Festival of Archaeology launches at Westonbirt this July

From 18th July to 2nd August, the UK’s largest celebration of archaeology is back, and this year the Council for British Archaeology’s ‘Festival of Archaeology’ will be exploring the connections between archaeology and nature.

The Festival kicks off on Saturday 18th July in a very fitting setting: Forestry England’s Westonbirt, the National Arboretum. A remarkable natural history resource with its origins in the 19th century and home to one of the world’s most significant tree collections it brings together nature, research, landscape history and long-term environmental change. The perfect place to explore how people and the natural environment have shaped one another over time.

Excitingly, on this special day only, the arboretum will open its gates free of charge to celebrate the festival launch, welcoming everyone to explore the deep connections between landscape, history and human life.

To give a taste of what will be happening, expect a day packed with activities to suit everyone, including guided walks, exciting demonstrations and talks - along with the opportunity to meet local archaeologists, historians and writers.

Launch day welcomes award winning archaeology and experimental pioneers James Dilley and Emma Jones of Ancient Craft who wowed audiences at last year’s festival. 

Regia Anglorum, a medieval reenactment group will contribute living history displays and the Boss Morris dancing side from Stroud (who have performed everywhere from the Green man Festival to the Brit Awards) will lead workshops on the day too.

The popular archaeological story telling team, Career in Ruins, will also be attending, interviewing participants and capturing highlights from the day to share across their podcast and YouTube channels, helping to bring the launch and its activities to an even wider audience.

Head to the Great Oak Hall for ‘in-conversation talks’ with Jonathan Mullard, discussing the brand-new paperback edition of ‘Forgotten Forests’; Susan Greaney, author of ‘Stonehenge - The Story of an Icon’; Wyl Menmuir, author of ‘The Spirit of Stone’ and  Cathy Tattersfield guiding you through an afternoon of Gloucestershire's folk songs.

Local archaeology teams and charitable organisations will all contribute to the day. There’ll also be guided walks and family activities taking place all day, including ‘If trees could talk’ family event drop-in sessions.

Booking is recommended to guarantee entry as this free Festival event day is expected to be popular.

Dr Laurence Shaw, Lead Historic Environment Advisor, Forestry England says:

“Forestry England is delighted to host the launch of this year's Festival of Archaeology. Across our estate, we care for an exceptionally rich portfolio of historic assets that reveal how people have shaped the natural landscape, and how the natural environment has, in turn, influenced human lives over many millennia. From prehistoric monuments and industrial heritage to wartime remains and designed landscapes, these places provide the stage on which our internationally important natural assets sit. Understanding and protecting this shared heritage is fundamental to creating resilient, sustainable woodlands for future generations. By balancing the needs of nature, people and the historic environment, we can ensure our forests continue to thrive while inspiring new audiences to explore the deep connections between culture and landscape. The Festival of Archaeology offers a fantastic opportunity to discover these hidden stories and appreciate the enduring relationship between humans, nature and forests.”

Last year the Festival reached over 64 million people digitally in two weeks and welcomed 123,754 attendees to 479 events held across the UK.

For further details about the festival launch day at Westonbirt see forestryengland.uk/westonbirt/festival-archaeology