THE New Forest Folk Festival is getting ready for folk fans to flock to Powell’s Farm, Plaitford, Romsey, between July 4 and 8, especially the birds in the surrounding woodland.

Graham Quick, one of the resident builders on the site has been busy building bird boxes for the woodlands, to encourage the birds with nesting boxes.

Hopefully with an increase in population the dawn chorus will be even better this year for campers and visitors to the festival.

The biggest draw however is, of course, the headlining acts. Hampshire’s very own twin stars, Ward Thomas, who played Isle of Wight and Glastonbury Festivals last year, plus Steeleye Span and Feast of Fiddles.

Other acts include TRADarrr, Julie Felix, CoCo and the Butterfields, Reg Meuross, Matt Black, Polly Morris, and many more.

Nick Curtis, his wife Helen and his brother Keith and their families, organise the festival, at Powells Farm, the family’s home for six generations.

Jo Jo Curtis, Nick and Helen’s daughter, manages the bar and black lab Bertie is the festival mascot which completes the family unit. The festival is well known for being a small family run festival with a big line-up and this year is no exception.

Nick Curtis, who engages the acts for the festival said: “We are very excited about this year’s festival. We had a record number of visitors last year and the weather was amazing for us too.

“The feedback we had was very positive again and the growing numbers of people attending and talking about us is just great."

Keith Curtis, who organises the marketing and advertising for the festival added: “We love the way word is spreading about our little festival. It’s important to us to keep our unique family run festival as the audience wants it – up close and personal, and going above and beyond expectations year on year."

For more information and latest news visit: www.newforestfolkfestival.co.uk.