Timber, the new outdoor arts festival celebrating the story of the National Forest in the Midlands, has been nominated for the prestigious UK Festivals Awards, the top accolade of the festival world.

The festival of the National Forest, which celebrated trees and woodlands through music, arts, woodland fun and ideas, has been nominated in two categories: Best New Festival and Best Small Festival.  Now, the National Forest Company, who created Timber in partnership with not-for-profit festival producers Wild Rumpus, is encouraging members of the public to vote for the festival and bring one – or both – these awards back to the National Forest.

Jo Maker, Festival Co-ordinator for Timber at the National Forest Company, said: “This is a real coup to be up for both Best New Festival and Best Small Festival in our first year! Competition is fierce, but these prestigious UK Festival Awards celebrate the best of the nation's festivals and would be huge recognition for our achievements with Timber 2018.

“Feedback received from festival-goers this year spoke of a real connection with nature, and the amazing atmosphere. It was so chilled out and different to other more commercial festivals with its use of the extensive woodland spaces which people could explore rather than standing in a field with a large music stage.”

Jo continued:  “The shortlisted festivals are decided via online voting which closes on 30 October. We are hoping all our supporters – those who joined us at Timber this year, and those who have it top of their list for next – will vote for Timber and encourage their friends and family to do the same, in support of this exciting new festival for the National Forest.”

The link to vote is here:

https://lnkd.in/dYXvDQf

Following the public vote to establish the shortlist for each award category, a panel of industry experts will decide the final winners.

Timber took place in the beautiful woodland glades and meadows of Feanedock, just outside Ashby de la Zouch in Leicestershire. The programme featured international artist Jony Easterby and literary figures such as Robert Macfarlane and president of the Ramblers, Stuart Maconie, alongside local groups including the Youth Landscapers from Moira and Donisthorpe, The Coal Tits singers and The Bee Farmer from Ashby de la Zouch.

“I visited for the day but I desperately wish I'd booked for the whole weekend,” said one festival attender. Over 4,000 people, from within the Forest and all over the country, enjoyed art installations, woodland crafts and live music and spoken word, all accompanied by delicious local food and drink, over a sun-drenched three days.

Timber 2019 takes place 5 – 7 July and the first programme announcements will be unveiled in January. Early Bird tickets are on sale now at www.timberfestival.org.uk  - National Forest residents benefit from a 25% discount on all tickets.

Timber has also been nominated for the LeicesterShire Promotions 2018 Tourism and Hospitality Awards and the National Outdoor Event Awards.

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Media contact:

Carol Rowntree Jones, Media Relations Officer, National Forest Company, on 01283 551211 mob 07870 568628  email: crowntreejones@nationalforest.org

For background information on the National Forest see www.nationalforest.org    Digital images are available:  contact media@nationalforest.org

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The National Forest area covers 200 square miles of the counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.  Its objective is to increase woodland cover within its boundaries from an initial six per cent to about a third. No multi-purpose forest on this scale has been created in the UK for one thousand years. More than 8.7 million trees have been planted so far, trebling the proportion of woodland cover in the Forest to over 20 per cent.
2. Year by year, the National Forest has been steadily turning what was once one of the least wooded areas of England into a multi-purpose, sustainable forest.  The National Forest provides environmental, social and economic benefits, including landscape enhancement, creation of new wildlife habitats and major new access and leisure opportunities. It is an excellent example of sustainable development – with environmental improvement providing a stimulus both to economic regeneration and to community pride and activity.
3. To achieve these objectives, the National Forest Company leads the creation of the National Forest, working in partnership with landowners, local authorities, private business, voluntary organisations and local communities and has strong support from Government, politicians and the public.  The Company, now also a charity, continues to receive grant support from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Charity no: 1166563.