REVELLERS enjoyed live music, dancing and some welcome sunshine for the first festival of the summer.

Some 800 people joined the weekend of fun at Wood Festival, an environment- and family-friendly gathering held in woodland in the Chilterns, which drew to a close on Sunday night.

The festival, the fourth to be held at Braziers Park, Ipsden, is organised by brothers Robin and Joe Bennett, who run the bigger Truck festival in Steventon every summer.

And musicians and festival-goers all gave the event the big green thumbs-up.

Run on ecologically-sound methods, the festival features solar- and pedal-powered stages, composting toilets, organic food and local real ale, cider and lager.

For Robin, the event proved particularly memorable as his wife Meg gave birth to the couple’s second child on Thursday, and mother and new arrival Marcie were at the festival to soak up the atmosphere.

“Wood is a very family-friendly event, so they fitted right in,” said Robin. “It was a fantastic weekend. The weather was mostly great and everyone seems to have enjoyed it.

“Wood has become an established event now and people like it is as it is, they don’t want it to change. There’s a lovely relaxed atmosphere and it’s fun for grown-ups and kids — even those only one day old!”

Among the artists to play the weekend was US singer-songwriter Willy Mason, Oxford country-rockers The Epstein, London soul-pop band The Treetop Flyers, Swiss-Cajun act Mama Rosin, and folk artist Eliza Carthy.

Also playing was Senegalese musician Jali Fily Cissokho, who lives in Witney. A master of the West African kora, a string instrument made of wood, cow hide and gourd, he received a standing ovation from admirers.

He said: “I love Wood Festival; it is very special. It is such a peaceful place and there is a lovely atmosphere. The people are lovely too - and really appreciate good music. I hope to be back here next year and the year after.”