Tree Tales: The Glastonbury Festival Rave Tree

Blog Tree Tales: The Glastonbury Festival Rave Tree

by Wilson Tree Surgery | 22nd Feb 2023

“The Glastonbury Rave Tree” is at the epicentre of the Greenpeace Field at Glastonbury Festival each year. It’s truly magical when trees are used and celebrated in everyday life and this is one of our favourite examples.

Image: Shaun Gordon

 

What is the Glastonbury Festival Rave Tree?

It’s a Giant Rave Tree (a 22m high interactive tree housing a DJ booth) located in the Greenpeace Field and hosts an incredible line-up of DJs and musical acts at Glastonbury Festival.

 

Why is it so unique?

The Greenpeace Field is not just a place for environmental activism, but an incredible Glastonbury experience and sanctuary that attracts thousands of visitors every year. Famous for its innovative, inclusive and joyful use of the space, it’s where festival goers come together and celebrate the diversity of people, nature and our planet as a whole.

The Rave Tree and Greenpeace field is where unity and awareness over the world’s most urgent threats go hand in hand with festival vibes!

 

Image: Alex Stoneman | Greenpeace

 

How has the Rave Tree developed over time?

The Rave Tree boasts a more natural aesthetic and interconnected ecosystem thanks to enhancements to the canopy lighting effects and nature-based light installations by guest artists. The Rave Tree first sprung to life at the Greenpeace field in 2017 as a 19m tall metal giant but over the years the festival has developed the tree’s naturalistic elements.

The canopy is an installation made up of 60 chandeliers. In total 1250 LED globe lights adorn the tree canopy, radiating season-inspired colours and movement effects reminiscent of a living, breathing organism.

 

What is the story behind the Rave Tree?

The story behind the Rave Tree has been evolving to include recent developments in our understanding of the symbiosis between the plant and fungi kingdoms, and that of soil health. Amplifying these discoveries to a new audience has become a priority for Rave Tree lighting designer and activist Benji Bailes.

 

More tree tales to come.

 

You can also find Glasto’s Rave Tree playlist here: https://soundcloud.com/absoluteishere/absolute-glasto-mix-rave-tree