Artists, actors, musicians, craftspeople and experts have all come together in a festival that celebrates the natural beauty of the River Wye and the woodlands that surround it.

The Wye Valley River Festival is the brainchild of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and is running until May 20. Highlights have included a night-time light and sound show from an internationally renowned artist, according to organisers.

Sarah Sawyer, festival coordinator, told the Review: “We had wonderful weather for the woodland gathering at Symonds Yat over the May bank holiday. It was quite something to see Jony Easterby’s magical show ‘Tree and Wood’ in amongst the bluebells and the newly green trees. Jony has performed all over the world and it’s wonderful to have art performances like this free and on our doorstep.

“The theme of the festival this year was woods and trees and we really wanted to put arts and environmental issues on the agenda. The AONB is a protected landscape and we wanted to show how valuable it is as it faces threats such as ash die back.

“Going into the woods lowers your heart rate and your blood pressure so we wanted to take people into woodlands and take woodlands to towns.”

In Monmouth on Saturday (May 12) this was taken literally, as trees came to town for a day of installations, music, discussion, performance, films and workshops. The town’s Woodland Assembly included a gathering of eminent speakers and experts talking about topical issues surrounding woods and trees.

170 people discovered Nelson’s Garden for an afternoon of community performance including poetry readings from BBC RAdio 4’s Alice Oswold.

The Museum of the Moon sound and light show opened in Tintern on Monday (May 13) and runs each evening until Sunday, May 20.

“The festival is a partnership initiative with funding from a number of sources and we have kept as much as possible free to attend,” Sarah added. “This is the first time we’ve had ticketed events and it’s allowed us to bring some amazing art to the event. In addition we’ve had a lot of community involvement, from The George Choir in Newnham-on-Severn, Berry Hill Brass Band and Engage Circus from Cinderford to Lydbrook Band and the Foresters’ Forest project.

“The event culminates in a fire spectacle and torchlight procession in Llandogo on Saturday, May 19. There will be musical soundscapes from canoes on the river and an explosive ending.”

This year’s festival is a partnership initiative with funding from the Sustainable Development Fund, Arts Council (AC) England, AC Wales, supported by Welsh Government, heritage Lottery Fund, Forestry Commission England, Foresters’ Forest Landscape Parternship, Visit Wales Environment Agency and Cadw with sponsorship from Shire hall Monmouth, SARA, County Marquees and Hillside Brewery.

For more information, visit www.wyevalleyriverfestival.co.uk