We Weave the Woods Weekend

Join us in this glorious woodland site for a full weekend of music, making, and performance inspired by the woods and trees. 

Find us at Beechenhurst, Speech House Road, Coleford, GL16 7EJ. The Glade is at what three words ///qualify.tinkle.radically

• Friday 10 May, 5.30pm-9pm
• Saturday 11 May 11am-9pm
• Sunday 12 May 11am-5pm

FREE and suitable for all ages. Just bring your playful selves and a sense of adventure.

A gathering in the glade as you’ve never seen it before…

The weekend features:

Friday Night Picnic Feast: The last of our birthday feasts. Come lay down a blanket, pull out a feast and settle into an evening of music, playful shows and be the first to experience our amazing installation.

Artists AndNow/ANawr presents Connect/Cysylltu: Throughout the weekend this unique site-specific piece will invite you to explore, imagine and experience. Inspired by the festival theme The Earth Beneath our Feet, this pieces explores our tangled relationship to the natural world, our links to networks both human and mycelial and our human need to gather and celebrate.

The Samovar: Welcome back from our 2016 festival, the ‘Samovar of Stories’ is an opportunity to gather and gossip, a tea party around our giant copper tea Samovar, for conversations about the Earth Beneath Our Feet over a cuppa.

Warning Notes Immerse yourself in a captivating sound world and ever changing outdoor live performance.

The Underneath A fungi-inspired multimedia installation made by Youth Landscapers Collective, a youth arts collective based in the National Forest in Leicestershire on Friday night and Saturday only.

Come and meet The Composter 

Performances by The Rumblers, festival band the Wodwose and more.

Workshops

In the WVRF tradition there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved so roll up your sleeves and have a go with various free drop-in workshops including weaving, woodworking, singing and dance.

All workshops are FREE, suitable for all, and no need to book. Check out the notice boards on the day for exact timings.

Weaving Workshops: join our forest weavers to add to our installation, or to make something to take home.

Woodworking workshops led by Forest Community Shed: try your hand at carving, making a trowel or using the pole lathe. Suitable for all abilities but children will need to be supervised by an adult at all times. 

Dance of the Diaspora: A part of our ongoing partnership with Diverse Artists Network, a mass dance piece to join in! (Saturday only)

Wye Woodland Song: Join Priscilla Andersohn for a singing workshop. No previous experience needed, just willingness, playfulness and an open heart. 

General and Access Information

• This event is happening in an outdoor forest site owned by Forestry England that is open to the public year round during visitor hours. The Forestry England site accessibility guide is here.
• There is paid parking onsite including disabled parking
• There is a long tarmac track from car park and then unpaved paths through grassed area and woodland to get to our event. See below for a video of the most accessible route if needed.
• You are welcome to bring your own food and drink, although please dispose of litter responsibly. There are refreshments available at Beechenhurst Cafe when it is open. 
• There are public toilets that are open for the duration of our event, including accessible toilets.
• There is some limited seating available on site, including some picnic benches and hay bales in the Glade. You may wish to bring your own blanket or folding chairs if you cannot stand for long.
• The Warning Notes performance which will happen later on in the afternoons and evenings includes amplified music, some pops, bangs, rumbles and loud noises. Please ask a steward for more information about this, or attend during the morning if you wish to avoid this. All other activities are unamplified, gentle and aimed at encouraging people to enjoy the natural sounds and sights of the forest.
• All of the activities and performances are FREE, relaxed and informal. You may come and go as you like.
• Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome, but please adhere to Forestry England’s site instructions, and dispose of dog poo responsibly.
• There will be Tour Guides available to assist people around the event on Saturday and Sunday. This can include audio-description and sighted guiding for people with sight-loss/blindness as well guiding anyone who feels they may benefit from a person in the know to help them around.
• There will be a schedule of performances and activities displayed on chalk boards on site, or you can ask a steward for further information.