overview

As we set out for our favourite family festival of the year, our excitement grows. Ten minutes away from the Wychwood site on Cheltenham race course and the sun breaks through the patchy cloud to lighten our spirits and put a smile on our faces. Given the recent weather forecasts for the weekend, this is a real result. We arrive on site just after the gates officially open and are delighted to see no queues into the car park. Getting out of the car to exchange tickets for wristbands, the mood improves further still as we spot a few friends who are also on their way to the box office. Again a really short queue and we are all ready to make our way onto site and choose our site to set up camp.



The organisers at Wychwood have obviously taken on board the feedback from the chaos of last year (when we were held for an hour and a half to drive onto the site to drop off our camping gear). We had been directed to a drop off point and asked to unload and carry our load to our chosen spot. No such palaver this time. We drive straight into the camping field and are allowed to stop at any sensible point on the field's perimeter. Despite the rain in the weeks leading up to the festival, the fields are well drained and we only notice one small muddy patch on the well drained course.

From an organisational perspective, we were greeted with many happy smiling and helpful stewards who gave us a free site map on arrival. Such simple efforts go a long way to making life easier and helping to orientate Wychwood regulars and new comers alike. We were also pleased to be given recycling and rubbish bags.

As more festival goers arrive, the camp site fills but never feels the congestion that you see at so many other festivals. It makes life so much easier when trying to navigate to the main arena with a push chair. Having been able to unload directly onto our temporary home for the weekend, we are able to get set up quickly and easily and continue the happy vibe. Once the cars are unloaded, they are driven back off site and into the car park where they stay until we are ready to repeat the process in reverse.

The tranquil setting of the site provides a great place to unwind and await the arrival of friends. Our children, (aged 2 and 7) are excited to be out in the open air and make new friends with our temporary neighbours. Wychwood really does provide a unique environment for families to relax and spend quality time together away from the daily grind. The practicalities of the camp site are well planned. The toilets are well lit and are emptied regularly. At no point over the weekend did I open a door and cringe - as is so often the case at other festivals and the ones I found were stocked with plenty of loo roll.

The fire lanes and main paths are well lit with the few soggy areas carefully cordoned off. The organisers take their environmental responsibilities even further than their already high standards. Separate bins for glass, plastic and cans in the main arena, clearly visible rubbish areas in the campsite and beer cups made from maize ensure that we all feel that we are doing our bit.

With so many worthy causes out there, the organisers of Wychwood put some thought into their chosen partners and actively support and promote them by urging people to seek them out through announcements from the main stage. War on Want and The Big Ask campaign are well supported but not at all demanding.



The main site seems slightly bigger and more open compared to last year. The children's entertainment and activities are also raised from the extremely good precedent set over previous years. Wychwood has the highest ratio of under 12s to adults of any UK-based festival and it is easy to see why. On a purely practical level, the whole site is flat and relatively compact meaning that pushing pushchairs isn't too much of a physical challenge and getting back to the tent for any emergency equipment forgotten earlier does not present any difficulty. We spend hours being delighted by puppet shows, wowed by story tellers, and making the most of the circus skills workshops. The area given over to the children feels very enclosed and safe.

There is a bar close by which houses the Wickwar stage and offers live music, meaning that even while keeping a close eye on the children, you don't feel isolated or out on a limb or have to miss out on any music. At the same time, the bar is just far enough away so as not to encroach. Children really are a big part of this festival and the hard work put in to make them feel included really cannot go unnoticed. At the other end of the main arena, between the main stage and the big top a huge bouncy slide and Gladiators-style inflatable give more entertainment to children (and adults).



There are also stalls that provide a number of ways for children to offload their pocket money on juggling equipment, poi and diabolo as well as the slightly less energetic bubbles, sweets, and children's clothes and novelties. We thoroughly enjoy Captain Barnacles puppet show and hearing about his adventures with his girlfriend Zar Zar de Boujoulais. The balance of these and many other shows and acts combine audience participation, music and masses of humour all aimed at a child's level. Keep it up Wychwood we (and our children) are thoroughly impressed!!

The festival's growth and popularity are fairly obvious on Saturday. The main stage is busier during Duffy's set than I have seen it at any other time. While remaining relatively small, we still have the feeling that you can wander around and happen upon something new, exiting and interesting. Ten Bears in the Wickwar stage, Kissmet in the Big Top, and Stornoways early slot on the main stage are all unexpected and unplanned delights.

The walkabout acts seem fewer than in previous years but the quality is superb. A 10 foot angel on wheels, a robot on stilts and what looks like Abe Lincoln and a friend on penny farthings all grab our attention and require a double take.



The comedy at Wychwood this year is another huge bonus. Improvisation and the quick witted minds have always impressed me. No more was this in evidence than in the Saturday afternoon slot given over to the Improv all stars in the Big Top. Seeing Josie Lawrence perform at her first festival (and she appears to be thoroughly enjoying it), alongside Andy Smart, Stephen Frost and Stephen Steen is a rare treat. It also gives us the opportunity to escape the sun (yes that's right sun), for a while.

During the evenings, the sound levels have to drop to accommodate the licensing regulations and appease the neighbours close by. Obviously the organisers take this seriously as they go to great lengths to ensure that the headline acts are off stage before the curfew is in effect. Queue the return of the Silent Disco. Hilarious if you are participating, dancing around with your headphones on while those around you may be dancing to the same tune or something completely different. Equally as amusing for those sitting around the tents as we try to work out the song behind the badly sung ditties being shouted when something popular is played.



Food at Wychwood is always good. Although this year I notice a price increase (it's not just confined to our supermarket shelves), there is still a fantastic choice. Ostrich burgers, kangaroo steaks, Goan fish curry, pizza, falafels, Lebanese mezze as well as the more traditional festival fodder are among the delights that our group samples. We even manage to find one stall that feeds our family of four some interesting food for less than a tenner! There are also plenty of places to buy a drink. Two big main bars on site with pleasantly short queues and a wide selection of ales, lagers and ciders as well as the ever-popular Pimms bus, a margarita stall, smoothie bar, tea shop and a wine bar.

The main arena appears to empty very quickly on Sunday evening after the brilliant Imagined Village played. Although understandable given the success of the festival with families who have to get their children back to school for the following day – it still seems a little sad to see everyone go so soon.



The going for the Wychwood festival on Cheltenham race course is not just good – it is excellent. The weather has not just held out but coated me in a healthy glow. The organisational skills have reached new heights we didn't think could be improved upon from previous years. Well done Wychwood, we look forward to our favourite family festival in 2009.

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