A trip to Merthyr Mawr Nature Reserve, situated on the southern coast of Wales, is a delight whatever the season, where visitors can gawp at the mighty sand dunes, admire thickets of wildflowers, or spot some amazing wildlife like goshawks and ospreys.
However, those who wander through the nature reserve’s woodland during the last weekend of August will stumble upon something a little more unexpected: an award-winning micro music festival.
Between the Trees brings together science, nature and music in a beautiful location that feels very fitting to this purpose, with Merthyr Mawr being both a nature reserve and designated Area of Special Scientific Interest (due, in part, to the assemblage of rare plants, fungi and invertebrates associated with the sand dunes).
Held in Wales for nearly a decade, the festival offers an eclectic line up of folk, indie, and contemporary roots-inspired artists drawn from around Wales and beyond. Running alongside these performances are panel discussions on climate change and environmental activism, as well as hands-on workshops, covering everything from the basics of foraging to microscopy sessions revealing the hidden beauty of plants.
This combination of music and educational experiences, spread over four days at the end of August, ultimately aims to reconnect people to the natural world, while offering a weekend of fun that is suitable for the whole family.
It’s fair to say the unique concept has proven a resounding success, underscored by the fact the festival took home the Micro Festival of the Year award at this year's edition of the UK Festival Awards, the premier annual event celebrating excellence across the UK festival sector.
Between The Trees saw off competition from other small-scale festivals (as opposed to larger festivals, such as Green Man) across the UK to secure the prize, which is awarded based on a mixture of public voting and feedback from a judging panel of industry experts.
Speaking about their success at the UK Festival Awards, festival organisers, Dr Andrew Wyn Thomas and Dawn Wood, said, ‘Winning this award at the UK Festival Awards is an extraordinary honour for our team and community. It highlights not only our creative vision but also our values.’
‘To be recognised by industry experts and the wider public strengthens our mission to deliver a soulful, sustainable, and culturally rich festival that celebrates both nature and artistic diversity,’ the pair added.
Between the Trees was the only festival in Wales to claim an award at this year’s ceremony. However, it wasn’t the only Welsh outfit to scoop a prize, with the Cardiff-based company Escape Records taking home the Promoter of the Year Award.
Welsh festivals also have a rich history of success at the awards, with Green Gathering and Focus Wales winning the UK Greener Festival Award and Best Festival Emerging Talent Initiative respectively at the 2024 edition of the ceremony.
Learn more about Between the Trees, and purchased tickets to the 2026 edition of the festival, on the event’s official website.
Alternatively, read more about the amazing line up of festivals held in Wales each year.