TWO giant trees walking down Monnow Street created much ‘in-tree-gue’ in Monmouth as the 2018 Wye Valley River Festival was launched last weekend.

Shoppers and visitors were amazed to see the pair of stilt performers striding around Agincourt Square and posing for photographs at Monnow Bridge. ‘Tree-mendous’, two young performers from Bristol, were the opening act in the festival which runs until the 20th May. More trees will be coming to town this weekend for the Woodland Assembly and Shadow Forest at the Shire Hall on Saturday 12th May, from 11am to 7pm.

As well as creative craft and art sessions for youngsters and an umbrella tree, there will be the chance to hear expert speakers from across the UK talk at the Woodland Assembly and speaker’s soapbox in Agincourt Square on the theme of woods and trees and environmental issues. The Festival ensemble will be preforming the ‘Heart to Hart’ show, a woodland fairy tale of love, loss, larch and lime.

In the evening the entertainment moves to the delightfully hidden away Nelson Garden from 7.30pm to 8.30pm where there will be performance and poetry. At 8.30pm there will be entertainment at Monnow Bridge as people gather for the Forest Fire Parade at 9pm and Monnow Street comes alive with fiery lanterns, giant puppets and extraordinary machines.

There will be another opportunity to see the Shadow Forest art installation at the Shire Hall on 13th May between 11am and 3pm. On both days over the weekend you can view the Arborelealists’ Exhibition inspired by trees at the Nelson Museum and the ‘poem trees’ at the Kymin. Award-winning creative writing student Marchant Barron will see his tree poems floating among the trees on the Kymin. shared by Nelson and Lady Hamilton.

The focus moves to Tintern for the final week of the Festival as the Museum of the Moon opens at Tintern Abbey on Monday 14th May, with a supporting programme of events in the village.

Download the festival programme at www.wyevalleyriverfestival.co.uk where you can also find timings and tickets. The majority of events are free.

Photo courtesy of Emma Drabble