On Friday, 3rd October, I had the pleasure of attending the Forest Garden Festival, a vibrant, student-led event on campus. In collaboration with numerous other student societies, such as the Walking Society, Roots, Sussex Tech, and Backstage Society, and the Palestine Society, this event is a perfect example of what students can do when given the space and the opportunity.
Originally, the event was meant to take place in the Forest Garden, a spacious area tucked away behind Northfield, where nature is celebrated and people can gather. In previous years, the space has been transformed with lanterns, fairy lights, and projections, which have had the effect of creating an enchanted woodland. However, this year the weather was not on our side, and the team had to make a last-minute decision to transport the festival into Mandela Hall above Falmer Bar. Speaking to Riley Merrington-Glen, one of the head organisers of the event, he informed me that, ‘We made the decision because we did a tarot reading. And the tarot card said it’s going to be stormy and that we’d experience loss… I just thought that we had to listen to that!’
Following this message from beyond, the magic of the Forest Garden was brought inside, from the handmade decorations to the huge vat of lentil Dahl on offer as a way of raising money for Doctors Without Borders, a charity established to provide medical care to the Palestinian people and others suffering in warzones globally. Riley made it clear that ‘one of the biggest things for the festival is the decor. It’s the main way we make it really immersive and enchanted. All of the decorations being handmade is a really big part of it. Society sessions are on in a buildup to the festival, and everyone just pulls together and does their own little bit.’ This was evident in the five-foot light-up mushroom made from paper situated next to the food station, as well as the huge flowing tapestries that draped from one end of the hall to the other.
Even before entering the room, you could feel the bass through the floorboards of Falmer. A number of DJs offered us set after set all night, from Jungle to Reggae and World Bass. ‘You start chilled, early on, and then build up quite nicely,’ Riley told me about how the night was set out. Artists throughout the night included Magenta Hifi, Rach, Sports Fortune, and several others, all bringing their own style to the event.
The desk where all of this was made possible could not be missed when walking into the hall, adorned with branches which ensured the presence of the garden remained, as well as glowing decorations, vibrant LED’s and flickering projections that hung from the roof behind the artist. A huge white banner sporting ‘Forest Garden Festival’ hung next to a large Palestine flag in front of the DJ booth, a constant reminder to everyone present of the importance of the cause and the crucial part student-led fundraisers such as this festival play in raising money and awareness.
Further down the other side of the hall, a different kind of space was made available. Away from the thumping dance floor, the lighting becomes softer, with strings of fairy lights hanging down by numerous beanbags beneath more overhead tapestries, creating a zen, comfortable area where people can eat Dahl and relax. Having these less stimulating spaces at events is important so that these active fundraisers are accessible for everyone at Sussex, even if it is a few beanbags in a darker corner of the room.
On the topic of accessibility, the team at the festival was adorned in fluorescent green vests (plus comically large wizard hats) and made themselves available to everyone at all times. In regard to safeguarding, even in student-run spaces, it felt like an extremely safe and welcoming space overall; a key factor in the range of nightlife and social events that Sussex has on offer. Every person who made the festival happen was a volunteer, with Riley telling me that they were ‘...never taking a penny. Every time we’ve put all the money back, fundraising for the garden and/or Palestine’.
It’s so important that we keep these student-led fundraisers/events available for all students on campus, allowing room for local artists and like-minded people to bond over their love for nature, charity, and good music. The Forest Garden Festival will return for another year next October, this time hopefully restored to its full glory in its intended space!
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