Festival in the forest to return

A THREE-day festival of music and the arts is to return in July.

The third Timber Festival will take place in the National Forest from July 2 to 4.

Musicians Gruff Rhys, The Unthanks, Snapped Ankles, Erland Cooper, Field Music and Sam Lee top the bill.

Authors, poets, performance artists and podcasters will also take part, including MP Caroline Lucas.

There will be a reading of Letters to the Earth from Culture Declares Emergency, including contributions from Emma Thompson, Yoko Ono and Kae Tempest.

Radio 4’s Geoff Bird will host a live version of Wilderness Tracks with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and Coronation Street star, Julie Hesmondhalgh.

Rowan Cannon and Sarah Bird, of co-organiser Wild Rumpus, said: “After the year we’ve all had Timber offers the perfect opportunity to unwind and connect with nature in a meaningful way.”