Timber Festival is unlike anything else on the UK festival circuit. Held in Feanedock, a young woodland in the National Forest near Moira in Derbyshire, it is part music festival, part nature retreat, and part art installation. Running since 2018, it has quickly built a reputation for thoughtful programming that connects people with the natural world through music, performance, talks, and outdoor activities. If you want a festival that feeds your mind as well as your ears, Timber is the one.
The National Forest setting
The National Forest is a 200-square-mile woodland creation project transforming former coalfield land in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Staffordshire. Timber takes place within Feanedock, a section of woodland that the festival has helped to plant and develop. This is not just a backdrop but a core part of the event. The forest is the venue, and every element of the festival is designed around and within it.
The stages are set among the trees. Paths wind through the woodland to hidden performance spaces. At night, the forest is lit with installations that respond to the natural environment. It is a genuinely beautiful setting, and the festival's relationship with it is one of stewardship rather than exploitation. Timber plants trees, manages habitats, and uses the event to raise awareness of the National Forest project.
Music and performance
Timber's music programme is eclectic and adventurous. Past performers have included Anna Meredith, Stealing Sheep, C Duncan, Gwenno, and BC Camplight. The booking policy favours artists who bring something distinctive rather than headline-grabbing commercial names. Electronic music, folk, avant-garde composition, and experimental pop all feature, and the woodland acoustics add an extra dimension to every performance.
Beyond music, there are spoken word performances, theatre pieces, comedy sets, and immersive experiences scattered throughout the site. Some are programmed, others feel like chance encounters as you walk through the woods. The line between audience and environment blurs in a way that feels organic rather than contrived.
Nature and wellbeing
Timber takes its nature credentials seriously. The programme includes guided nature walks led by ecologists, wild swimming sessions, foraging workshops, dawn chorus walks, and woodland craft activities. These are not token additions but core parts of the experience. Many attendees come primarily for the nature programming and treat the music as a bonus.
The wellbeing programme includes yoga, meditation, and forest bathing. The concept of shinrin-yoku (the Japanese practice of forest bathing, or simply being present in woodland) runs through the festival's DNA. It is a restorative event in a way that most festivals, with their relentless stimulation, are not.
Family activities
Timber is excellent for families. Children's activities are woven into the main programme rather than corralled into a separate area. Den building, mud kitchens, nature art, bug hunting, and storytelling in the woods give children the kind of unstructured outdoor play that is increasingly rare. The woodland setting provides natural play opportunities that no amount of organised entertainment can match.
The festival's pace is relaxed, which suits families. There is no pressure to rush between stages or pack every hour with activity. Children can explore, climb, build, and get muddy in a safe and supervised environment. For more options, see our family-friendly festival guide.
Camping and practicalities
Camping is in the woodland and surrounding meadows. It is atmospheric but basic. There are no glamping options in the traditional sense. Bring a good tent, warm layers, and waterproofs, because a forest is significantly cooler and damper than an open field. The upside is natural shelter from wind and a camping experience that feels genuinely connected to the environment.
Facilities include compost toilets, water points, and limited washing facilities. Food traders are carefully selected and tend toward local, seasonal, and sustainable options. The festival operates with strong environmental principles, so single-use plastics are discouraged and recycling is taken seriously.
Getting there and tickets
Feanedock is near Moira in south Derbyshire, accessible from the M42/A42 corridor. Burton upon Trent and Ashby-de-la-Zouch are the nearest towns. Parking is available on site. Public transport options are limited, so driving or carpooling is recommended. The festival usually takes place over a weekend in early July.
Tickets are reasonably priced, typically £100 to £140 for a weekend, with children's tickets significantly cheaper and under-fives free. Given the intimacy and quality of the experience, it represents outstanding value. Timber has a smaller capacity than many festivals, so it can sell out. Early booking through Tickts is recommended.
Why Timber matters
In a festival landscape dominated by commercial megaevents, Timber offers something genuinely different. It is slower, quieter, more thoughtful, and more connected to the natural world. It will not suit everyone. If you want pyrotechnics, headline DJs, and a 3am rave, look elsewhere. But if you want to spend a weekend in a beautiful forest listening to adventurous music, learning about nature, and leaving feeling genuinely refreshed, Timber is one of the UK's most rewarding festivals.
