At Good Vibrations Society, talks and workshops are at the heart of meaningful connection and growth. Beyond the music, these sessions provide a space to explore new ideas, spark creativity, and engage in open dialogue. From thought-provoking talks by inspiring speakers to hands-on workshops that foster learning and collaboration, they offer opportunities to connect deeply with others and yourself. These moments of shared knowledge and curiosity are what make the festival a truly enriching experience.
An interactive demonstration of the Mind-Body link
How your body is affected by your thoughts and mind and your thoughts and mind have an impact on your body… And what then, about those around you? by Dr Grant Taylor An interactive demonstration of how your body is affected by your thoughts and mind and your thoughts and mind have an impact on your body… And…
The 100 year history of Winnie the Pooh
Celebrate 100 years of Winnie the Pooh with the world’s foremost expert and long standing owner of Pooh Corner Neil Reed. Explore the history behind Christopher Robin and the most famous bear to ever live on the Ashdown Forest!
Scrap play
Large scale items for a mega loose parts play activity. What will you build with tubs and tubes and fabric and rope? The idea with loose parts is that there is no set purpose, it is the children’s inventiveness and creativity that makes for endlessly different and imaginative journey of play. Play is a process,…
Eat Your Weeds: Feeding and Healing with Common Plants w/ Katrina Wilmot
This workshop is a gentle exploration of the healing wisdom of wild herbs and edible plants. Together we’ll discover why, when, and how to forage responsibly for common, abundant species, while learning about their nutritional and medicinal benefits. Rooted in traditional knowledge passed down through generations, this workshop explores simple ways to preserve, ferment, and…
Hindleap Warren
Hindleap Warren Outdoor Centre is a residential outdoor learning centre set in the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, run by the charity London Youth. It provides families, young people and children with the opportunity to build confidence, resilience and independence through meaningful time in nature. Set within over 300 acres of private woodland, young people…
The Art Playground
We’re delighted to introduce a day full of art-inspired creative play on Sunday with the new Art Playground. Expect paint swings, printing slides, pastel play and the return of our wonderfully messy splatter catapults – Splatterpults if you will! It’s all about experimenting, creating and embracing the joy of making. Expect to get messy.
Quantum Psychedelics w/ Mikaela
In this deeply human and thought-provoking session, Mikaela explores how connection, embodiment, and expanded awareness can transform the way we relate to ourselves, our teams, and technology. Drawing from psychedelic wisdom, neuroscience, emotional healing, and team coherence practices, she invites us to move beyond mental overload and reconnect with our bodies, emotions, and heart-centered presence,…
Belonging Beyond the Script w/ Nyla Khan
Many of us have torn up the cookie-cutter script for how we’re supposed to live, love, and succeed. But in that brave act of freedom, we often lose a sense of belonging. In this soulful and practical talk, psychosynthesis coach Nyla Khan explores how reconnecting with the deeper Self helps us build more authentic relationships,…
Imaginal Futures w/ Carla and Simon
At this crucial time in human-ecological history we see around us misuse of the imagination. Films, television, conversation and private rumination; we are surrounded by depictions of terror and apocalypse. And yet we do not have to fall before the facts. There are a number of ways we can meet them. We are not suggesting…
Grazing on Ashdown Forest w/ Ash Walmsley
Have you ever wondered why there are cows, ponies and sheep wandering across Ashdown Forest? Come and learn about how grazing has helped shape this beautiful landscape and the important role it has in conserving it for the future.
Big Feelings, Brilliant Kids w/ Nicci Parry
Practical tips to help your neurodivergent child thrive. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to support your neurodivergent child, and the impact it’s having on your whole family, this talk offers a reassuring and practical way forward. Nicci Parry invites you to reframe neurodivergence as neurogifted, a strength often influenced by underlying biological imbalances.…
The Living Heath w/ Mollie Matthews
Ashdown Forest is a mosaic of biodiversity and beauty, but its survival is not entirely an accident of nature — it is the result of a long history of human impact and coexistence. This talk explores the different management used to protect this internationally important landscape, and some of the myths of conservation, showing how…
The Root opening ceremony with cacao
Begin your festival weekend in The Root. Come together as a group, enjoy a hit of ceremonial-grade cacao and dance your way into the weekend. Cacao’s reputation is that of a gentle yet powerful Earth medicine, containing many beneficial nutrients and goodness, perfect for these times. Cacao has been known to open your heart, create…
Guided Walk and Talk w/ Tom Forward
Come take a walk with an expert guide to see and hear some of the wildlife that call Ashdown Forest home. Suitable for all ages, a relaxed walk into some of the nearby woods and meadows looking for butterflies, dragonflies, birds and more.
Amrutha – Free vegan cooking classes.
Amrutha is more than a place to eat; it’s an invitation to sit, share and belong. Our philosophy is built around abundance, generosity and the ritual as old as time of gathering at a communal space where food is the centrepiece, but connection is the purpose. Drop in for an informal cooking lesson on Saturday…
Circus with Panda
The Circus is back in town! We are delighted Panda is returning for another year of helping us build some circus skills. Join us Saturday 3pm at the Hive.Open to all, big and small! Try your luck at juggling, diablo, plate spinning, staff spinning and balancing things on your head with Panda the multi-talented performer…
Weald to Waves w/ Gareth Williams
Come and hear about one of the most exciting landscape scale projects in the southeast. The Weald to Waves project is a group of like-minded landowners and people who support nature recovery through improving habitat quality and connectivity, resulting in a corridor stretching 100 miles, from the Ashdown Forest in the High Weald, following the…
Big Games for all
Friday afternoon The Hive will host some big group games for young and old contenders. Bring your game faces and join The Games!
News From the Future w/ Benita Matofska
What if the future isn’t something that happens to us — but something we get to dream into being? We’re drowning in stories of division, collapse and doom. But here’s the secret: roughly 95% of news is negative, and that’s warping what we believe is possible. The future isn’t fixed — it’s being narrowed, colonised,…
Cooking from the Heart
A talk from Arvin from our on-site restaurant – Amrutha. Cooking with love and care, not something we have to do but something we should genuinely want to do.
The Social Society: Volunteer hackathon
A fast-paced, feel-good workshop where people come together to do good the right way. Hosted by The Social Society, this 75-minute interactive session connects attendees with real charities to tackle real challenges, in real time. Participants collaborate in small groups to generate practical ideas, fresh perspectives, and tangible solutions that charities can actually use. Expect…
Root to Resilience: Reconnect, Reset & Restore Your Inner Balance w/ Anupa Devi
Join Anupa Devi for a restorative and empowering session designed to help you reconnect with your inner calm, confidence, and strength. Using her signature Root to Resilience framework, you’ll explore simple, practical tools — including breathwork, grounding exercises, and micro-reflections — to manage stress, build self-trust, and restore balance in everyday life. Blending lived experience, coaching, and insights from…
Scrap craft
Let your creativity take you on a journey of junk modelling – make a festival accessory, design your own mandala or create a box robot… Make anything you want at our table of scrap items available for your use throughout the day.
Forest Bathing w/ Tansy Downman
A bespoke class combining Forest bathing, mindful movement and meditation by the trees with some Nature poetry.
Pooh Corner w/ Neil Reed
Welcome to Pooh Corner in Hartfield, a tea room, gift shop and museum situated on the edge of the Ashdown Forest in Hartfield, East Sussex.
Show and Tell
A chance for you to perform on our Hive stage. Be it a song or a dance, a trick or a treat, we welcome all performers big and small to share what they wish. A polished piece or an improvised moment, you’ll get an encouraging audience and a boost of confidence to boot. Expect a…
Morning musings with tea, poetry and arts and crafts
Before the day gets going, pop down to the nest for informal chatter, crafts and a nice cup of tea. The perfect way to ease yourself into the good vibrations.





























