Festival of The Tree

 

Ref: 10620 PRESS RELEASE

WESTONBIRT - THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM

For immediate release: 6 August 2008

Westonbirt’s Festival of the Tree spreads its roots

Since taking root at Westonbirt - the National Arboretum 10 years ago the celebrated Festival of the Tree has blossomed. And this summer, from 18-25 August, it’s set to draw more people than ever. Across the week, there’s the famous giant tree sculpting event ‘Sculptree’ alongside loads of family fun and trips up into the trees. Then over the Bank Holiday weekend, the fantastic Woodcraft Exhibition has artisan crafts to buy alongside expert demonstrations. All this takes place against the fitting backdrop of rare and spectacular trees that make up this world-famous Forestry Commission tree garden.

For ‘Sculptree’, 12 of the world’s top sculptors apply chainsaws, chisels and sheer muscle power to huge recycled Westonbirt tree trunks, carving out colossal works of art. This year, nearly all the sculptors are home grown – including three new faces alongside festival favourites such as Lee Dickenson and Neil Gow from Stroud, whose ‘Surfer’ wave is inspired by the great rollers along the Australian coastline. ‘Nostalgia’ is Paul Clarke’s 3-metre homage to a much slower pace of life – when blue tits stole the cream from the tops of doorstep milk bottles.

The annual Festival of the Tree is a real summer treat and a great day out for all the family. Throughout the week, kids can take a trip up into the trees in a suspended harness and get a bird’s eye view of the world. Alongside ‘Sculptree’, they can have a pow-wow in tipi village, climb aboard old-fashioned rides and follow the William Woodworm trail through the trees.

Over the long Bank Holiday weekend, from 22-25 August, the tented Woodcraft Exhibition becomes second home to over 150 renowned craftsmen and women – demonstrating their unique talents and selling specialist antique and new tools alongside artisan wooden products, from musical instruments to garden art.

With the resurgence of interest in working with wood, expert demonstrations including guitar making, cabinet making and boat building are increasingly popular, and last year’s international masterclasses are back by huge demand - with Canadian Rob Cosman displaying his skills alongside the UK’s John Lloyd and David Charlesworth. There’s even the rare opportunity to buy unique pieces of wood felled within the Arboretum to further skills at home.

The festival draws to an exciting close on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon (25 August), with the public auction of the mighty wooden sculptures created over the week. This frantic auction raises many thousands of pounds for the Bristol-based charity Tree Aid, which helps support African villagers in planting and getting the most out of their trees. On this final day, the winner of the British Woodcarvers’ Association coveted Westonbirt Trophy is also announced – in honour of the best wood carving of the exhibition, as chosen purely by public vote.

Simon Hough, Westonbirt Arboretum’s Events Manager, says: "The Festival of the Tree is what Westonbirt is all about – people with passion and a desire to share their skills and enthusiasm with others, including our thousands of visitors. This week is becoming a firm favourite in our diary and has something for everyone, from real enthusiasts to people of all ages who simply love trees."Westonbirt is open all year round - from 9am-5pm. The festival is open from 9am-5pm, and during that week admission to the whole arboretum is £8 for adults, £3 for children (18yrs and under). Annual membership is also available.

Westonbirt Arboretum is three miles south west of Tetbury on the A433 (Tetbury to Bath Road). It is 10 miles north east of Junction 18 of the M4, and south-east of junction 13 of the M5.- ENDS -

For further information, please contact Gail McKenzie, Communications Officer, Westonbirt - The National Arboretum, on 01666 881 207

email:  

gail.mckenzie@forestry.gsi.gov.uk