Voices in the Forest Festival

21 to 24 June - The Voices in the Forest Festival kicks off in celebration of the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail’s 21st anniversary, with a full array of exciting events and unveilings.

Thursday 21 June 2007 marks the 21st anniversary of one of Gloucestershire’s best attractions – the Forest of Dean’ Sculpture Trail – and to celebrate the occasion in style at 2pm, the official anniversary time, Stuart Frost’s smoke ring will be lit to mark the momentous occasion.

Visitors can expect to see Frost’s recently-revamped exhibition in its true glory, with bellows of smoke emerging from a ring-shaped tunnel in forest floor, before drifting through the nearby trees in what is a not-to-be-missed spectacle which only takes place on special occasions.

The first day of the Voices in the Forest Festival will also include a historical display of literature about the Sculpture Trail, photography, film and artwork displays from local schools and a guided tour around the spectacular trail itself.

Activities on Friday 22 June have been reserved for local schools while Saturday 23 June will see a full line-up of events transform the trail. Listen to stories about the creative minds in the Forest of Dean and get involved in the interactive attraction, attend the talk about Forest writers from local expert Doug McClean from The Forest Bookshop and listen to the brand new Forest Symphony performed by the Forest of Dean’s brass and silver bands and choirs.

You’ll also have the chance to step up to the lightening tree speaker’s corner and air your views alongside the likes of the Forest of Dean’s MP and shadow defence minister Mark Harper, or watch rural and forest skills experts demonstrate everything from dry stone walling to wagon making.

Forest Youth Theatre will be presenting Stories of the Forest, local producers will be offering their finest foods at the market and SheepScape will be officially launched – the Forest of Dean’s very own flock of fibreglass sheep created by local artists and schoolchildren.

Sunday 24 June, the final day of the Voices in the Forest festival, will see the unveiling of Talking Trees – a new audio-visual installation inspired by the local area’s history, and Chloe the midnight storyteller promises to have audiences on the edges of their seats with her tales about the ancient ‘wildwood’.

Visitors will also be given the chance to contribute their own special something to the Dean Heritage Centre’s forthcoming exhibit Moving Voices. Foresters will be invited to enter the sound booth and talk about what they love about the Forest of Dean, as well as supplying a photo which will then be used on a wall mural where visitors will be able to share in their memories and thoughts.

Whether you’re a seasoned visitor or are still planning to drop by one day, the Sculpture Trail’s 21st birthday gives you the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the local attraction as it comes of age.

Event: Voices in the Forest Festival
Venue: Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail
Date: Thursday 21 to Saturday 24 June
Times: Open from 10am to 3pm each day
Tickets: Admission is free. Call (01594) 833057 for more information.

SoGlos.com
21 June 2007