For those of us based in London our forthcoming trip out of this wild city and into the Oxfordshire countryside will come as a welcome relief. The cause of our exodus has been planned for some time however – Wilderness, a new festival run by the same people as Secret Garden Party, asked if we wanted to join them in their celebration of arts, music and the outdoors, and we saw no reason to refuse.

So tomorrow, a team of us will gather at Cornbury Park to help set up – we’re bringing our rugs and blankets to their Forum stage, our lanterns to the banqueting tent and our deckchairs, firebowls and polka dot swimwear to the spa – in preparation for a festival full of great food (from the likes of Moro and Petersham Nurseries), wonderful music (we’re particularly looking forward to Toots & The Maytalls, Laura Marling and Antony & The Johnsons), and all sorts of other entertainment (there will be professional party givers, debating and discussion societies, theatre and opera groups and a whole woodland to explore.)

Most excitingly, certainly for those of us that work on Toast Travels, we’re holding our first ever live Toast Travels event on the Forum stage on Sunday afternoon. We’ve invited three leading academics, Dr Sally Bayley, Dr Alexandra Harris (who’s also written our first feature of the season, here) and Professor Frances Spalding, to discuss ‘A Sense of Home.’ Their combined experience, both professional and personal, will allow them to range far and wide – from their own homes, through depictions of home in art, literature and music, to the nation as home. We hope some of you will come along to watch, we will certainly be there in force!

The Wilderness Festival takes place this weekend, 12th – 14th August 2011. To find out more click here.