Will Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan turn up? Singer David Gray among Wild Ken Hill Snettisham Gathering nature festival line-up on September 17
The full line-up for Gathering nature festival at Wild Ken Hill, near Snettisham, has been released, showing the whole programme of discussions, readings, workshops, guided tours, and wellbeing offerings.
Gathering is a new one-day nature festival taking place on Saturday, September 17, 9am–9pm, which aims to enthral, entertain and inspire audiences about the natural world.
The celebrated nature conservation site and sustainable farm on Norfolk’s coast is the current host of BBC’s The Watches.
Tony Juniper, the chair of Natural England, will start the day with a welcome on the central Cowslip stage, which will then host a series of panels celebrating nature recovery and regenerative farming.
Two other stages – Harebell and Cornflower – will host more intimate conversations and opportunities for Q&A with nature writers, such as Nicola Chester and Lee Schofield, who were both recently shortlisted for the Wainwright prize.
The day will culminate with international singer/songwriter David Gray in conversation with award-winning author and environmentalist Mary Colwell on their work to restore the fate of Britain’s most endangered wading bird – the Curlew.
Alongside the main programme, four immersive workshops will take place with leading creatives, as well as meditation, yoga, massages, and a sauna in a wellbeing area.
Guided Tours of Wild Ken Hill will also run throughout the day, transporting guests to explore the woodlands, beaver habitat, and rewilding area around the festival. There will be a children’s area, and a range of local food & drink offerings.
Ruth Dillon, director of Gathering said, “We are incredibly proud of the programme for the first Gathering Festival which brings together some of the best writers and practitioners in their fields. It promises to be a really special day and it has never been more important for us to Gather together in celebration and support of the Natural World."
Dominic Buscall, project manager at Wild Ken Hill said, “It’s very exciting to have the final programme ready for Gathering. We’re expecting to sell out in the next fortnight and cannot wait to welcome this new community of festival-goers!”
Tickets are priced at £55 for adults, £30 for young adults, and are free for children (11 years old and under).
Programme: Nick Acheson, Dr. Kerry Andrew, Polly Atkin, Dr. Amy-Jane Beer, Helen Browning OBE, Nicola Chester, Marchelle Farrell, Mary Colwell, Jake Fiennes, David Gray, Tony Juniper CBE, William Kendall, Sarah Langford, Benedict Macdonald, Sophie Pavelle, Rebecca Schiller, Lee Schofield, Lucy Lapwing, Ajay Tegala, Rewilding Britain, Wild East, Norfolk Wildlife Trust, RSPB Snettisham, Pensthorpe Natural Park.