Dates
Heart of the Rose will take place from the 30th Aug-1st Sep, 2024 on Eridge Park, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9JT.
Opening and Closing times
Early Entry Doors open on Thursday 29th August at 5pm
Friday - Doors Open at 9am and last entry is 9pm (opening circle and workshops will start Friday morning this 2024 year - we will let you know exact timing’s as year progresses)
Saturday - Doors Open at 8.30am and last entry is 9pm
Sunday - Doors Open at 8.30am and last entry is Midday (CLOSING CIRCLE IS AT 7.30pm)
Monday - Everyone must be offsite by 10.30am
Tickets
If you have friend’s who want to come last minute - please know we will have a few tickets on the door - yet everyone needs to arrive within the box office times above. We will need everyone to show a screenshot of their ticket at the gate before entering car park and then you will properly checked-in once on the festival site.
Travel
Please see our main travel page for specific info!
Children
This year we are an ‘over-18’ gathering BUT ‘babes in arms’ are welcome (‘pre-crawlers’ and ‘pre-movers’). Unfortunately we cannot have toddlers on site this year, due to it being a new site and the Health and Safety regulations needed for this YET the intention for Heart of the Rose, has and always will be to have children and teens in the future! This will be the ‘heart’ of the festival. Please see ‘The Sisterhood Community’ for more….
For those mammas with toddlers this year - we also wanted to mention that we do also have a local campsite on the Park, on the other side of the Estate - run by an outside company https://www.deerparkcampsite.co.uk. We mention this as we aware some women would not like to leave their little ones so long and this is another accommodation option if your partner and little ones would like to stay near the site, so you can then visit them throughout the festival (it is a 5 minute car ride from the festival site). This is completely separate from the festival and will need to be booked and organised separately by the individuals.
Who is this festival for?
This festival is for all those who are ‘womb bearers’ and who live as a ‘woman’.
Drugs + Alcohol + Animals
The festival is an alcohol and drug free event and unfortunately no dogs allowed.
Food
The intention for this festival is to not only learn and re-member together but to also Be together and to really create a community, so each year there is always intentionally ample time within the schedule to sit, eat, rest, sleep and dream all together.
Food is not included in the price of the ticket and we will have 1-3 beautiful vegan food vendors throughout the festival serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and delicious snacks and drinks throughout the day. Please bring cash to pay in case - as sometimes the card machines may not work throughout the whole site. We are asking all ticket holders to refrain from bringing any large BBQ equipment or use any open fires on the park due to health and safety. Festival goers may bring a very small camping stove with a small gas canister under 250g if really needed. Festival goers also need to be aware this is a wild deer park and so if you choose to bring any kind of food/snacks - that these need to be contained and protected in proper packaging, so it doesn’t attract deer at night.
Water
We will have taps on site to refill your water bottle and the food vendors will also be serving various drinks and teas throughout the festival as well.
Ride Shares
If you are looking for a ride or able to offer one - please post on our Heart of the Rose Facebook Group...https://www.facebook.com/groups/413790187260113
Going to Workshops
Please note that all workshops will be on a ‘first come, first served basis’ so you will not be able to pre-book. We recommend arriving at each workshop at least 10 minutes before to give time to settle in.
Money
We are hoping the card machines will work on site YET please bring cash in case - as we will not have a cash machine on site and the card machines may not work everywhere on site.
Stalls, Art Gallery, Sauna + Healing Area
As well as the 5 main stages - this year we will also have 8 beautiful stalls selling their beautiful offerings - clothes, oils, books and so much more! An art gallery of various artist’s selling their work, a beautiful healing area with 3 wonderful healers (you can sign up and book to have a healing when on site!), and a sauna area (which you can also sign up to enjoy when on site). So please do bring extra cash if you would like to enjoy all that Heart of the Rose has to offer this year!
Sustainability
We are wanting to make the gathering and festival as ‘sustainable’ as possible. This means encouraging car sharing and public transport, serving only vegan and locally sourced food. Asking all guests to bring their own water bottles and also exploring any other ways, we can try to support the environment and be as sustainable as possible this year.
Accessibility
We try to make the whole festival as accessible as possible to all woman. The car park is a very short 3 minute walk to the festival site. If you have special needs, please email us and we would love to try to accommodate.
What to bring?
If you are camping - please obviously bring all your own camping gear.
There will also be lighting in all communal areas at night, but is also advisable to bring a hand torch for the evening.
As always, we never know what the weather will be like in England, - it looks like it will be sunny in the day (thank the Goddess) but it get’s very cold at night so please bring lots of warm layers + potentially waterproof layers (just in case) + even a hot water bottle if feel. There is a very small chance it may rain around the time of opening ceremony - so do bring an umbrella in case.
We will have some cushions around the festival but we HIGHLY recommend bringing your own extra blankets, picnic blankets, cushions, sheepskin rugs, yoga mats to sit and lie on.
Please bring your own water bottle to refill from water point throughout the festival.
There will be showers on site and we ask all participants to PLEASE only bring/use organic and natural shower gel/soap and shampoo/conditioner to site - as the land is very protected and all waster water needs to be as clean as possible.
If you feel drawn we also invite you to bring a song, poem, musical instrument, prayer, story to share and play by the fire.
Health + Safety
There will be a First Aid responder on site at all times, if you are feeling unwell, please reach out to the nearest volunteer or team member, and we will assist you as best as we can. Please also be mindful that the festival is in nature with an open landscape - so please walk with care. This site is also a Deer Park so please be weary of tic’s and we recommend everyone check themselves throughout the festival and after going home - the first aider on site will be able to help safely remove any tics, if found, although this is very rare for the park. There will also be lighting in all communal areas at night, but is also advisable to bring a hand torch for the evening.
Photography and Videography
As mentioned in our T+C’s we will have a professional photographer and videographer capturing the event throughout. They will be very respectful and sensitive throughout and you are welcome to let them know if you would prefer not to have your photo taken. Please know that by attending the festival you are consenting to being photographed and recorded for promotional purposes, unless you state otherwise.