Limetree Festival has a relaxing and chilled out approach
Limetree Festival 2010 review
Friday 3rd September 2010
This small but perfectly formed festival is held in a nature reserve and conservation area which has it's own stone circle, two main arenas and healing and kids areas. Out in the North Yorkshire countryside it is a world away from the nearby Leeds festival and so far removed, for one day at Leeds festival you can get a full weekend ticket with camping and parking at Limetree. The vibe is truly unique, with friendly people everywhere and so much to keep you entertained, you'll forget you're in cold Yorskhire!
Run by a really lovely couple for the love of it and nothing else, you are drawn in the minute you arrive. No long haul from the car to the tent, no nasty security after your soul, and no trouble what so ever, this event is so very chilled and relaxed it's unreal. The music is top notch too, with most of the artists coming from local areas, and plenty of music to discover, everyone is just happy to be here.
A stall selling wood stove pizzas with the impressive name of Pizza Slut have a little acoustic music going on until late, and the main bar, selling real ale and cider (when they don't run out!) at £3 a pint also have entertainment from beatboxers and MCs and DJs until late.
The healing area up the hill from the Jason Rae Stage has a cute little garden made from bits of recycled rubbish and with wonderful artwork, and with massages and reflexology from Rebekah French, Owen Hardcastle, Anne and Despina. Plus there is Yoga at 10am every morning in the centre of the stone circle.
Kids are more than catered for with the Urban Gypsies providing belly dancing workshops, Rainmaker's drumming workshops, Marvellous Tea Dance company, Charlie's mask making, Sonia teaching hula hoop skills, Captain Kipper puppet show and walkabout Mona Lisa painting complete with added moaning, Lesley t shirt printing and pottery, Electric Juice teaching how to make dreamcatchers, singing workshops from Jacqui Wicks, juggling with Stevie Wizzard and bedtime stories if all this fails to tire them out!
The food stalls are few but well selected, with wonderful choice and price, and showers are large, clean and long running with the chance to buy soap, shampoo and towels. Even the First Aid area in the camping field looks stunning, set in a old cone structure which is always present on the farm. The land itself, owned by Peter and Irene Townsend, was turned into a conservation area in 1987 after being a working dairy farm with a badger set, bird hide, many new hedges planted and ponds made. The land now has many gatherings including Wiccans, Buddhists, Shamans, as well as school groups and environmental groups.
Any profits from the festival go to keeping this area as it is, and also to many charities; PAFRAS (Positive Action For Refugees and Asylum Seekers), GVI (Global Vision international), Angels (for sick and newborn babies) and HFT (Home Farm Trust Ltd) for people with learning disabilities. All this just makes you proud to be at the festival and helping out whilst enjoying yourself. I for one will be going back for it's relaxing and chilled out approach to festival running and to see the many friends you make in the space of three days.
review by Danielle Millea photos by Danielle Millea
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