Tim Hughes looks forward to this weekend's Wood festival - the first of the summer, with founder - and red kite fan - Robin Bennett

SINCE being reintroduced 20 years ago, Red Kites have become a familiar site in the Chilterns.

With their large wingspan and distinctive tail feathers the huge birds of prey are a much-loved part of the south Oxfordshire landscape.

But anyone venturing into the countryside south of Wallingford this weekend, could be in for a surprise – with the woods full of birds the size of humans.

Oxfordshire’s summer of festivals commences on Friday with Wood – an eco-friendly gathering among the trees of Braziers Park, Ipsden. And this year it is encouraging revellers to dress up as the area’s iconic raptor to celebrate its Year of the Red Kite.

“The sight of red kites flying over our festival is something we all love, and this year we are celebrating these great local birds by dressing up as them,” smiles festival founder Robin Bennett – who runs the event with his brother Joe, and their respective families.

Launched eight years ago as an offshoot of the popular Truck festival, in the brothers’ home village of Steventon, Wood is a low-tech, largely acoustic music event organised along sustainable lines. It is fuelled largely by renewable energy, features composting toilets, wood burning ovens and features workshops and sessions on living in harmony with nature, woodland crafts, and spotting wildlife.

Wholesome and organic, it has attracted a loyal clientele – and is particularly popular with families and parents with young children.

“Wood is a celebration of music and nature,” says Robin – “and anything else that fits in with that.

“It’s all on a very human scale and has turned into a real family event. It’s amazing the number of children who come.”

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Music comes from the Bennett brothers themselves, through their soulful country-rock band The Dreaming Spires, and from friends, acquaintances and artists with whom they have collaborated.

This year’s bill is topped by fellow country-rockers and Americana Award-winners Danny and the Champions of the World, and Mercury-nominated folk artist and song collector Sam Lee, who has made a name with his reinterpretation of traditional English folk songs – including old Romany gypsy tunes.

There is African music from electro-Kenyan folk band Owiny Sigoma Band and singer-songwriter Emily Barker – who is widely known as the voice behind the theme to BBC TV’s Wallander. Emily recently made waves with her solo album The Toerag Sessions, featuring solo versions of songs from her six previous albums – but this weekend plays with a full band.

Music also comes from Boo Seeka, Louis Berry, Yola Carter, Coute Diomboulou, Joe Nolan, Terra Lightfoot, Surf Dads, JP Hoe, Lewis & Leigh, Xogara, Don Gallardo, The Hanging Stars, Paul McClure, Edd Keene, Water Pageant, Hannah-Lou Lurati, Chantal Acda, Society, Great Western Tears, Cassie Josephine, & Gabriel Minnikin, Art Theefe, Walton Hesse, Loud Mountains, Natureboy, Papa Nui, Oxford Ukuleles, Jali Fily Cissokho, President Sweetheart, Thoby Davis, Stevie Ray Latham, Band of Hope and Robin and Joe’s singer-songwriter sister Katy Rose Bennett.

The festival is the first of the major camping events which take place on most weekends over the summer. Robin relishes the chance to blow away the winter cobwebs. “This is the season of growth,” he sees. “The trees are sprouting forth and the weather is warming up. It can get nippy at night but it’s usually warm and is the first weekend on which people can realistically camp outside.”

As well as the music, there are activities, talks and workshops covering everything from drumming to woodcraft, building your own solar panel to ‘perciving auroras’ and ‘shamanic journeying’.

There are also dance and meditation sessions, puppet shows and theatre for younger ‘Woodlings’ and music from Oxford children’s artist – and former member of 90s rock band The Candyskins - Nick Cope.

A Kindling tent, hosted by nature author Hugh Warwick, will feature a programme of talks by the likes of environmentalist George Monbiot, alternative economist Kate Raworth, and QI’s Stevyn Colgan.

And, of course, there will be help in making your own red kite costume.

“We’ve had a different animal every year,” says Robin, who lives in Dorchester. “We’ve already had bees and badgers, and now it’s the time of the red kite – which can now regularly be seen soaring above the festival site.

“The birds were once common all over Britain but then became practically extinct before breeding pairs were reintroduced from Sweden. They are now much-loved neighbours.”

Its largely acoustic bill means Wood is one of the few festivals which is not reliant on power – a bonus considering the occasional outages which have occurred over the years. And the links between artists sees many doubling up to support each other on stage.

“We’ll be playing with The Dreaming Spires and Danny and the Champions,” says Robin. “Joe will be playing 10 times – including with Kat – who will be expecting some crowd participation.”

Another familiar face is west African kora player, and now Witney resident, Jali Fily Cissokho. The instrumentalist, who will perform both alone and with a full electric band Coute Diomboulou, has played at every Wood festival so far.

“It wouldn’t be the same without him,” says Robin. “The same goes for Nick Cope and many other friends who come back every year.”

There’s so much going on and people love the continuity along with the sense of enjoying an improving experience instead of just partying – though that is equally possible.”

* Wood runs from Friday to Sunday. Weekend and day tickets are available from gigantic.com/wood-festival-tickets. Children aged 12 & under go free accompanied by an adult. Tickets are also available from the Truck Store, Oxford and Music Box, Wallingford.