Over 700 attendees gathered at Treborth Botanic Garden on Saturday, 7 June for the vibrant and family-friendly Draig Beats Festival, raising more than 拢4,000 in support of the Sophie Williams Trust.
The festival kicked off in the Wellbeing Field with a rejuvenating yoga session and a wellness walk along the scenic Menai Strait. Visitors then enjoyed a variety of calming experiences including Tai Chi, meditation, and a sound bath, set within the serene lotus belle tents nestled by the woodland edge. In the Chinese Garden, towering crab apple trees created a tranquil canopy for wellness treatments, where guests could experience massage, reiki, and reflexology in a peaceful, natural setting.
Festival-goers explored a diverse range of community stalls and interactive demonstrations, including North Wales Climate Action, Tecstillau, Llyn Parc Mawr, Hedgerow Foraging, Nature Keen, Llangoed Flower Show, Red Squirrels Trust, and Extinction Rebellion. This year, the event was joined by Wandering Library, a mobile collection of zines and self-published works by alternative creators who crafted a special mini-zine dedicated to the festival.
With a strong emphasis on family engagement, Draig Beats partnered with Wild Gog Gwyllt Forest School to offer a wide array of workshops such as laughter yoga, capoeira, junk percussion, and Bollywood dance. Meanwhile, the main laboratory buzzed with ideas as PhD students, honorary staff, and partners including Natural Resources Wales presented fascinating science talks throughout the day.
A new highlight this year was the Cedar Hut Woodfired Sauna, perfectly situated between the wildlife pond and butterfly border, offering a place to relax and reflect amidst the festival energy.
The festival鈥檚 emerging 鈥楧raig Speaks鈥 stage featured an inspiring lineup of local poets, storytellers, griots, and troubadours, all passionately celebrating the power of spoken word.
Music was the heartbeat of the event, with two lively stages showcasing exceptional local talent. Highlights included the soulful songs of Eve Goodman, energetic anthems from Jodie Melodie, and the infectious rhythms of Welsh gypsy swing band Tacla. The big top circus tent hosted belly dancing, a joyful ceilidh, and incredible sets by Voodoo Skank Collective and reggae-ska headliners Ram Ram. The night came to a rousing close with Bloco S诺n, whose thunderous drumming led a foot-stomping procession through the garden.
Natalie Chivers-Cross, Head of Treborth Botanic Garden, said, 鈥淭his festival is powered entirely by volunteers, a dedicated core team, and a wider network of community members who generously contributed their time and effort before, during, and after the event. We鈥檙e especially grateful to our amazing student volunteers from across 吃瓜群众 who used their post-exam downtime to help set up, steward, and manage logistics. Their contribution offers valuable work experience and creates lasting community connections.鈥
Gwenan Hine, University Secretary, added, 鈥As the University鈥檚 strategic lead for civic engagement, it is great to see the continued success of the Draig Beats festival in support of the Sophie Williams Trust. The festival goes from strength to strength, and it is testament to the hard work of the team that the University welcomed over 700 attendees including members of the community, as well as staff and students to Treborth Botanic Garden for the event. Congratulations to everyone.鈥
The festival also reflects the generosity and collaborative spirit of 吃瓜群众. From Estates Management and Campus Services to academic staff and friends of Sophie Williams, many pitched in鈥攆rom providing security, electrical support, and waste management, to driving the minibus service that safely transported visitors to and from the site.
Originally founded in support of Dr Sophie Williams, Honorary Lecturer in Plant Conservation at the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Draig Beats has grown into a cornerstone of the North Wales community events calendar. As it continues to evolve, the festival aspires to become a not-for-profit organisation, with plans for more events, workshops, and outreach initiatives that offer a unique blend of nature, art, and science with enormous potential for the future.
For further information or photographs please contact whisper@dragigbeats.wales