de-rig the infrastructure and return the site to its original state. Similarly we work with local Police authorities to ensure there will be a smooth flow of traffic to and from all events. Sites are generally clear of traffic within one hour of closing the arena. The concert sites are not linked to any of our sensitive areas, and the tour is all about encouraging responsible enjoyment of the forest. These concerts give people a legitimate way to enjoy woodlands, in a responsible and fun way.
Why does the Forestry Commission host concerts?
The Forestry Commission is committed to taking the importance of woodlands to new audiences, and making them relevant to people in new ways. We have to encourage people to enjoy woodlands, to feel at home there, and to learn about them through experiencing them and looking at them in different ways. The best way of getting people to engage in the importance of woodlands, and to teach them about respecting their environment, is not to preach at them, but to ensure they value and feel for the environment around them.
The Live Music programme is self-sustaining, and provides valuable revenue to plough back into our management of woodlands in a variety of social and environmental projects. In recent years examples include work on habitat creation for endangered butterfly species; health projects to encourage young and old alike to get out and about in the natural environment - from mountain biking to T'ai Chi; installing woodfuel heating systems to help us contribute towards, and demonstrate how everyone can get involved in, the fight against climate change; the regeneration of industrial sites and renewal of disused areas into community woodlands; and many more schemes.
10. Contacts
How can I get in touch?
The box office is staffed Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and from 10am - 1pm on Saturdays (during peak periods only). Telephone 03000 680400
Fax 01842 811309
You can also contact us by email at boxoffice@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
You can write to us at:
Box Office
Forestry Commission East of England
Santon Downham
Brandon
Suffolk
IP27 0TJ
