Between the Trees Festival 2026

Between The Trees is the vision of two educators, Andrew Thomas and Dawn Wood. They noticed, time and again, that students were becoming increasingly unmotivated, and they felt this was largely due to a growing disconnect from the natural world. The way people were living their lives—balancing education, work, and leisure—meant that they were more connected to their screens than to their surroundings. Modern life had become far more stressful and less focused on community, conversation, and activities that support physical and mental well-being.

Driven by a passion to make a difference, Andrew and Dawn founded Between The Trees in 2014. With its unique theme of nature and science, the festival aims to reconnect people with the natural world. It features a blend of original indie folk music, art, and spoken word within a community that welcomes all and encourages thinking and creativity. They couldn’t have chosen a more suitable location—Merthyr Mawr National Nature Reserve is one of Wales’ Sites of Special Scientific Interest and a haven for wildlife, with magical woodlands, magnificent sand dunes, and the sea beyond.

“We often forget that we are nature. Nature is not something separate from us. So, when we say that when we have lost our connection to nature, we have lost our connection to ourselves.”
Andy Goldsworthy

Between The Trees 2026 will be held on 27th–30th August 2026 at Candleston Woods, Merthyr Mawr, South Wales.