Forestry Commission Live Music - FAQ’s

 

1. How do I book tickets and when will I receive them?

Tickets can be booked online, over the phone or in person with the Forestry Commission.
To buy online go to www.forestry.gov.uk/music
To buy over the phone telephone the Box Office on 01842 814612
You can also buy in person at the venue

Tickets purchased from the Forestry Commission will usually arrive within two weeks of booking. If you have not received your tickets in this time please inform the Box Office.

You can also buy tickets though our approved agents. We no not advise you to purchase tickets from ticket brokers or internet auction sites.

If you book tickets close to the time of the concert there may not be enough time to deliver them to you in which case they will be held at the venue for you to collect on the evening of the concert. Ticket collections can be made at the box office at the venue from 6pm onwards.

2. What are Forestry Commission concert venues like?

All of the Forestry Commission concerts are held in stunning outdoor locations. All our venues are outdoor sites, usually clearings in the forest.
No seating is provided or seating reserved. You are welcome to bring folding picnic chairs or rugs. If a standing area has been designated directly in front of the stage seating brought into the venue will not be allowed in this area.
Concerts will go ahead regardless of weather, except in circumstances where the conditions at the venue are deemed unsafe or unfeasible to proceed with the event. We advise that you wear suitable clothing and footwear for an outdoor event. Unfortunately, we can not permit umbrellas to be taken into the arena.
A full licensed bar and a variety of hot food outlets are available at all venues. You are welcome to bring picnics, but please check the terms and conditions carefully as items including but not limited to glass, cans, tables, and non-plastic cutlery and crockery are not permitted in the arena. Please note bar and food outlets do not accept card payments and there are no cashpoints at the venues.
Lasers and strobe lighting maybe used as part of the performance.

3. Information for Disabled Customers

Disabled car parking, toilets and optional viewing platform are available at every venue.
For more information on disabled access contact the box office on 01842 814612.
Registered assistance dogs are permitted, but the live sound may disturb the animal. No other dogs are allowed on site.

4. What time can I arrive and when will the music start?

Concert car parks open at 5pm, the arena opens at 6pm, with live music starting from about 7.30pm and finishing about 10.30pm. These times are approximate, for the latest updates on running times please check the website as the concert date approaches.

5. Travel arrangements

Sufficient car parking for visitors is provided on site. Vehicles should not be left overnight in the car parks.
If you are arriving by taxi or being dropped off, make sure you have made arrangements for your return journey in advance as forest sites do not have public telephones and most sites have poor mobile reception.

6. Where can I stay?

No camping will be allowed on site or in the car park area. Contact the nearest Tourist Information Centre for details of local accommodation.

7. Where are the venues?

• Bedgebury Pinetum and, Park Lane, Goudhurst, Kent, TN17 2SL
• Cannock Chase Forest, Lady Hill, Birches Valley, Rugeley, Staffs, WS15 2UQ
• Dalby Forest, Adderstone Field, Nr Thornton Le Dale, Pickering, N.Yorks YO18 7LR
• Delamere Forest Park, Delamere, Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 2JD 
• Sherwood Pines Forest Park, Edwinstowe, Mansfield, Notts, NG21 9JL
• High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Santon Downham, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0AF
• Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QS

8. Why does the Forestry Commission host concerts?

The Forestry Commission is committed to taking the importance of woodlands to new audiences, and making them relevant to people in new ways. We have to encourage people to enjoy woodlands, to feel at home there, and to learn about them through experiencing them and looking at them in different ways. The best way of getting people to engage in the importance of woodlands, and to teach them about respecting their environment, is not to preach at them, but to ensure they value and feel for the environment around them. In 2008 over 114,000 people attended concerts organised by the Forestry Commission.

The live music programme is self-sustaining, and provides valuable revenue to plough back into our management of woodlands in a variety of social and environmental projects. In recent years examples include work on habitat creation for endangered butterfly species; health projects to encourage young and old alike to get out and about in the natural environment - from mountain biking to T'ai Chi; installing woodfuel heating systems to help us contribute towards (and demonstrate how everyone can get involved in) the fight against climate change; the regeneration of industrial sites and renewal of disused areas into community woodlands; and many more schemes.

9. Do the concerts affect the woodlands?

The Commission has some of the country's leading wildlife and habitat experts among its staff. All venues are carefully vetted to ensure that they will not have undue impact on the local flora
and fauna. One of the many strengths of woodland, as a habitat, is its robustness, and its ability to "carry" people, and absorb sound and activity. The sizes of the sites we use ensure we can select an appropriate area for the concert which causes little or no damage to the wider site. After each concert litter teams clean and hand pick the site. It takes about 72 hours to de-rig the infrastructure and return the site to its original state. Similarly we work with local Police authorities to ensure there will be a smooth flow of traffic to and from all events. Sites are generally clear of traffic within one hour of closing the arena. The concert sites are not linked to any of our sensitive areas, and the tour is all about encouraging responsible enjoyment of the forest. These concerts give people a legitimate way to enjoy woodlands, in a responsible and fun way.

10.How can I get in touch?

The box office is staffed Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and from 10am - 1pm on Saturdays. Telephone 01842 814612  
Fax 01842 811309
You can also contact us by email on concertinfo@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
You can write to us at:
Box Office
Forestry Commission East of England
Santon Downham
Brandon
Suffolk
IP27 0TJ