© Green Gathering and Adam Tatton Reid
Green Gathering
As an eco-conscious family passionate about the outdoors, last year’s Green Gathering festival in Chepstow was an absolute delight. Held in the stunning Piercefield Park, this off-grid festival is a celebration of sustainability, community and nature, with a wonderful family atmosphere.
The moment we arrived, we were welcomed by friendly staff and the lush green surroundings. The festival felt spacious, with a layout that was simple to get around, giving us plenty of room to explore and relax.
The variety of activities for children of all ages was one of the highlights. Our younger children loved the Kids’ Garden and Village Green, where they could try crafts and circus skills and shop at the Swap Shop. We were entranced by the interactive shows in the Raconteurs’ Delight, and the Enchanted Woods were magical and peaceful, by day and by night.
Teens had a blast in their own space, with aerial workshops and a range of games. We loved the Craft Area, where we tried needle-felting and creating beeswax food wraps, and the Silent Disco was a fun touch. Sitting around the fire in the evening and enjoying live music was the perfect way to round off each day.
We were super impressed by the festival’s eco focus. The food was locally sourced, organic, and plant-based, and everything from the toilets to the vendors reflected a commitment to sustainability. We appreciated inclusive spaces such as the POD, providing comfort for those with sensory needs.
The Green Gathering was an incredible and inspiring experience and we can’t wait to be back!
Sharon, mum of three
greengathering.org.uk
Hay Festival
As a book lover, I have enjoyed attending Hay Festival since my early twenties. There are so many events on offer over the 11 days. Often I’ll choose talks on subjects I know little about, and the passion and knowledge of the speakers is always so powerful in firing up an intellectual curiosity. Each year, without fail, I am inspired by unexpected delights. It really is mind-expanding. And it’s fun to continue the debate with friends after the talks, sitting on deckchairs in the central square.
Getting on for two decades later, I am now taking my two children along with me. There is a brilliant family programme of engaging children’s authors, illustrators and performers, and I love witnessing my girls’ delight in learning something new or laughing at Michel Rosen’s poetry, for example – a regular speaker there.
The festival is well set up for families, with a fantastic craft area, a Family Garden to explore, a sculpture trail and interactive workshops. There are opportunities for young people to participate in creative writing sessions with authors, or work on animation, among other skills. It’s a thoroughly creative place and offers people of all ages a chance to tap into that.
Alice, mum of two
hayfestival.org/wales
Elderflower Fields
Situated in the most glorious surroundings, Elderflower Fields is a beautiful, boho-style festival aimed at letting children be free and run wild.
We first went to the festival in 2023 when Savannah was 7 and Hudson was only 5 months old. We have been to a lot of festivals as a family, and I can honestly say that Elderflower Fields definitely has ‘family’ at the forefront. I have never received so much help and assistance from staff and it really does make such a difference. The festival goes above and beyond to make your experience as magical and relaxed as possible. Older ones get to roam among the wild surroundings, and my eldest thrived on the independence. Little ones feel both free and safe, and as if they are in a fairy tale.
There’s a huge array of activities to get stuck into, our favourites being tree climbing, canoeing and making fairy headdresses. There really is something for everyone. Every child gets to join in the fun of the sports camp, which includes fencing. You can feel confident that your children are safe and having fun as you sit back and watch, perhaps enjoying a handmade smoothie or cheeky cocktail.
I have to give Woodland Tribe a special mention as the children can’t stop asking when they will be allowed to saw and hammer their own treehouses and dens at the festival again. For them to get creative in nature and to feel proud of something they build all by themselves is beautiful; it really doesn’t get any better.
The festival theme is always brilliant and makes you want to raid your wardrobe to find something magical to wear. We can’t wait for this year’s theme: Carnival of Critters vs Jungle Jukebox.
Elderflower Fields really is the best and it’s such a good festival to get the little ones into at a young age.
Hanna, mum of two
elderflowerfields.co.uk
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Published in issue 94. Accurate at the time this issue went to print.
