Between the Trees
MERTHYR MAWR, 2018
It was a pleasure for Sustainable Wales / Cymru Gynaliadwyto participate in this new festival, held over 3 days in August and September, 2018.
Dawn Wood, and partner Andrew, whose brainchild ‘Between the Trees’ is, put in an immense amount of work, first planning, then and carrying out all festival demands.
But the festival could not have worked without the marvelous support of a wonderful team of volunteers.
Indeed, the whole enterprise was voluntary and unsponsored.
‘Between the Trees’ featured music, film, poetry, craft, science workshops, play areas, and a host of local food suppliers. It proved emphatically child-centred, as family groups camped out in the woods and dunes, in some cases for three nights.
Robert Minhhinnick gave a reading from his Wales ‘Book of the Year’ winning volume from Carcanet, ‘Diary of the Last Man’.
Eamon Bourke of Park6 screened his 30 minute film of the same name, some of the poetry from which was written about areas of the Merthyr Mawr/Newton Burrows dunes only a few hundred yards from the festival site.
Local businesses were involved from the outset, not least the new Bridgend-based ‘Bang On’ brewery.
Sustainable Wales spoke to Merthyr Mawr estates manager, Rory McLaggan, during the festival, and he seemed well pleased.
Of course, excellent weather helped hugely!
Rory, Dawn and Andrew hope that ‘Between the Trees’ takes place again, possibly at the equivalent weekend in 2019.
Many people feel ‘Between the Trees’ proved a perfect-sized festival, and trust it does not grow.
With Philip Irwin, of the Gem (who has supplied the images in this article), Robert and Margaret Minhinnick stayed until the festival finale, given by singer Charlotte Church, and up and coming songwriter, Al Lewis.
Thanks to all, but especially Dawn and Andrew. It was a pleasure to be part of your great idea.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i bawb yn yr wyl!
