Gardens festival set to raise funds
BANGOR University’s botanic gardens at Treborth will host a family-friendly festival on June 8.
The gardens will be filled with fantastic music across three stages, revellers enjoying vegetarian food, children exploring the ancient woodlands and meadows, families learning drumming and dance together, and so much more.
All of this is part of Draig Beats, which runs from 10am to 9pm.
The event is organised by friends and colleagues of Dr Sophie Williams, a former Bangor University lecturer who contracted Japanese encephalitis while on fieldwork in China in 2015.
Draig Beats ran for the first time last year and raised more than £15,000 for the Sophie Williams Trust – the fund set up to pay for the adaptations needed for Sophie to return to her home near Tregarth after nearly four years in residential care.
Julia Jones, professor of conservation at Bangor University said: “Sophie has always had a talent for bringing people together.
“As a student at Bangor University, she was involved in raising money and campaigning to support the botanic gardens. When she fulfilled her dream and became a lecturer at the university, she was deeply involved in the garden every day.
“It is so fitting that Sophie’s creative and talented friends are running their festival, Draig Beats, at Treborth.
“This time it is raising money both for the Sophie Williams Trust and Treborth Botanic Gardens.
Sophie’s partner Dr Robert Annewandter said: “The success of last year’s Draig Beats left us overwhelmed. The atmosphere was brilliant and the money raised is so important as it will help Sophie finally to move home. Sophie greatly appreciates the incredible support from her friends, colleagues and the wider community.”
The event includes live bands and DJs across three music stages, Syrcas Cimera, workshops, a Wellbeing Area, the locally-based Wild Elements Forest School, tea and cake stalls, home cooked vegetarian food, a fully licensed bar, and much more. Children under 12 free. Tickets £25 on the door or £20 in advance. Unfortunately, dogs can’t be accommodated.