The UK’s biggest free celebration of the natural world is back for its 22nd year and in 2025 it’s diving into a brand-new theme: water.
This year, the Festival of Nature will open in Bath with a weekend of events centred around the newly launched Bath Riverline, highlighting the crucial but often overlooked role of rivers, streams and water in our natural environment.
From paddleboarding sessions on the River Avon to fun and educational family activities at SouthGate, this year’s festival invites people of all ages to explore Bath’s waterways through art, science, storytelling and adventure. Audiences will be encouraged to connect with the river flowing through the heart of the city and discover how water sustains people and wildlife alike.
Running from 7–15 June 2025 across Bath and Bristol and the places in between, the Festival of Nature will span nine days of exciting activity, with most events free to attend. Bath will host the opening weekend of the festival with an exciting line-up of local events celebrating the city’s unique relationship with water.
Now in its 22nd year, the Festival of Nature has grown from a single-site event in Bristol to a major cultural moment across the West of England, attracting more than 30,000 visitors each year and inspiring similar events in cities like Manchester and Oxford. There are also online events for those who can’t attend in person.
Aiming to deliver the biggest and most diverse festival to date, the team has created a packed programme of over 80 events and activities, including wildlife walks, workshops and talks, green crafts, music, and exhibitions, and much more. Other highlights for Bath include:
- Take part in a fun-filled Family Day at SouthGate on Saturday 7 June, with interactive stalls, colourful parades, crafts and art activities designed for all ages.
- Try your hand at paddleboarding or kayaking on the River Avon on Sunday 8 June, with beginner-friendly sessions led by outdoor adventure experts Original Wild.
- Settle in for an atmospheric outdoor screening of River (2021) at Bath Quays on Sunday 8 June – followed by a special Q&A exploring how we can protect our local waterways.
- Explore green social prescribing at Nature’s Remedy, a panel event at Bath’s Mission Theatre on Tuesday 10 June, uncovering how access to nature can improve wellbeing.
- Visit the Life on Water photography exhibition, created by students from Bath Spa University, running throughout the week and open late on Wednesday 11 June.
- Join a Guided Riverside Walk with Lucy Starling on Thursday 12 June and spot some of the birds, insects and wildlife that depend on Bath’s riverbanks.
- Drop in to One Drop, Infinite Ripples, an all-week art exhibition and creative workshop space at Bath Artists Studio, celebrating community care for rivers through art and imagination.
Savita Willmott, chief executive of the Natural History Consortium, said, “We’re so excited to unveil this year’s Festival of Nature, our most ambitious programme yet kicking off in Bath with a celebration of the city’s iconic river.
“We decided to focus on the theme of water this year, both in response to concerning recent news, such as the health of the UK’s rivers, and in celebration of the local river restoration projects and new Bath Riverline. Water is so often overlooked, so this year’s programme gives festival goers the opportunity to discover the importance of water spaces and water journeys in supporting nature, biodiversity and the natural world.
“The festival has grown so much over 22 years, but it remains rooted in the idea that nature should be accessible, inspiring and part of everyday life. With over 80 events this year, there really is something for everyone. But we know that many of them of them will get booked up, so we urge people to check out the programme now and book their tickets to ensure they don’t miss out.”
Most events are free and accessible to all, but advance booking is recommended.
The full festival programme goes live at 12pm on Wednesday 23 April at www.festivalofnature.org.uk.
