Frequently asked questions about Forest Tour

 

1. Why does the Forestry Commission host rock and pop 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.
   
   
2. How many sites are involved in the tour?
   The Forest Tour has grown from its inception and currently consists of 7 sites in Kent (Bedgebury), Suffolk (Thetford), Gloucestershire (Westonbirt), Nottinghamshire (Sherwood), North Yorkshire (Dalby), Staffordshire (Cannock) and Cheshire (Delamere).
   
   
3. How do you select the bands you approach?
   It remains FC policy to seek high profile, internationally-acclaimed contemporary artists, who will appeal to new as well as existing Forest tour audiences. Clearly many artists who play at the Forest venues value the unique opportunity to promote woodlands and the natural environment. The Tour also has a good reputation for its production and site management.
   
   
4. Do the concerts affect the woodlands?
   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.
   
   
5. How is the Tour organised?
   There is an enormous amount of work that goes into the Forest Tour, to make sure that all runs smoothly. The tour is organised by a central management team, as well as local expert teams on location at each site; all sites undergo extensive assessment each year as part of the Tour preparations. The safety of the audience, performers, staff and the protection of the forest are key to the extensive planning and liaison that goes in to organising these concerts, which meet and adhere to licensing, current BS standards and health and safety conditions and guidelines. The Forestry Commission works closely with all the Responsible Authorities in the preparation of these events.
   
   
6. Don't the tours encourage bad behaviour in the forests?
   The Tour is all about encouraging people to come and see and hear live music in safe and well managed forest setting, our customers tend to be well behaved and understanding of our valuable woodlands. Whilst we have clear restrictions as to what can be brought on site, to ensure we protect the forest from the threat of fire, we want to encourage people to enjoy the woodland. 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.
   
   
7. Do you get complaints from local residents?
   We have received very few complaints from local residents about any of the Forest Tour concerts. We always work with local authorities and residents to ensure the Events run smoothly and with minimum impact on the local area. Each concert whilst co-ordinated by the concert management team, is organised by locally by our teams who live and work in those local communities. Keeping good relationships with our most local neighbours is essential to our work across the country.