EARTH FESTIVALS 2017

FOR VEGANS

Northern Vegan Festival, Manchester

1 April

Celebrate and learn about vegan living at this one-day Viva! Festival. Enjoy delicious vegan food, washed down with vegan beer, wine and cider; listen to talks, take part in workshops, and watch cookery demos at Manchester Central, the Friends Meeting House, Cross Street Chapel and The Thirsty Scholar. All proceeds go to animal welfare charities.

INTERNATIONAL ECO AWARENESS DAY

Earth Day, Global

22 April

This international ecology day - coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network - is marked in 193 countries, to demonstrate support for environmental awareness. Events and festivals will be held to broaden and diversify the environmental movement, address climate change and protect the earth through eco-aware democracy. The first Earth Day, celebrated by 20 million Americans, took place in 1970, and now more than 1 billion people participate worldwide. This year UK events on 22 April include the Cornwall Vegan Festival in Porthtowan, with stalls, talks and workshops; the European Stone Stacking Championships in Dunbar, East Lothian, which celebrates the meditative art of balancing stones; and Earth Optimism in Cambridge, a day of inspiring talks by conservationists, and naturalists.

FILM FESTIVAL

UK Green Film Festival, Nationwide

4-11 May

This nationwide celebration of environmental films explores green issues through films screened up and down the country at venues such as the Barbican in London, and the Glasgow Film Theatre. Check the website nearer the time for details.

 ALTERNATIVE GARDENING FESTIVAL

Chelsea Fringe, London & nationwide

20 May - 4 June

This fabulous festival encompasses 16 days of gardening and botanical arts projects and events up and down the country. In London, enjoy the city's first floating park on the Grand Union Canal - a green space for wildlife and Londoners with nectar-rich flower borders and decked seating platforms above the water; and wonder at nature-related art at the Espacio Gallery in Bethnal Green, including sculpture, painting and photography.

 FOR MOUNTAIN GOATS

Keswick Mountain Festival, Cumbria

8-11 June

Enjoy outdoor activities, competitive events, and live music amidst the majestic Lake District National Park. This family-friendly festival includes triathlons and cycling, swimming and running races, with all abilities catered for: whilst some runners will be content with the 5k lakeside run, the super fit might be willing to brave the gruelling Salomon Ultra 50k Trail Race, which takes runners up and over four mountain passes. Enjoy music from KT Tunstall, Cast, and the Peatbog Faeries, as well as guided activities, such as ghyll scrambling, navigation and fell walks.

FOR EARTH LOVERS

Earth Fest Ireland, Co. Meath

9-11 June

This earth awareness festival is a celebration of nature over three days. Enjoy talks on sustainability, biodiversity, and organic biodynamic living; workshops on eco home building and crafts; and earth-centric ceremonies. Families are well catered for with activities and entertainment for kids, including story telling. There is a focus on healing during the day, including chanting meditation and sound therapy. At night poets and musicians will take to the stage, and the dancing will begin.

FOR GARDENERS

RHS Summer Urban Garden Show, London

12-13 July

Only the second year of the Royal Horticultural Society's new annual celebration of urban growing, this is the place to come to learn about city gardening. Purchase plants for small gardens, balconies, windowsills and roof terraces; be inspired by talks, workshops and displays; and enjoy food and drink by the Young Vegans, Vegan Sweet Tooth, and the Gin Garden.

FOR THE ECO-MINDED

Green Gathering, Monmouthshire

3-6 August

One of the most established eco festivals in the UK, the Green Gathering (formerly the Big Green Gathering) is a celebration of the earth. Enjoy talks and workshops on green politics, eco crafts, renewable energy, and permaculture. Great music comes from politically conscious singers; folk, swing, reggae and punk bands; dance acts, and more. Take part in earth ceremonies and sacred chants, meditate in the peace dome, and relax in the healing field with yoga classes, massage and complementary therapies.

MUSIC, FOOD, YOGA & OUTDOORS FESTIVAL

Wilderness Festival, Oxfordshire

3-6 August

This family-friendly festival is a sophisticated party with a focus on great music, talks, outdoor fun, yoga and delicious food. Dance under the sun as Grace Jones, Two Door Cinema Club, and Bonobo hit the main stage; enjoy jazz with Ronnie Scott's, late night cabaret, hip hop karaoke and more. Foodies will not want to miss banquets by Yotam Ottolenghi and Nuno Mendes; there is family fun with children's games, workshops and circus shows; Greenpeace and Oliver Morton will give environmental talks; and there is the opportunity to revel in the great outdoors with wild medicine walks, lake swimming, mindfulness walks, and trail runs.

NATURE & MUSIC FESTIVAL

Into The Wild Summer Festival, East Sussex

25-28 August

Get outside into the summer bloom to celebrate the wilds of nature at this family-friendly festival. During the day there will be talks, workshops and activities including wild games for kids, foraging, fire making, archery, gong baths, meditation, shamanism, dance, raw food, woodland theatre and yoga galore. And at night, beneath the stars, enjoy live music from around the world.

FOR RUNNERS

Something Wild, Dartmoor

1-3 September

This trail running festival is held in the beautiful wilds of Dartmoor National Park in Devon. Organised by top trail runner Ceri Rees, whose company Wild Running offers coaching, running tours and running camps in Dartmoor and beyond, this is a celebration of off-road running. From Huccaby Farm, Hexworthy, which sits on the River Dart in a secluded valley, runners can compete in the 10k, half-marathon, marathon, and relay races; there will also be talks, and children's activities, including races and a forest school.

FOR TREE HUGGERS

Into the Trees, East Sussex

9 & 10 September

This new family-friendly festival, in the heart of Ashdown Forest, is a celebration of outdoor living, and explores ways of living, playing and creating art in the woods. Children can enjoy slacklining, tree climbing, archery, den building, and storytelling, as well as nature trails and workshops with The Sussex Wildlife Trust and The Woodland Trust. There is the opportunity to learn woodman's crafts, such as hedge laying, fire lighting, foraging, and coppicing; and to enjoy the creations of woodland artists, such as Sandra Hurst Chico and Martin Brockman.