Newstead 'Treefest' Free Festival, Nottinghamshire :: Part 1

Newstead Treefest is a free festival focusing on music, arts, crafts, health and the environment held on the reclaimed Greenfield site, formerly the location of Newstead Colliery in Newstead Village, Notts. Treefest was initiated to encourage and enhance community spirit and involvement and aims to offer positive experiences through a range of mediums.

Newstead Treefest is now in its 7th year as an annual weekend festival for the local community and beyond. This FREE festival aims to offer something for everyone and cater for all ages and tastes.

We aim to recycle a high percentage of waste from Treefest. Please remember to bring cans not bottles!

The main attraction will be the music stage with a variety of bands playing throughout the weekend. There will be a mix of new talent and established local acts, many from Footprints Studio Nottingham. Headlining Acts are local funk band “Fat Digester” and Ska band “Rankin Steady” on the Saturday. On the Sunday headliners are “Vaccine” with their drum and bass and Russian rock act “Blast” return to Treefest as part of their UK tour for the release of their new album.

The Dance and Teenage Area will be open day and night with a variety of DJ styles and musical influences hosted by the Fayre Play Collective. County Youth Arts are providing a wide range of opportunities through skills based activities for the teenagers and young people throughout the weekend and Bandwagon will be bringing 'The Most' mobile studio where young people will be able to produce their own TV or radio style news reports.

The Environmental area will offer a tranquil escape and an opportunity to see local craftspeople at work. This area aims to increase awareness of Environmental issues, engage and involve young people in environmental activities through participatory workshops and displays. Activities will include Woodcarving, with this years project being a giant snail, Dreamcatcher workshops, Recycled Jewellery, a medical herbalist, a traditional pole lathe as well as a craft marquee, JUMP youth project displays and poetry readings. There will also be a platform for local pressure groups involved in environmental issues to share their views.

For those that want to completely wind down The Holistic Health Team will be offering a range of complementary therapies, including Reflexology, Indian Head Massage, Thai Yoga, Facials, aromatherapy, yoga class and a martial arts class provided by The Tao Academy.

On the Sunday there will be a full day of free dance workshops provided by Dance 4.

For the youngsters there is a large Children’s and Families area and to start the Festival off a carnival procession, which the children of Newstead Primary School have worked leading up to the event with assistance from Samba Wamba. This years theme is Healthy Eating, so watch out for giant apples with little legs sticking out from underneath. Endless activities in the Children’s area over the weekend include Dance and Drama, Pottery, Puppeteer’s, Theatre and Circus skills workshops to name a few. Bouncy slides and face painting will of course be available.

The Newstead Healthy Living Centre will also be offering health promotion and information in the Health Zone and promoting local health initiatives.

There will be craft and food stalls catering for all tastes and plenty of room to chill out and enjoy the Festival vibe.

For those that want to stay all weekend Camping is available at nearby Moseley Farm. For the thirsty, nearby Newstead Miners Welfare are also holding a Real Ale Festival over the weekend.

The most important aspect to the concept behind Treefest is that it is totally FREE!!!!!


More Pictures from this event on my FotoBlog at:  http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=499593


Treefest- c/o Newstead Miners Welfare and Community Centre. Tilford Road. Newstead Village. Notts. NG15 0BS

 info@treefest.co.uk

 http://www.treefest.co.uk

Last year 2004 pictures of this event at:

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/07/295011.html



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ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email:  tash@gn.apc.org
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