Dawn Wood is Co-director of Between The Trees, a festival and events company she co-founded in 2018 with Dr. Andrew Thomas. Together, they recognised a shrinking platform for live, original modern and traditional folk music, as well as growing challenges around wellbeing and disconnection from nature among students and pupils. From these needs, Between The Trees festival was created to reconnect people through music, creativity, and the natural world. Read her answers to our 20 Event Industry Green Leader. Read her answers to our 20 monthly questions below:
1. What is the proudest sustainability achievement or moment of your career?
Creating an eco-festival to reconnect people to nature and communicate an ethos that goes beyond ‘Leave no Trace’ to ‘Leave it Better.’
2. What was your worst ever sustainability-related decision, project or initiative and why?
Contracting a new waste management provider, after the new Welsh Government sustainability regulations came into being, and them not delivering.
3. What are you excited about implementing this year?
Between The Trees is eco-festival grounded in sustainability, so its working with local partners, small family businesses who are having huge impacts e.g. Project Seagrass.
4. Which environmental issue do you most care about?
Conservation, biodiversity and pollution.
5. What sustainable change have you made in your personal life that you are most proud of?
To live by Circular Economy Innovation Communities (CEIC) principles: Buy local, Re-use, recycle, repair.
6. What do you read, listen to or watch to stay in touch with green issues?
The New Scientist.
7. What is the most memorable live performance in your life?
I’m 61, so that’s difficult, Some standouts: Green Day at Wembley Stadium, Foo Fighters and Biffy Clyro at Milton Keynes Bowl, Elephant Sessions and The East Pointers at The Thekla, Seth Lakeman at Between The Trees, Benjamin Francis Leftwich at The Fleece, Skindred at O2 Bristol and Warhorse at the Millenium Theatre.
8. Was there a moment you committed to taking action on climate change?
Deciding to build Between the Trees Festival in three days and break it down in one – by shortening build and break we have much less impact on the forest.
9. What is the most important issue to tackle at your events?
Conservation of precious water.
10. What do you think is the most significant challenge for the events industry becoming more sustainable?
The availability of infrastructure to meet current Welsh Event sustainability regulations.
11. Can you share something sustainable from another artist or event or company that inspired you to make a change?
The excellent waste management at The Green Gathering.
12. What is the secret to your sustainable success?!
Thinking creatively. Running an eco-festival in a forest definitely requires this!
13. Tell us something you feel positive about right now that relates to the environment
Australia and Wales: The best at recycling in the world.
14. Tell us a book, film or recent article you feel others should watch/read and why about positive change?
The Overstory by Richard Powers: An inspiring and exciting novel about migration, the importance of trees and the challenges we have in protecting them.
15. Can you give people new to sustainability in events a top tip?
Research waste management providers quality of service and not price.
16. What is the favourite festival moment of your career?
Between The Trees 2025 closing night with an incredible team was the best experience ever!
17. What habit or practice has helped you most in your personal journey in life?
Gratitude, kindness, humility, resilience and a good sense of humour.
18. Is there anything new or exciting you are planning or changing for the future that you can tell us about?
The Welsh Druid Fire ceremony as an opener for Between The Trees 2026, Valtos (Electronic Celtic fusion band), and getting married at 62.
19. Will we save the world?
TOGETHER we can save the world, with hope, not hate.
20. What would your sustainable super-power be?
Empowering others.
Follow Between The Trees Festival:
- Twitter @BTTfest
- Facebook: Between The Trees
- Instagram: Between The Trees festival
This Q&A originally appeared in our November 2025 Vision for Sustainable Events newsletter. Sign up to receive monthly event sustainability news, case studies and guest blogs direct to your inbox.