Woodfordia owes its beautiful, cultural parkland to The Planting. Our organization, when it purchased this property in 1994, had a notion that rather than just sing about issues facing the environment, we get our hands dirty by planting trees.
Through The Planting, we created an event that contributes to worldwide consciousness emerging in communities everywhere—an endeavor to heal a planet damaged by the ravages of our industrial practices in the past and which sadly, still continue today. The programme, constructed to blend both the cultural expression and nurturing of our environment, both critical to the human experience and our planet’s health, is intended to encourage this symbiosis.
A multi-layered festival with a full programme of talks, forums, workshops, music, food, films, ceremony, and environmental projects, The Planting is a grassroots event focused on cultural and intellectual exchange.The weekend-long festival features plenty of opportunities to learn about soil health, native vegetation, ecosystems and biodiversity from some of the country’s most renowned thinkers in their field. It’s also truly hands-on, as festival-goers can book into a vast array of craft-making, cooking and gardening workshops. Comedy, culture, health and wellness, as well as Woodfordia’s signature opening and closing ceremonies, add even more diversity and wonder to the experience.
For families, there is an immersive Children’s Festival empowering and teaching kids the tools of the trade by giving them drills, screw guns and jigsaws to build a small village. Anyone between the ages of 10-17 can sign up to construct, vote and name the village they collectively create. A community green hosts trebuchets and battle games each day.
Intended to inspire and inform, and in keeping with the growing global environmental and consciousness movement taking root, The Planting focuses on sustainability and responsibility. The festival provides, not only the knowledge to live more in keeping with the natural environment, but also the impetus through it’s message that we truly can change the world one person and one action at a time. Since Woodfordia secured it’s land in 1994, over 106,000 trees have been planted by pure-people power on what was once a barren dairy farm.
As the weather is cooler during May, there are bonfires scattered throughout the festival precinct to bring people together as well as keep everyone warm. Hot showers are also available at amenity blocks.
The event at its core is intended to ensure our site remains healthy, forested parkland for the enjoyment of present and future generations. And we know the trees planted over the years listen and observe our joyful celebration, enjoying our company as much as we enjoy theirs.
